Outfit for school reunion - please suggest things

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

Argh I have agreed to go to a school reunion I don't know why either

I do not do fashion at all. I dress entirely from Sainsburys generally

I am very short 5ft/5ft1 at a push. Apple shaped. Nice legs, nice bust but very fat belly/flat arse. Fair hair, mid to late thirties

I don't need to look 'foxy' but I would like to look good and not like a bag of rags. Tend to wear muted colours, not bright stuff but ok with purple/deep pinks - no orange, green makes me look ill.

Generally happier in separates as struggle to find dresses that fit well as generally need a generous size 16 top to accommodate norks but then it is swimming on the rest of me - too fat for 'petite' wear TBH. Am flexible re dress though.

Any suggestions, please?

Would you be prepared to have something altered to fit? It sounds like this sort of shape would be really flattering on you. They are very high wasted so the lowest the wait would come is your natural waist but I think even at 5' the waist would still be a wee bit high (which is A Good Thing).

I think that would be decorating the fattest part of my body with a big bow I really have no waist, just rolls there.

I could go for alteration, I know MIL or her friend would be able to do it. Just don't know where to start Plus I haven't got good shops locally - no big department store. Just boutiques for very slim rich people or chain stores. No Zara, no Monsoon. Just Dottie P, New Look ,TopShop, M&S. So may need to get various stuff online to try on.

www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=21&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33053&storeId=12552&productId=6582614&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=226989&parent_categoryId=226988&pageSize=20 I quite like this? Is a bit dull? But so am I it's fairly me for a dress

Lol t'is a removable matching belt - ties at the front or back. Here's an apple shaped human in one of their other dresses (same dress different fabric), she's not got a petticoat on but it's still very flattering. here too, apple again but with petticoat.

But, yah, I like the DP dress I'm wondering about ordering it myself. It's not at all forgiving though.

I like the first picture - the second pic the lady looks less apple shaped to me though, she looks more hourglass compared to my flat bum. I preferred the patterned fabric too, and it's not ££. Will have a mooch on the website

Petticoat and cut of the dress would totally vanish your flat bum. Honest. That sort of cut gives us all a fake hourglass shape

The patterned ones are more my thing too TBH.

How about a dress like this? Poetry It is not glam but it is pretty and looks comfortable - loads of nice clothes for autumn on their sit.

Argh I don't know. I might end up trying on what's already in my wardrobe. I have a silk monsoon number from several years ago, no idea if it still fits me though. And no one has seen it, wore it to a family party only.

I may just see if I can get a spanx style camisoley thing to wear under it. On the plus side, there's some good codes for DP to be found via google

The poetry one is too shapeless I think - its nice but it wouldn't suit me, and I suspect it would come to mid calf . I do have a free delivery doodah for Poetry somewhere though.

How about something like this? You could dress it up with nice boots and jewellery and it looks like something you could wear afterwards.

I like that Boden one, but I would look like a little barrel in it. I think I was hoping some kind of print might distract from the flab.

I'm not huge, but not toned at all and very flabby round the middle sound lovely don't I I think I need something that makes the most of my nice bosoms or legs, they are my best features really, but not loads of boobs hanging out either.

Would a day trip out to somewhere with a big Debenhams or to Liverpool One be a better option do you think? Budget is middling I suppose, doesn't need to be cheap but I don't want to spend a fortune either.

I usually wear scoop neck or V necked tops with skinny cords or skinny jeans but suffer from a bit of that carrot effect in tight jeans. Have a few 'mini' shirts from Boden that sit just above the knee on me in the regular length. Maybe just a nice top to perk one of those up? And some new jewellery to cheer it up a bit?

That's the trouble, I am already starting to plan to look like an off duty midwife. You know the ones who have purple hair and wacky earrings to 'show off their personality' because they spend all day in a uniform and don't know how to dress in civilian clothes. I am not a MW but am a nurse and still can't dress without a uniform! Currently adapted to my SAHM uniform, of course

Do trousers.
Plain black. plain black top
Then amazing shoes and bag
Amazing earrings. Hairdo

YY I have a nice black top and black trousers with thin pinstripe that fit nicely. Am planning top-up of long over due highlights and trim of hair. Would rather feel confident in something that suits me than look like I tried too hard, IYKWIM.

This is probably my answer to everything but if you can get to a Debenhams why not book a personal shopper session? You explain what you like, the colours you prefer, the sort of thing you are looking for and then sit back with a coffee while someone else does the hard work!

I was very sceptical but went for a dress for a wedding and came out with things that really suited me but which I would never have looked at normally. There was no prressure to buy and they will also bring shoes and jewellery if you need that. It was well worth the time, I hate shopping but this was a great experience.

Would the personal shopper thing need to be prebooked? And would it be a nightmare with children? I can't go on a school day because I couldn't get back in time, it would be a good hour+ away and I'm not entirely sure I can be arsed!

I am clearly just too damn lazy to look nice