Dress found for work Christmas do - need help 'styling' please

[KittyB52]

I have this dress, which is really flattering on (apart from length, which I may get tweaked as I fear it is in the 'frump zone' for tinyshort me): www.closetlondon.com/closet-blue-jersey-tie-back-dress.html

I have a pair of oxblood shoes which I LOVE (but are not that comfy, so I only wear them on special occasions) - does oxblood go with this colour and if so, am I going to need 'nude' tights to go with them? I would be accessorising with chunky gold necklace and gold bangles.

Alternatively, I could get the same dress in this colour (which I also love): www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Closet+Jersey+Tie+Back+Dress/D557807,default,pd.html but then I am not sure the shoes would work, as might seem too 'matchy'. I don't wear black or silver, so am wondering what colour shoes would work if I don't wear the oxblood ones?

Oh, and work do consists of Christmas lunch, drinks and speeches lasting 4-5 hours, followed by more drinks, karaoke and 'dancing' at a wine bar.

[Dowser]

I can't get excited about either dress.

Isn't a works do a chance to really glam up. This seems more like a day at the office dress.

If I had to chose I'd probably pick the black but if I'm still in buying mode I'd be having a good look around.

[Dowser]

I'd probably go for something like this

www.coast-stores.com/p/malinka-dress/1540084?locale=en

Or this
www.coast-stores.com/p/lauren-bow-dress/1513266?locale=en

This
www.coast-stores.com/p/alva-ponte-dress/1497250?locale=en

This

www.coast-stores.com/p/matena-shift-dress/1486722?locale=en

[Dowser]

This one s a beautiful dress. I've actually tried it on. Unless it has chaged slightly it's more coral than that and looks beautiful with the gold showing through

www.coast-stores.com/p/eliza-lace-dress/1490265?locale=en

And it's now only £39!!!

Bargin. It's a stunning dress.

[KittyB52]

I don't wear black as it doesn't suit me, so that's not an option. Also, most women seem to wear black and I wanted something different.



Dress number 1 is far too bright, I don't like the straps at all (I need something to hide decent bra straps as I have decent sized boobs). It doesn't really flatter the model so goodness only knows what it'd look like on short, pearshaped me.

Dress Number 2 looks shapeless from the front (and would probably hang off my boobs and hide my small waist) and the back is just...awful. No wonder it's in the sale - bright pink plus giant bow = no thank you.

Dress Number 3 might work if I was inclined to get my arms out (which I'm not usually) plus I suspect it might hit my thighs at the wrong point.

Dress Number 4 is very strident shade of blue (and I quite like blue) and the wrap bit looks massively unflattering on the model. I confess I am being put off my the awful shoes she's wearing with it too. It also looks a bit cheap, considering the price.

[KittyB52]

Doh, double post faux pas AND I've only just noticed the last dress you posted. Which is nice enough, but just not for me.

Thank you for the suggestions though.

[Dowser]

No problem ;-)

Was going to suggest this if you want sleeves

www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Jersey-Crepe-Deep-Plunge-Midi-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5300410&cid=13928&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=204&sort=-1&clr=Berry&totalstyles=209&gridsize=3

[Dowser]

Yes, I hadn't seen the back of the pink dress. Back to the drawing board then.

[JeanSeberg]

I love the teal dress in your first post OP.

[ThisPasadenaHomemaker]

I'm not keen on the dress either OP. It's very officey. And I don't like any of the Coast dresses.

I think the ASOS one will be too long for you if you're short (like me).

Are sleeves a must? Budget? I can have a look for you.

[mewkins]

I like your dress and if it were a midniggt blue it would look more eveningy. I am no help as I would always go for black for evening.... I like some of those coast ones though.

[KittyB52]

I really dislike having bare arms - mostly due to bingo wing issues (although I am doing strength training so those are less of a problem now) but also because I never seem to get a close enough armpit shave so I prefer not to get my pits out.

I am short with decent enough boobs (F cup), small waist, slight tum, saddlebag thighs and chunkyish legs. I would prefer something fitted on top, ideally with sleeves of some sort, knee length or ever so slightly shorter. I love teal, navy, burgundy/wine, dark purple, brown, dark gold, bronze and dark purple.

I am not sure of my budget, as I didn't think I needed to buy another dress, so no more than £100, unless something amazing appears (or it magically goes with the shoes I already have ). I don't want to be shelling out for something I'm only likely to wear once.

