Well dressed, but casual, women in your 40s - tell me what you're wearing today.

[Santastic]

I think I am in a bit of a style rut. Not badly dressed - just a bit boring/safe/. Always seem to live in shirt/t shirt, cardigan, skinny jeans and boots. Quite like my look but want to be just a little more...... "together" I guess!! Tell me what you're wearing that is more together than me. Thank you.

Mordion please come back so I know you are not crying in the toilets. Here, have some rotten fruit and tomatoes. Throw them at me. I hate myself.

OH I ACHE FOR IT. Looks fantastic and I'm not just saying that.

Perfick for Park L. Very simple but modern - it works. You will slay all ladies dressed up as Xmas trees - partic in that envt., posh hotels are way more minimalist than you think.

Yep, shoe boots. I say. You will look really, properly superb. Enjoy!

LALA - If you're worried you haven't spent enough on me, as luck would have it, the dress is still on sale. At HALF PRICE. I'm sure S&B MNetters wouldn't want to be called as witnesses in a South London bitch fight. Outside a fried chicken shop.

Size 14 is Low in stock! I'm only thinking of you, dear.

Oh poor FN. Please come back, Mordion - before she drowns herself in the juice of rotten tomatoes.

Fellatio (makes sure nobody is looking) I was having a remedial fag outside. Shhhh.

I'm sorry I was so grinchy about your post. You are entitled to your view of course and I think now that you are right. I must have been mad. :( But I'm stuck with it. Please don't feel bad though. and again - I'm sorry for snapping at you. Am horrible person.

I hear all of you saying heels but honestly - I like WARMTH. And I like not feeling like I'm going to fall over. One possibility is to travel to the posh hotel in my boots and then change in the cloak room into the shoe boot things, the colleague with whom I am travelling to the party is planning to do a similar thing with her footwear too.

Re hair and makeup - I hardly ever wear makeup. But tonight I will prob wear some BB cream rather than just moisturiser. And maybe maybe maybe some red lip tint (not full blooded lipstick, that's too much for my face). My hair is short and very curly. It is basically 80s hair, because 80's hair was actually mordionhair. For a few short years in the 80s everyone was trying to look like me. It'll be a bit spikier than usual because I will be making an effort

Last year I wore a very short very tight (even on me, I'm a size 6-8) bodycon dress and very high (for me) clumpy shoes and spent quite a lot of the time pulling the hem down. And the rest of the time picking myself up after I'd fallen over. Even though I now think this years dress was a mistake I still think it will be better than last year in that respect.

At least nobody expects me to look 'normal'. I am sufficiently senior (in position, not in age. Well, actually, yes that too :( ) and sufficiently already known to be bonkers that nobody's view of me will be altered by tonight. Probably.

Mordion come on sweet, it's a great dress, your ensemble is notable for its elegance and there's good food & wine in swell Park Lane as a reward. What's not to love?

Mordion That all sounds solidly above the average. To be honest, I am firm in my belief you will look lovely.

I know what you mean about short dresses - nothing worse when they ride, awful. Oh, except for tights falling down simultaneously. You never forget, for some reason.

Now if you're considering a panic buy (NOT ANOTHER DRESS) you might want a capacious scarf for warmth.

Cory - rest assured, I have spent enough .

Mordion - it is a seriously gorgeous dress and only someone of impeccable taste could have picked it out. You will look fab, no one will care what you wear on your feet - if you live in Devon, I'm guessing you don't go to Park Lane soirees every week so just go and have a fab time, dammit.

As an aside, if you do live in deepest, darkest, you may have forgotten how little Londoners give a toss what people wear - we are very big on tipping the wink to a well-thought accessory or a clever use of colour but, seriously, it's very un-Hyacinth Bucket here and you can get away with almost anything if you wear it with confidence and a knowing smile.

You'll be fine. Wear boots to travel in, change into heels in the loo, find a chair (using your seniority to chuck quaking juniors off the table you want if needed!), have a drink and since we're talking eighties - RELAX.

Mordion that dress is amazing and on someone with your slim frame will look just brill. It is the sort of thing I love to see on petite framed women like you, and would love to see on me but I know that my size 12 can't carry it off. Wear it with attitude and know that people will be well jell

Are you a lawyer Mordion? I've been to those dinners.

You will rock it. I've no doubt the rest of the guests will be trussed up like tranvestite turkeys or, o the horror, in a "day-to-evening wrap top accessorized with sparkle".

But you're not a twat.

trussed up like transvestite turkeys accessorized with sparkle

Yes. YES. That would be me. the fat, short, trussed, sparkly, transvestite turkey.

I have been outside and flagellated myself. Am I allowed back in? I see this has turned into the biggest damage limitation exercise in the world.

And they are all right Mordion. Fuck me, what do I know? I know nothing.

lala I may live there but I'm from here. And I work here a lot of the time (also other places round the world including NYC) But I'm very dyspraxic so I have issues with, well, clothes. We have our bash in Park Lane every year (used to be the Savoy but the firm outgrew it). There will be >700 people there. Realistically, nobody will notice me. It's black tie so many of the women will be wearing ballgowny type dresses. I utterly diskard them, I would look wet and a weed chizz chizz.

Cory Accountant. By profession. I don't do 'accounting' as such though.

Fellatio I bet you aren't. Look, I'm a size 16 and I want that dress like a bastard. Even tho I am the one who should be putting paper frills on my legs...

Mordion In your position my only style concern would be catching sight of the other guests and being put off my supper. (I did work experience at Arthur Andersen back in the day.)

Fellatio I am honking and tearful at your turkey line.

Cory I'm sure most people will look lovely. I on the other hand will look like me. But never mind eh. Ultimately unless they genuinely believe that people have fairy godmothers able to do a cinderella style transformation scene before this evening they will surely not be surprised that people look like they kind of usually look.

Although, worryingly, there are few people left in the office now, apparently many have gone home/where they are staying to 'get ready'. How long can it actually TAKE to take off one set of clothes, have a shower, and put on a dress. Even if I run a bath and listen to an episode of Bleak Expectations while I'm in it (not unknown) I will still be done in 45 mins, tops. [low maintenance smiley] [looking poo smiley]

Mordion that dress can look very cool - no effort arty indie cool - on someone who can wear it well.

I go to a lot of parties and people who pick simple clean lines always win.

You will be that person tonight! Have a great night!

Ooh, I remember high maintenance days from being a teenager, when it used to take 2 or 3 hours to get ready.

Wow - my little thread has turned into a great big proper thread. One of you mentioned colour blocking - I have a vague understanding but need help (for truly I am a style idiot - and possibly colour blind to boot!) I had my colours done recently and I am a warm autumn. I've just bought two pairs of skinnies - one in a deep green and the other in a marine blue, now what do I wear on top? How difficult can it be to get dressed in the morning? :)

I think it was probably me who told you to colour block, I am slightly obsessed with it. Do it simply at first: bright (very bright, think garish) tights with a neutral (say, grey not black) dress and a bright cardigan in a contrasting colour. Then, as you build up the colours in your wardrobe you can get more experimental - fewer neutrals, more colourful accessories.

The important thing is not to try to match anything together. Generally it is much easier to do if you avoid clothes with a pattern - although a very strong single graphic design might be ok. Coloured skinnies are a very good place to start: try wearing either with a tangerine top and a grey/navy cardigan.

HTH

I love Mordion's dress and if I had anywhere to go I'd buy it myself

Hey Mordion, after you have slayed your colleagues at Parklane, you might want to check out the dresses in the isabella oliver baukjen sale

Some are suitable for work. I am a size 6-8 and from the choice of your dress, might have your figure too