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Original poster

Help! I want to go to the Ball!!

43 replies

lilibet · 21/05/2003 20:04

B/f and I have been invited to a party on the 31st of May, on the invite it says Evening Dress. I have no money, am too fat, have no one I know who could lend me anything, nothing that I could adapt and I desperatley want to go. I have never worn an evening dress and would love to. Have done an internet search and hiring is about £75, which is 2 weeks food shopping!! The charity shops in Wigan are also pretty short on that type of thing, I know this as I'm a regular customer!!
Some one please find me a fairy Godmother quick, before I turn into a pumpkin.

OP posts:
meanmum · 21/05/2003 20:10

Where do you live Lilibet. I am a very large woman and have three different dresses that would do the job for you from my differing sizes throughout my life. One is my wedding dress but as it is red you would never know it was a wedding dress and I have worn it out on formal occassions.

The second one is gold and the third one is again red. They're just sitting in my cupboard not doing much so your welcome to borrow one.

Original poster
lilibet · 21/05/2003 20:11

Aren't you lovely!!
Wigan!

OP posts:
meanmum · 21/05/2003 20:12

I'm in London, you're welcome to come down for a day and try them on if you fancy. I can pick you up from the train station, unless your going to drive.

meanmum · 21/05/2003 20:13

Forgot to say you can borrow my shoes to go with them, nothing special mind you. I'm about 5'7" and a size 8. Very busty as well.

Original poster
lilibet · 21/05/2003 20:15

Reaaly wish I could, but I work every day. That was so kind of you. thanks, hugs

OP posts:
meanmum · 21/05/2003 20:18

Can you get down on a weekend. I work during the week as well.

meanmum · 21/05/2003 20:18

Bring the kid(s), not sure how many you have, they can play with ds.

Original poster
lilibet · 21/05/2003 20:28

What size are the dresses? I'm probably a 14/16?

OP posts:
meanmum · 21/05/2003 20:34

I think the gold will fit you as will the red one (not the wedding dress). Mind you the wedding dress may as it has the boneing throughout the bodice. I was probably slightly bigger than you are when I wore them but not too much so they won't look massive on you. Do you want me to send the gold one to you in the post maybe?

SoupDragon · 21/05/2003 20:37

Lilibet, I've got 3 (sad I know) size 14 evening dresses. but I am also in London (Croydon) and (just noticed the date of your party) I'm going away tomorrow!

SoupDragon · 21/05/2003 20:38

Could maybe post them but not sure which would be the best bet for fitting you.

Original poster
lilibet · 21/05/2003 20:42

I can't get over how kind you both are, but I think that its probably risking it to post them, and there is no way I could get down to London, but you are both now honorary fairy Godmothers! And you are not a meanmum!!

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 21/05/2003 20:47

I've not lost any clothes I've posted for Ebay yet! All mine were sale bargains too.

I wore my size 14 black velvet Monsoon dress with spaghetti straps when I was 4 months pregnant with DS2 (and also 9 months after DS1 was born when I was still feeding him) so that may fit I guess. How tall are you? Monsoon are generous with size including length!

meanmum · 21/05/2003 20:48

Why not if I post it registered mail or whatever it is called here. I'll put the gold and the red ones in a box and away it goes. I can post it to your work so someone will be there to sign for it if you want.

Honestly, I don't mind and at least you will have some more options to choose from. I will post them on Friday as I'm not in the office tomorrow. Let me know if you want to. Honestly, I don't mind posting them, or you using one of them if they fit. What's the point of them just sitting in the cupboard not doing anything. Better for them to be used is my view.

janh · 21/05/2003 20:53

This is such a sweet thread - I have nothing remotely resembling a ball gown but if I did I would be offering to post it too!

lilibet, hope you find something in time. Could to trawl the charity shops further afield? What is the poshest place near you? (I'm in Clitheroe and we have dozens of them - shops, not gowns - might be worth a look!)

Original poster
lilibet · 21/05/2003 21:20

ok, I'm going to go for this, I do feel incredibly cheeky, as I wasn't asking for people to go out of their way for me like this, I just wanted a bit of inspiration and sympathy!! I'm 5ft 5 by the way, and fit nicely into a next 14 but some other 14s are a bit too small. I have a very large stomach - end result of three children and no exercise for years! Do you think that any of them will fit?

OP posts:
meanmum · 21/05/2003 21:24

I really hope the gold one does as that is my favourite, apart from my wedding dress. It may be a bit long for you but then tweak it in some way if that is the only problem.

I've just sent a message via mumsnet with my details on it so I hope you get that tomorrow. I know you weren't asking for us to lend you a dress but why not if we don't mind. They're there to be worn and I'm not doing it at the moment so why not let someone else.

SoupDragon · 21/05/2003 21:28

Well, Monsoon 14s are on the generous side (I used to fit in a 12 sometimes!) and as I say, I was 4 (or 5) months pregnant with DS2 when I last wore it so there's room for a tummy in there . I've got a long & wide green & silver scarf that drapes nicely over the shoulders and helps disguise any bumpy bits (bought for that purpose!)

I'm just over 5'7" and with 2.5 inch heels it wasn't dragging on the floor so you should be fine I think. Hang on, I'll have to go and find it... Right, it reaches my ankle bone so it should be fine length wise if you wear heels. If I hadn't lost my digital camera I'd send you a picture!

Claireandrich · 21/05/2003 21:29

Just to echo that this is such a heart warming thread (especially after a glass or two of wine). I'd have lent mine too but as I am only 5 foot they'd be too small and short. they are too small for me since DD was born!!! Started the diet now though so maybe by the Christmas one!!!

Lilbet - have a great time at the ball. It's a great time to dress up and have a few drinks/nice food. Enjoy yourself.

SoupDragon · 21/05/2003 21:34

Found the camera under a pile of c**p on the playroom sofa. My email address is huffahorse
at
hotmail dot com

It's my "junk" address so I have no qualms about posting it here.

WideWebWitch · 21/05/2003 22:33

Oh, I totally agree, this is a heartwarming thread and lilibet, I do hope one of them fits and you go to the ball! I wasn't going to mention it but it seems appropriate to do so here - a very kind mumsnetter emailed me recently saying she'd noticed I was broke atm and would I like to borrow her maternity clothes? I said yes please and they arrived a week ago. She knows who she is but I won't mention her name here for fear of embarrassing her. She hasn't replied to my email yet thanking her and asking for her address so I can send the postage but I am very grateful...there are lots of very kind people on mumsnet IME, it really is amazing.

Original poster
lilibet · 21/05/2003 22:43

I'm quite choked up actually! Sitting here woth a stupid grim on my face. Faith in mankind restored and all that. I always had faith in womankind tho!!!

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 21/05/2003 22:48

Yes - if we were all men you'd be struggling!

Original poster
lilibet · 21/05/2003 22:50

LOL

OP posts:
berries · 22/05/2003 09:46

Lilibet, I have a long, silver Monsoon dress, size 16. Absolutely beautiful. Only problem is I had the top altered as it was too loose, and now can't do it up. I'm a size 14/16, so it should fit you, but would depend on the chest measurement. If you want to let me know, I can compare it with mine & should be able to tell if it will fit. BTW I'm a next 14 as well, so we sound about the same size, but I've got big boobs (well, there's got to be some compensation for putting weight on )