[herecomesthsun]

I think this outfit is gorgeous - not worky, glam but with sleeves and with useful, versatile elements, if I were not trying to lose weight I'd be very tempted to get or at least try the jacket and pencil skirt.

[KittyB52]

I can't tell from the small pictures what it is - is it a leather jacket? The colours don't look right for me, and it's way too 'bodycon' for my figure. I wouldn't have said it was right for a works do either, but again, it might just be because I can't see the outfit clearly enough.

[KittyB52]

And just realised there was a link in your post - doh again. I am blaming the fact that I have a chest infection on my thick thumbedness.

The outfit is nice, but definitely not for me - wrong shape/style/colour.

[herecomesthsun]

ok - I guess, if there is a range from very worky to very glam, where do you want to be on that? Do you want to look just a little bit more festive than usual, or go for a party frock?

There can be a balance between trying to look as you are acknowledging the season and also retaining some degree of work gravitas, but it is up to you where you want to be on that.

As regarding shape, you want

• fitted on top
  
• sleeves
  

-knee length or just above

Are you thinking of a pencil skirt? It can be quite a good option for looking streamlined, I have velvet ones in dark colours from Boden that I happily wear to work but I could easily dress them up for a party. They seem quite forgiving on the hips and tum.

Would a work dress with a more festive jacket work?

[herecomesthsun]

OK so looking again at the OP, you really wanted help styling the dress you already have, I guess! rather than getting a new much more glam outfit.

I guess whether the shoes would go would depend a bit on the style of the shoes?

Heels would help the outfit to look less "office".

I am wondering whether some sort of jacket with sequins might make your quite classically styled dress look more in keeping for a Christmas night out. I note there were some in Asda, linked on another thread, which were thought fab, but which are coming in stock sporadically and selling out fast. (You may be able to tell that I quite like sequins).

[Twinklestein]

So you either want to wear the first one or buy another dress?

I quite like the first one but it is very worky.

From the description of your figure - a skater dress shape might work?

[Twinklestein]

So you either want to wear the first one or buy another dress?

I quite like the first one but it is very worky.

From the description of your figure - a skater dress shape might work?

[Twinklestein]

What's going on? Apols for double post

[Twinklestein]

Plum

Cobalt

Plum 2

Burgundy

Nude

[KittyB52]

OK, so it seems that the original dress is too 'worky'. In that case, I may buy the red one, as it does suit me, and would go with the boots I already own.

As for the party outfit, I don't know what to do now. I've only been at this company for a couple of years, and each time I have to find an outfit for the Christmas do, I struggle. First year I can't actually remember what I wore. Last year I ordered over a dozen dresses online and they ALL went back. I ended up borrowing a tunic top from a colleague and wearing it with skinny trousers underneath. le sigh

I don't want to look 'festive' if that makes sense - I won't get wear out of an outfit if it's too 'blingy'. Although I could do a bit of sparkle if the price is right.

I don't think a pencil skirt would suit me - I thought pear shapes needed A line skirts? And I'd imagine velvet would add bulk and cling to curves in the wrong way? I don't know, mind, I haven't tried one on.

I don't really want to do a sequinned jacket thing as I think they're a bit ageing. That might just be me though. I clearly know nothing about style.

Skater dresses might indeed work. I love that first plum one, but am put off by the words 'slim fit - cut closely to the body'. Not ideal for an afternoon of food and booze when I already have my 'winter layer' in place.

I like the babydoll dress (number 4) but think the sleeves might be too long on me and also don't like the sheer back as I will be wearing a bra tuts loudly.

I am beginning to see why I have struggled with finding an outfit the last few years.

Thank you all for your help (and patience) so far.

[purrito]

I quite like your original dress in the wine colour, OP. Yes, it is a bit "worky", but could look eveningish if dressed up with the right accessories and it is a flattering cut on you. Have attached pics with shoes and accessories that I think would work with the dress.

Not keen on some of the other dresses that have been posted. Most of them are a bit too fussy / blingy / garish for my taste, but then I do tend to generally go for quiet/boring clothes paired with more interesting accessories.

[yakari]

Love the accessories Purrito has put together. Personally I hate fuss on a dress but can do a bit of bling on top. You don't sound 100% about the party so I'd go with whichever dress you feel most comfortable with and then work round accessories.

[skippy67]

The first dress you linked is fine apart from the tie back feature. I absolutely hate tie backs on dresses for adults