Going to a very formal black tie do at New Year, which while it isn't a work thing as such, is hosted by some extremely posh people that DP works with, so it is important to make a good impression. I have met them all before in a casual capacity and they are all very nice etc but I can imagine them dressing up to the nines for this.
I have been looking in all the usual places but can't find much, I was looking at lot of on the knee dresses and i narrowed it down to a few, a couple from monsoon and coast etc. DP was looking over my shoulder this evening and remarked that he thought I would need to wear a long dress. I had underestimated the formality of the occasion (and DP generally lives in jeans and teeshirts even for work so it takes a lot for him to try to up the dress code IYSWIM. )
This has scuppered things slightly as I am only 5'3" and very large of nork. I have nonexistent hips and a bit of a tummy, generally 12-14 top (but even 16 sometines!) and size 10-12 bottoms. I need something which will emphasise my waist as otherwise I have a tendency to look like a pregnant sack of potatoes 
. I should also mention that lots of the women going there are young, slim and gorgeous. :( I am shape as described above, 30, with dark wavy hair, pale skin and grey-blue eyes. Hair is not quite long enough for an up do, so may have it trimmed to ear length before Christmas.