Quick! Your mission should you choose to accept.....

[Leavehim]

Have been invited to a last minute black tie/cocktail event at an embassy next week.
In need of a dress.....

I'm 5"3, narrow shoulders, reasonable legs but a big post baby tummy (although looks slightly better in spanx)
Do not mind a bit of cleavage but need to look respectable.
Budget £150.
Suggestions for accessories would also be appreciated as i literally have no idea!!!

Do your best ladies! xxx

no, scratch that fossil one - doesn't go with the dress

clutch
shoes
Bracelet like this, this (in silver) or this

Anything like?

Mmm, that fossil one could well work. You'd have to check the tones agaist one another IRL. It's very nice. Might be jsut off though.

Mango or French Connection.

You WILL find something there. My last four nights out have been created in Mango. Love that shop.

Yeah, mango is excellent. Zara too sometimes.

oooh sarah berman is very nice too!

Hmm always avoid mango - thought it was for small people

Beautiful shoes - someone please buy them as they are too pretty to live in a stock room and I can't justify buying them at that price!

I like the coast one however concerned it is a little wintery.
Has anyone found anything more summery?

this? a drop over budget though

mango monochrome
mango well draped LBD
warehouse cream
too wedding guest? very nice
oasis bronze would be a decent length on you
oasis teal (or red), very flattering
oasis very blue

Embassy events tend to be quite conservative. Think discreet quality, not glitzy. Knee length black and navy will make you fit in. Leopard or a lot of lace and sequins and cleavage on display will look trashy unless you are really someone who can pull it off (say, a retired Brazilian runway model). If you want to stand out in a good way, I'd suggest cream or jewel colors.

Don't overaccessorize, what you already have sounds about right. People usually wear a string of pearls / a discreet gold chain and or a nice watch. I would not go for high street costume jewellery. I'd say a nice bag would be good - a clutch if you are comfortable with them (I'm not - also not ideal if it is cocktail party - you won't be able to eat) but many women will have a traditional handbag. Will you be sitting or standing? Good shoes are essential. I often wear black courts that have been properly broken in, also ancient dainty toed Zara wedges that are painless on even after hours and hours. Unless it is a sitting dinner you'll be on your feet all night long. If it's a sit down dinner women tend to cover their arms if wearing a sleeveless dress (well cut jacket or bolero best).

I like this a lot but one would have to check the quality of the fabric

LOADS of good dresses at Reiss:
blue
yellow
black
good for tummy?
silver

LK Bennett
All Saints

thanks donaAna

What about something like this

www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0112-5330-3517L00&productvarid=0112-5330-3517L00-BLACK%20IVORY-16&refpage=dresses/occasion-dresses

or
www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0112-5363-3501L00&productvarid=0112-5363-3501L00-NAVY-16&refpage=dresses/occasion-dresses

Love the black Hobbs dress.

Hobbs #2, I could wear it. The first one might be too patterny.

Remember that many come to receptions straight from work. Unless the occasion is something extra special, you'll see normal business attire, trouser suits and dressier jacket and skirt combos.

I've seen people wear all kinds of strange things to receptions - don't wear a maxi, floor length evening dress or your wedding dress and you'll be fine!