What do you wear on Christmas Day if you are at home with just immediate family?

[moosemama]

That's it really. Am in bed poorly today with just the laptop for company, so thought now would be a good time to ask.

We have, over the past couple of years, started staying at home on Christmas Day, just us and the dcs.

My family pop round in the morning with presents etc and they are always glammed up in posh dresses, make-up, jewellery, high heeled shoes etc and I always feel such a frump for the rest of the day.

So, I have decided that this year will be different. Whilst I don't want to go the whole party dress and sparkly jewellery route like my family do, I would like to make a bit of an effort and at least wear something that's a step up from my usual school-run clothes, iyswim.

The thing is, I have lost over 3 stone since June and am just heading into a size 12 (started out as a size 18 wearing too-tight size 16's ) and despite looking at literally hundreds of clothes online, I don't have a clue where to start. I still have a large chest (32GG) but my waist has shrunk from 34.5" to just under 29" and my hips and bum are actually quite a good shape, probably for the first time in my life.

Recently I have been pretty much wearing all black every day, basically because I don't know what else to wear. I've been working out a lot and am pretty toned, so have been wearing black skinny jeans with either a back v-neck jumper or just a plain black long sleeved top. So I thought a bit of colour would be nice for a change.

I did buy myself a new bright pink jacket yesterday, which is a huge break from the norm for me and I am surprised at how much I love it.

Any advice from you lovely S&B ladies would be greatly appreciated.

Good Trills

Moose - I have this in ivory which I wear with skinnies or leather pencil skirt. FB30 gets 30% off.

Are you quite hourglass? I'm an apple so can't do those waisted dresses but love the style.

Have you looked in whistles?

The red dress is lovely but I don't think it would do much for 32GG norks, I'm afraid.

My jersey dresses are mainly White Company ones so the colours will probably be too boring for you - but I also have a Vivienne Westwood Anglomania one which has served me very well.

Oh dear, am cross posting and missing people out - I do apologise, blame it on my virus, my brain is on a go slow today.

MadammeCholet, that's a really nice blouse. I love bell sleeves. One of the few things I own that isn't black is a purple jersey fitted blouse with chiffon bell sleeves and I do love it, but I would worry about cooking when wearing it.

I'm not sure about sparkly knitwear, I love it on other people, but don't think I'm confident enough to wear it myself.

Oh that blouse is lovely MrsCB.

Yes I am very hourglass. I love the look of fitted waist dresses, but actually think I would struggle with them myself. As Remus said, they are too high in the neckline and would probably be either too tight across the chest but fit on the waist or too big round the waist to accommodate my chest, iyswim.

This one is one of the most flattering dresses I have ever tried on (am a size 12 hour glass too). I didn't buy it at the time but it's now on offer and is really good value. The WC dresses wash and wear really well too.

That dress does look a really good shape for an hourglass Remus, but its sold out in black except for large and I'm non keen on the other colour.

Oh no - that's a shame. Dp loved it on me - I so wish I'd bought it. :(

Do you have a branch near you at all - they may still have it in store?

We have a small one in Selfridges. Will have a look.

Will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Just been looking at skirts on the ASOS website. I think I'm definitely getting old - I could never wear anything that short, no matter how thick my warm winter tights were!

:)

If you fancy treating yourself and can wear red

I can wear read, bluey reds not the orangey ones, but I daren't spend that much - dh will kill me if I then lose another stone and never wear it again. I think its going to have to be a budget buy on this occasion.

I have been perusing Dotty P's website, as suggested further up the thread and found the following:

This one I like, but just for fun, not for Christmas day.

Can't make my mind up whether this one is fun and ideal for Christmas day - or horrible.

Same dress in purple.

This one I like and think would be flattering. They don't have it in a 12, but might a 14 be better to accommodate my chest anyway?

BUT

I like it even more in the red and its out of stock.

Argh! Dh has just reminded me that we have to go to a family party thing at PIL's house on Christmas Eve. So now it looks like I'm going to need two outfits.

I have a VW anglomania dress remus and its amazing...drapes in ways you never thought imaginable and makes me look a size smaller... love it. I'm also liking the purple bell sleeve dress mousemama but its only available in an 8 or 10..

Are the people you will see on the 24th the same people you will see on the 25th? If not, get the VW one because you can wear it slightly differently for each of the two days and it will make you feel more amazing than two dresses from Dotty P's!

No they're not, but I'd feel I needed to get it washed and dried late on Christmas Eve if I did it that way.

Not sure I'd be brave enough to wear something that body-con either. I think I'm still overweight in my head.

If you only wear it for a few hours Christmas Eve then you can wear it again on Christmas Day I would think.

Have you looked in Debenhams? Their designers range can have some good bits although you have to pick and choose carefully, and it is pretty reasonably priced. I got a nice dark grey chiffon blouse in there last week, it has got one or two sparkles on the sleeves so nice and Christmassy, and I shall wear it with skinnies to go out for a meal with my friends, and also on Christmas Eve.
Phase 8 have got money off all their dresses at the moment and have some nice stuff.

Haven't decided on Christmas Day yet, but I feel a purchase coming on :)

I must be a mucky bugger then because I would just hang it in front of an open window for a bit!

It looks body-con but honestly, VW is the queen of curves and so long as you've got smoothing pants or tights on underneath, it really will make you feel amazing.

I'm still trying to find you a nice jersey or jumper dress too btw!

Thanks for all your help everyone. I really appreciate it. Honestly, you'd think I would have learned how to dress myself by the age of almost 42 wouldn't you?

I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappear though, I'm feeling pretty rough and in need of my bed now.

Remus I am going to buy myself a VW dress once I have dropped one more dress size to one that I will be happy to stay at for the rest of my life. They look amazing, and are not as £££££ as I thought!

No ruby - me too. It does nothing for me and my fat tummy

Op - well done on weight loss How about this ?

or this

or this ?

this with skinnies or opaques ?

ruby - even with Spanx or similar?