xmas party dress help

[chibi]

can anyone help me find a party dress

i am 36, 5'7 size 10 in monsoon/wallis, 12 in gap, 12-14 in zara if that's helpful

i have dark hair/eyes and olive skin

i want a dress that will make me look va va voom, chic and mega hott

i want to also not look like bet lynch on the prowl/a rabid cougar/she looks good considering her age

also not too too expensive please

What about early's red dress

I've got similar colouring to you, although I'm slightly larger (Wallis 12) and I just bought this it;s much nice on than on the hanger, really flattering.

I'm going to wear it for xmas parties with opaque tights and killer heels.

the lace dress screams mutton to me, unhelpful I know, esp as you all seem to like it.

I know what you mean

in a lace dress with my colouring i will look like a hotsy totsy sicilian widow on the make

and NOT in a good way either

No, the lace one is not muttony.

I don't like the red one though.

Have you looked in whistles at the dresses - I got a lovely lace one from there but they're more like £150'ish.

maybe i should try to rock the sicilian widow look

does anyone remember there was a dolce and gabbana perfume advert along those lines some years ago

hmmm

i like it but is it too sexy?

NO! Not too sexy- why not go and try it on?

Just had a thought - a work colleague who is the same age as me wore a black strapless jumpsuit with some killer heels and fabulous earrings and she looked a million dollars. It said 'on trend but know how to change the fashion to suit me'. Definitely not mutton.

Then again, we are not particularly wrinkly 40 year olds

Loved the first dresses that were linked. Love the black Karen Millennium one and the oyster silky one. Classy but sexy and real head turners IMO.

planet

warehouse

warehouse again

backless

river island

Does it have to be a dress? I appreciate dresses are meant to be simple and all that, but if you are worried about looking try-hard then I reckon separates might be more laid back and you could combine stuff you already have with something more throw- away or buy something new but versatile that you could get a lot of wear out of.

I don't mean jeans with a jazzy top, but what about e.g. Fine black polo neck with metallic/ bright/ lace skirt plus black opaques and 70s style suede boots or heels. Or metallic slash neck top with short or midi velvet or leather skirt. Or leather pants with silky shell top, heels and a sequin jacket.

Then go to town on the grooming with a blow- dry that will make you feel good for a couple of days and smoky eyes?

Really, what you feel comfortable in will depend what you liked wearing before you decided you were middle aged. I am the same age as you, but I've never really liked to show off too much flesh and it would definitely make me feel cougar rather than sexy. on the other hand, i will risk slightly unconventional combinations.

if you do want a dress though, I liked the metallic asos one - it is slinky rather trussed up and sounds like it would suit your colouring.

If you want to completely blow the budget but look like sex on legs I can highly recommend this dress. It looks stunning on.

www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_54510+201418732_-1?breadcrumb=Home%7EWomen%7EDresses