Piffle screams for help on evening gown for US awards thing. Arrghh

[Piffle]

Long pls pls bear with me on this.
Help - dp's prestigious awards ceremony for his work award is looming 22 April in Baltimore.
No idea where to start as I am a tomboy type with penchant for jeans and funky tops and boots.

I have been told by other helpful mners that long, with split for dancing ( a whole other WTF thread there methinks)
Rules
No lace
No frilly frills...
I am prepared to buy top underwear to get around any cut - but cannot do certain styles owing to looking like a channel swimmer due to hefty bustline.
I would prefer midnight blue/deep red but am flexible.

I am/have
size 10-12 more 10 by the time owing to crash diet
Slim hipped, but complicated with large bust. So bugger for fitting frocks and virtually rules out strapless.
I have good legs (when waxed and looked after lol)
Short hair.
Budget is generous but not silly. I would look to sell it on afterwards
I am prepared to get something tailored aftr buying too.
Which shop to start at?
Yours indebtedly
Piff

and I'm 5ft 6 :)

\link{http://www.principles.co.uk/pws/ProductCategoryAttributeLink.ice?paId=DRESSES&value=&layout=departmentsub.layout\here are some nice ones}

But where are you?
Do Liberty's personal shopper if in/near London.

I'm Sth Lincolnshire
No chance of getting to London before then, I did try but impossible

damn what did i see recently.....will keep thinking

goto selfridges/Libertys or a big department store.

YOu can often hire

Ah, sorry. I guess I would start with personal shopper in whatever was my biggest nearby store - just as a way of getting ideas if nothing else.

Otherwise have no good suggestions - as though I'm very much your size and shape (and style too, it sounds) I am total opposite in bust dept & tend to go for Japanesey sort of urban tailoring that depends on being Flat.

Nicole Fahri do a wonderful spainish style dress in polka dot. Is in the sale at the moment

how much do you want to spend? if you dont mind me asking! are you after designer prices? or high street

\link{http://www.debenhams.com/jv/product_details_jv.jsp?WebLogicSession=RAcMDvy51avkdJ0XK5L2owv8uKGK1LHrD0B9x7X1npug1kjDV7GA|-4440022107780822004/170661281/6/7005/7005/7002/7002/7005/-1|-7173419011604501842/170661294/6/7005/7005/7002/7002/7005/-1&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=8867331&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=6383795&bmUID=1141312527090#\conran at debenhams}

there is a beautiful dress 'Issy' at Monsoon
beautiful shade of blue
\link{http://store.monsoon.co.uk/catalog/Welcome\go to women, bridal, bridesmaids and search for Issy}

even the bridal section in monsoon would be nice, white is VERY in just now

the evening francine, acapulco long silk and blossom bridal dresses are lovely

I do like that conran one, am not sure about a bra to go under it, might have a look at lingerie options.
That monsoon issy dress is also very gorgeous
I did look at both those sites, just never looked at "bridal" LOL

if you go for a backless dress i would take the dress (if you can) to a lingerie shop that can help find you a bra to go under the dress

good luck and i hope you enjoy the awards thingy - sounds great! xxx

do you have a lot of norkage (thanks MN for that delightful word btw)? in which case I would avoid cowl necks
agree about taking dress to lingerie shop for proper undies
I do like that Issy one you know....

I have found a nancy ganz support garment with built in bra and see through straps, which can go strappy or halter neck
Am going frock shopping next week, to try some stuff one.
I had my gel nail manicure yesterday and a tiny stint on the sunbed (I usually fake tan but the costs and mess and the results aren't always great) so figured the vitamin d boost would be ok and its only for 6 weeks - I normally avoid the sun but do tan easily...
And had my brows waxed, will leave legs til last thing.
Dp is very excited at this intensive beautification programme
Thanks for the tips lasses!

And yes to the norkage...

coast?

john lewis geneerally

I saw a stunningly gorgeous yet understated dress in Coast today.

Can you get to John Lewis or Debenhams as one of them is bound to come up trumps.

Could I have an opinion on these two Monsoon frocks I found on Ebay
I fit Monsoon really well - I need a 14 as my norks yada yada
But anyway I found out that cocktail length is fine....

\link{http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STUNNING-MONSOON-IVY-SEQUINNED-DRESS-SZ-14_W0QQitemZ9300465536QQcategoryZ58444QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem\dress one}

\link{http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=9301249538&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT\dress 2}

I'm trying to limit the outgoings so I can spend more when over there :)
Will get to John Lewis next week hopefully and am off to Meadowhall on Sunday.
This buying of a dress is scaring me shitless

suspect the first one would be rather norktastic

Dress 1 is lovely

I think dress two would be too 'booby' and therefore look a bit tacky. Dress one is nice though.

The perils of norks (36E for the record) on a slim frame is that dresses are ghastly to fit.
They lok nice in most cross/ necklines though.
Have seen lush lush dress at coast but doubt it has nork room :(

I do prefer 1 over 2 - just wondered about the darker colour being more flattering