Help me find a dress for a black-tie do!!

[FaffTastic]

Well ladies, I need your help. Got a black tie do on 4th March which I can't avoid going to. Normally avoid these things like the plague.

I do not own a long dress. Is it still mandatory to wear a long dress to these kind of things or will a knee length one cut the biscuit?

Haven't a clue where to start or what style to get. Always associate 'dressy' long dresses with bridesmaid dresses and I want something a bit more cutting edge than that!

I'm 32, 5'6, size 10/12, 34D (so nothing too cleavage-showing please) and I'll def not do strapeless as it makes my shoulders look too broad.

Oh, and maximium budget round about the £150 mark as I'll probably never wear the bloody thing again.

TIA!

It this nice but I know by the cut of it it would make me look like a pregnant gypsy-rose-lee. Empire line honestly adds about 2 stone onto me

So much for it being flattering!

The KM dress is nice. Their sizing is small ime

how about this ?

or this

The red Biba or black all saints one shouldered are the best by miles....some of those dresses are shocking

The Biba one is awful! Drab and dull.

You've upset Teth now. She must have flounced. I've never known her stay off a S&B thread so long.

Oh no - it was me I was very rude (and I was rude about her bag) - my only excuse is that it was after midnight when I posted and I'd turned back into a pumpkin.

Come back Tethers - I've seen the light, Judith Chalmers has some lovely clothes

Sorry Teth, I didn't mean to offend you!

Love the first one from Reiss, Tilly.

Right so far, my choices are the KM one, the pik Reiss one, the Ted Baker one, and the teal French Connection one.

Luckily for me these shops are all a 5 minute walk from each other so will head into town on evening towards the end of the week to have a trying-on spree. Will also take a mooch in All Saints.

Thanks for the ideas ladies and i'll let you know what I decide on.

In the meantime if you see anything else, link link and link again please!

UPDATE!!

I bought the Ted Bakerdress. Twas the one and only dress I tried on and it is incrediably flattering (much much nicer than in the pic). Is very booby on me though so am now on the hunt for tit-tape.

Am sorted with shoes, but any thoughts on accessories? Might have to go without a necklace as it might draw even more attention to my boobs