Ageing hipsters...help! Need a dress for my 50th

[MrsCocoa]

Having a low-key party - with dancing. Finding it all a bit difficult to get to grips with. Have ended up with a bargainous VW Vera Wang dress from TK Maxx's clearance which is lovely but make me feel a bit sub-Carol Vordeman. Probably aiming more at a mid-point between Sophia Coppola and Patti Smith. So, any ideas? Budget is restricted, and I'd rather buy glorious things secondhand than cheap 'n' nasty.

Am tall and statuesque with dark hair and winter colouring. Your help is very much appreciated....

[Pantsalive]

It sounds like you need the other VW - Vivienne Westwood. Perfect for understated edginess. There are usually a few on ebay. What size are you and what's the budget?

You could always sell the Vera.

[NomiMalone]

I'm in love with this.

On the right lines or way off?

[squoosh]

If Sophia Coppola had to stick to a high street budget I reckon she'd shop at Cos.

www.cosstores.com/gb/Women/Dresses

[NomiMalone]

Every single dress on that page looks like the garb of a Mennonite butter churner.

[squoosh]

Well yes...... I wouldn't wear them, but Sophia would!

This one in particular is very Soviet dental nurse circa 1974.

[MrsCocoa]

Thanks All - just back from work, and running out the door again in a mo, but you're on the right lines with the All Saints. Tried looking for the other VW on Ebay without much success at the weekend. Can't get onto the Cos site at the moment.

Re: Soviet dental nurse - you have me sussed! And my taste in shoes is decidedly orthopedic. But might be a bit daytime?

Size 12-14 and budget is £100 or less!

[Floisme]

I think even Sophia would dress up for her 50th

Love the All Saints dress.

Completely irrelevant but I saw Patti Smith in real life a couple of years ago and she looked fantastic. Photos don't do her justice at all. Very funny too.

[FauxFox]

anglomania
biba
Fenn Wright Mason
hallhuber
label lab
sinequanone
whistles

[Catswiththumbs]

I have that all saints dress, I love it. I wore it with these shoes www.kurtgeiger.com/kookie-black-leather-37-carvela-kurt-geiger-shoe.html
And pink/purple ombré lipstick.

[MrsCocoa]

Thanks all for the inspiration. This would be ideal but out of stock in my size.

[LettuceLaughton]

That's lovely - they might still have your size in store somewhare. Is always worth asking.

These probably don't quite match up
black
black
black
a beauty
KVish?

[MrsCocoa]

Have just googled Mennonite butter churners. Think that's a little harsh on Cos, but Nomi, you're right, if it looks like it might work in an unmodernised dairy, it's probably not quite right...

Have been looking at more Sofia Coppola pictures and have become thoroughly besotted. Not sure now if I want to be her or elope with her...

But it's helped me refine the frock brief: effortlessly cool, with suggestions of an interesting life!

[tethersend]

What size are you?

Any good?

[MrsCocoa]

Thanks Lettuce - love the Malene Birger. Sadly also out of stock in my size otherwise would've been tempted.

[MrsCocoa]

Tethersend - the Helmut Lang dress is absolutely gorgeous, hope it fits someone here so I can enjoy vicariously!

I'm a strapping 5' 10", size 12-14 with huge shoulders, good legs (and slightly dodgy looking upper arms..).

[tethersend]

Other stories

[MrsCocoa]

Love the colour Tethersend - wondering if there might be just a bit too much of it?

Those of you who directed me to The Outnet may be responsible for my family living on baked beans until August.

[Pantsalive]

A couple more thoughts:
Nothing else you like at All saints? I would have thought that was the right vibe.

Anything at Finery?

Mint Velvet?

Have you looked at <a class="break-all" href="http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women%27s+designer+dresses/301,default,sc.html?ajaxLoad=true&spcl#www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women%27s+designer+dresses/301,default,sc.html?prefn1=brand&prefv1=Label%20Lab&fix&spcl&brandTab=1&ajaxLoad=true&ajaxsearchrefinement&brandTab=1" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">Label Lab? I particularly like this one (although it may be trying a bit too hard) and this one

I think insouciance is the word of the day.

[MrsCocoa]

Thanks for the suggestions Pants. Quite a lot of All Saints dresses are just too short (because I am tall).

Found this in black. What do you think? (Apologies if anyone has already suggested - getting a bit dizzy with possibilities).

Yes, insouciance, is a good word. But I struggle to do nonchalantly stylish, without defaulting back into something black and stretchy from the back of the wardrobe.

[LettuceLaughton]

That's bound to be beautiful on, she's hard to beat. Order it quick! It's lethal to link to low-stock-fab-stuff one here - the feckers buy the lot in no time You can always return if it doesn't suit (I assume).

[LettuceLaughton]

...and it's sold out. Hope you got in in time

[MrsCocoa]

You weren't wrong about that. Sadly I dithered.

[SaveOurBogBrushes]

www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Dresses/71DJL/Carlotta+Cupro+Dress.htm Not sure what the quality will be like but thought it worth a shot

[ThreeFrazzledFandangos]

I'd never heard of finery before but I loooove this.

Unfortunately I have enormous norks and would look like a perfect cube in it. Sob.

[Floisme]

Very sorry about the VW - hope it wasn't anyone lurking here

Can you stretch to Agnes b? Disclosure: I'd love someone to order this and then tell me if it's effortless cool or an overpriced beach cover up. (Oh and then I need the sales to start.) www.agnesb.co.uk/dress-59542

Or Me and Em? It can veer between body con and stalinist dental nurse but when they want to, they do insouciance very well. Their sales will be starting soon and this is already reduced: www.meandem.com/deep-v-swing-dress-black