Why is it when you have money to burn you can never find anything you like?

[headfairy]

I'm looking for a hot frock... something with a bit of vavavoom (party invite says dress glam) but I've got a tick list and I can't find anything suitable.

Tick list says:
Must be knee length or below (got a nasty scar on my knee that ain't glam in the slightest) but I'm 5'10" so most knee length skirts/dresses tend to be a bit too short for me.

Either an A line or fit and flare style to cope with abundant hips

Ditto v neck or similar to show off abundant cleavage.

Can't be nude or similar colour because it makes me look anaemic. Dark red or black v good (am blonde with a bit of a tan right now)

Up to about £150 to spend.

Size 16

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I can't link on my phone, but Monsoon are always very sparkly and have the added benefit of coming up big, so you would be a 14 easily :o

I always like Oasis for pretty things.

I will have a look at get back to you with links (from my laptop)

How do you feel about a maxi dress? There are some stunning ones, and you are lucky enough to be tall enough to wear one (unlike short arse here!)

I do like Maxi dresses, but I struggle to find ones that don't make me look pregnant as they're always empire line. But they're fab for hiding my shockingly ugly knees.

I have struggled to find anything below the knee that is not either a maxi dress or a bit frumpy.

Will go get some of those links.....

that's what I'm struggling with, it seems short = sexy

what do you think of this one?

Sorry, having problems with my bastarding laptop.

Love that dress, are you buying online?

You sound a similar shape to me, except I am 5ft3 but busty and need a non-empire line otherwise I look pg.

Red, nice detail

Afraid that is the best I can come up with, there are some hideous clothes out there!

Will have a think, and hopefully some proper S&B folk will help you out

I know this isn't what you are after, but I keep coming back to it

I quite like that orange one... it's not really a colour I'd normally wear, but I won't rule anything out. I would probably want to try something out before I buy, I send so much stuff back when I buy online, I want to see the colour properly and feel the fabric iyswim.

That red one looks lovely too, not sure if I'd be able to get to a Kaliko, I could try and get over to Guildford. Again, I'd want to have a look at that red, see if it was really red or more orange.

You're so right, there are some hideous dresses out there! Esp if you're in the market for a maxi. I did find a lovely one in Monsoon last summer for a wedding I went to, that I didn't see online at all. It's khaki jersey, with really heavy bronze beading around the neckline. Because it's heavy weight jersey it hangs really beautifully and doesn't look like a maternity dress at all. If desperate I could always wear that, but I'd quite like to treat myself as I don't normally have money to spend.

I'm just kicking myself for not buying one of those gorgeous dresses in Phase 8... I can't remember the name, but it was a heavenly draped silky rip off of a Vivienne Westwood. I think half of MN bought one

Mary Portas maxi looks nice - black or emerald? and enough of budget left to get some F-me shoes :-)

I eventually bought a Phase 8 Verity dress in red. I've seen lots of recommendations on here and it really is just about the most flattering dress I've ever worn! It does show my knee scars but my mum reckons a bit of fake tan/leg make up will minimise it.

Oh and I bought it for £69 instead of £120!!

That is stunning! But dammit now I need It :o

I don't know how bad your scars are, but I have a bad scar down the front of my knee from surgery and a couple of bolt scars slightly further down and people just don't seem to notice unless I point it out.

I love this dress from Coast, it's v special. I have it in black and it's so flattering (I'm a 36 DD and a generous 14).

Coast

Sorry, link doesn't work, try this:

Coast