S and B experts, please help: Can this dress be styled for black tie do??

[polyhymnia]

Going to a black tie 60th 'do' in a couple of weeks, in a marquee at private house, so dressy but not uber-dressy.

I'm a tall hourglass Size 22 and have yet to find 'the' dress I was hoping to get for this occasion.

I therefore wondered if I might wear this, which I already have and suits me:

www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Dresses/Knee-Length-Dresses/WH319/Womens-Ruffle-Scoop-Neck-Dress.html?NavGroupID=4

I have the royal blue sherbet one - it's quite an intense 'bluebell'.

Advice, please:

i do you think it would be OK in principle? If not, other ideas, please. I'm willing to pay a reasonable amount, don't wany aything too cheap (Evans, Very, etc) or super short.

ii if so, how would you style it? I don't do very high heels but am willing to try something with a small heel. Also have an open mind on tights, though don't like black sheers because I find them a bit 'mumsy'. It would also need a necklace which makes it a bit more 'dressy' but doesn't fight with the ruffle. I don't do gold jewellery, btw, or anything itsy-bitsy, but like quirky and bold.

All suggestions gratefully received.

TIA.

OOh when I first saw it and saw the floral I was very worried but no the royal blue one will be easy to style up.

Try adding silver shoes, clutch and a silver pashmina?

Try adding a necklace with crystals in.

Maybe tights but rather fishnet stockings or bare legs (if the weather is warmer)

You could add red accessories if you like the idea of the nautical look.

Thanks - all great ideas. Like silver accessories. Ditto fishnets - have some natural micro ones already. Or would another colour be better?

Like crystal idea too.

No I like the natural fishnets not too vampish and not too mummsy

Thanks!

Am not sure.

What do you think of this?

I like all the accessories too. Lovely with a pashmina.

Really keen to see Collision, but link doesn't seem to be working, on either my PC or my phone.

I don't think it's dressy enough for black tie. Can you ask the hostess what's she's thinking of wearing? I'd go for floor length.

No, that dress is not dressy enough IMO.

How about this or this?

Have asked. She'll be wearing short, so I think length is OK, even if it's not dressy enough in other ways.

Thanks, tethers . Have already tried another Evans Clements Ribeiro style which did nothing for me, sadly.

On those, I don't ever wear red except in accessories - really doesn't suit my complexion.

On black one, love broderie anglaise, but tend to steer clear of all-over black as I get older. Also not sure cut will suit me - I usually go for a lower neckline which flatters my big bust more.

You see how difficult I am! Please keep suggestions coming.

I like your dress, I think the silver/crystal suggestions are spot on. I would put it all together at least a week before though. I have learnt from bitter experience that things that look lovely together when laid out on the bed, don't always continue to look lovely when put together on me!

Blue

Purple

Twist front

Full length

What about Marina Rinaldi

Thanks for all the ideas.

tethers have already had a look through Curvety online - am aware of them though have never actually bought one. Of those, definitely don't want long as think I'd be over-dressed on this occasion. And don't like the colours of the purple or brown. The blue is worth a think - the belt gives it a rather more dramatic look than I'd generally go for, but might work if it came to right place on my body (their models do look tall like me).

warmand woody, funny you should mention Marina Rinaldi (plus size line of Maxmara, if anyone doesn't know ). I'm a major fan - though you do need to pick and choose a bit to fnd the funkier, not 'over-classic' pieces. In fact, all the time I worked in an office was dressed virtually head to foot by them. So went up to the Bond Street shop yesterday ready to splurge but, alas, nothing evening-y there that suited me. (Though did fall in love with a casual top and 2 long cardis I can't really afford!). I need to pop over to their Milan shop, where I've always found best choice - but time and money won't allow before the party!

Personally, if it aint broke why fix it, the Blue boden dress can easily be glam'd up..

so..

I would add a light tan or pale fur bolero or jacket to arrive in:

Something like this <a class="break-all" href="http://www.kaleidoscope.co.uk/Faux-Fur-Jacket/productdisplay.stm?An=681&A=12E423_16&N=4294963634%20681%20739%20746%20678%204294967074&Nao=24&Au=P_MasterItem&Nu=P_MasterItem&Ns=P_Colour|0||P_Size|0&awaid=79682&awgid=0&awbid=0&awpid=0&awcr=469508766&cm_mmc=AffiliateWindow--Generic--DeepLink--Link&catreqmedia=K1207&ordermedia=K0567&name=10PERCENT&orderoffercode=PP2P&entry=3www.kaleidoscope.co.uk/Faux-Fur-Jacket/productdisplay.stm?An=681&A=12E423_16&N=4294963634%20681%20739%20746%20678%204294967074&Nao=24&Au=P_MasterItem&Nu=P_MasterItem&Ns=P_Colour|0||P_Size|0&awaid=79682&awgid=0&awbid=0&awpid=0&awcr=469508766&cm_mmc=AffiliateWindow--Generic--DeepLink--Link&catreqmedia=K1207&ordermedia=K0567&name=10PERCENT&orderoffercode=PP2P&entry=3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">faux fur jacket available in a 20?

Plus lets go animal on the accessories:

Snake heels from LK bennett

plus a snake clutch Boohoo

then JUST wear earrings, nothing on your neck, just very long earrings in crystal would be fine - and ver glamorous.

Nobody would accuse you of not being black tie enough with this ensemble!

try here for chandelier glam crystal earrings, these would emulate the ruffle on the neckline nicely

If the hostess is wearing short then you can wear short imho.

go with the dress, silver sandals and I will search for a wow! necklace!

not really wow! but could look nice

love this

Many thanks, everyone.

Have been encouraged to wear my existing dress, unless I literally run across something amazing in the next week.

So will focus on styling up, and enjoy looking at silver and snake shoes and cluthch (madammecholet, you may recall fron bag threads I do have a weakness for snake), and exploring necklace and earring options. Glitzy Secrets is a really good site for 'dressed up' jewellery that I didn't know about.

Final question (I think) - can see natural micro net tights with silver shoes. Would they also be OK with snake, or would a plain sheer nude be better (I have a favourite one from M and S Autograph)??

Of course I remember you're love of snake! I've got quite a collection I'm now building and wore a navy Vivienne Westwood anglomania dress with tan/neutral snake heels and clutch to a wedding last year and felt fab! Dress was plain and I let the accessories to the talking, so to speak! I'd def go sheer nude with tights and snake, as you may overdo it with fishnets and snake.

I'm all for being comfortable but glamorous.

Do you know p&m do a gorgeous snake clutch? Can't link as sat in kids soft play centre (oh why why why on a sat morning!) :(

Oh I remember those (play centres on Saturday) well!

Had forgotten about P and M snake clutch because have a longing for the snake Mariella - but will check it out. Thanks. Also for confirming my feeling that snake shoes plus nets would be OTT.

I wish I was somewhere else. MN surfing keeping me sane ;)