A challenge for you - tartan skirt/dress, funky not frowsty

[OhBuggerandArse]

I've just got an invitation to a Rather Posh Big Deal gallery opening with a definite Scottish theme - I'd love to find something a little bit tartany to wear, but not in a clichéd way, if you see what I mean! Am too old for a mini-kilt, love the look of Vivienne Westwood's stuff but as I don't have much waist it does nothing at all for me.

I found this which I rather like, but I don't think the yellow is really me, and I think you'd have to wear black with it which washes me out these days.

The do is 6-8pm, so I'm not sure what degree of dressed-up to aim for - I suppose it shouldn't be either too evening-y or too workwear-y! Any suggestions vv gratefully received.

Warehouse did a gorgeous VW esque tartan dress a while ago. They are still to be found on eBay.

this is it although I've seen it in nicer colourways. It looks better on than it does on the model.

this one? Seems very expensive! I like the look of this one better, but would need a 10. Hm.

Xpost! But thanks for the tip, I wouldn't have thought of ebay for a while, will speed me on my way...

Oh my lord there are some horrors out there. Seems to be nothing between steam punk corsets and LAura Ashley tents! Anyone else able to keep me on the straight and narrow?

Sorry, Euphemia, cross posted - that is very nice indeed, but I think maybe not dressy enough?

All saints have also done VW esque tartan stuff also to be found on eBay.

I have an All Saints VW-esque tartan dress and that Warehouse dress. IMO, I would say the Warehouse one is better suited for your needs. The All Saints one is a bit too daytime.

Am really at the price on eBay. I bought mine for £30 in the John Lewis sale last January!

this?

Quite like the shape, but - oh dear - beige isn't really very joyful, is it? And I'd worry it would look like I was trying to do Burberry.

Why couldn't this have all happened last year when the Warehouse dress was in the shops? Gr.

OK, trying to think flexibly - could I do these with a plain blue dress instead?

too short?

Ooh I do like the shoes!!

Or how about tartan tights!!

I like the first one, the yellow the best, but then it's closest to McLeod tartan which is my family.

Those shoes are fab, I think Ness does Scottish in a funky way.

Or for a bargain £330 the most hideous dress I have ever seen!

Would this work?

Oh bugger, I like that Therapy one but they don't have my size.

Trixy, I found that one too - can you imagine the design meeting where they sat down and decided that vinyl sleeves would be a good idea? Vile!

I think you're missing a trick not considering something like this.

better colour but not as nice a shape as the yellow one

Dear God there are some horrific tartan numbers out there!!

but this I do like

How are your legs?

How about a plain dress but carry something like this?

how about a nod to the tartan with a little corsage?

Yes, trixy's first one might veer dangerously into geography teacher territory for the shortarsed me.

Like the second one but I can't get it to come up on the site - weird.

Legs not bad, tethers, but I think that one would be better on someone taller and with less post partum tummy.

this is more difficult than I thought!