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Original poster

What to wear for my 40th?

63 replies

Oblomov · 28/12/2012 14:04

I normally wear dresses. I feel lovely, if I get the right one. But I need to find a stunner of a dress, this time.
But i have put on quite a bit of weight in the last 2 years, and I have the worst cankles ever, and now I'm just not sure I can carry it off.
I have until the end of Jan to find something.
I am only 5'2'', size 14. I saw some lovely dresses in Hobbs in the sale a few days ago. They were a-line, which does suit me, becasue I have huge boobs, small wait, but very big thighs, and bottom. But the dresses were quite boring. And I need a 'wow' dress.
What do I do, other than lose a stone?

OP posts:

Mosman · 29/12/2012 00:26

I would get the plain dress and buy killer heels, have a new hair cut, great earrings and a manicure. Plain can look very classy and especially when you hit a certain age can be very wow as it a) suits you and b) you don't look muttony

NicknameHistory · 29/12/2012 00:28

good point mos... and if you seriously hate canklesthen get gorgeous shoeboots

Meggles76 · 29/12/2012 00:34

Mos is right. Get a plain dress, a great hair cut and blow dry, some fab statement earrings and killer heels.
I wore a very simply black lace dress to a Christmas do. Teamed it with some unusual gold hoop earrings, layered some gold and silver bracelets and wore a great pair of gold heels. The dress was essentially nothing special but I felt great.
Enjoy your birthday!

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 29/12/2012 00:36

Ive recently purchased the Hybrid Key Hole dress from asos (same height and size as you). Freaking amazing on. I bought primarni spanks to go under it and some killer heels. Will try and do a link (bloody phones!)

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 29/12/2012 00:37

here it is

Mosman · 29/12/2012 00:46

That is gorgeous I want it in both colours [greedy me ha ha]

Original poster

Oblomov · 29/12/2012 08:49

Thank you all.
Went out last night to my friends 40th, felt fab, wore a teal dress and black killer heels.
Mos (and Meggles) are right. I have already started with all those things. I have just had a fab haircut, I am having a big blonde stripe put in it next week, I have the fab earings and the black killer patent heels already. I will get a mnaicure and will have it blow dryed on the night. I am just not sure what to wear with it.
I have a green, blue, stripey dress, that everytime I wear I get loads of comments, but it is very summery and I have worn it to ds2's christening and quite a few other things over the years. So that is not the one for now.

Goldplated, I REALLY like your dresas. I think it could look really good on me. I think I may order both and see what they look like. I do have time.
I am not sure that the red or blue would look right on me. BUT, when I had my 'colour me beautiful' colours done, she said I was soft and muted. So I am supposed to buy soft muted colours - sage, etc, but my natural instinct, when I want a fab dress, it to go for sparkly wow, but this could be the mistake, when really I should remember the 'rules'.

I don't normally put photos on MN. But just to show you the green christening dress,and please remember I have put on weight since this photo, I will add the photo to my page, for a short time.

Maybe you could advise once you have seen my colouring and shape.

Please does anyone else have any other suggestions, for dresses that I could order. To try. Thank you.

OP posts:

Original poster

Oblomov · 29/12/2012 10:31

Goldplated, the size 14 and 16, (it does say it is small and to order the size up) are not available.

OP posts:

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 29/12/2012 11:05

Ooh nooo Im a 14 hips 10/12 bust and I went for the 14. Could have got a 12.

Original poster

Oblomov · 29/12/2012 14:04

So the hunt continues. what shall I do now? Do you have any other suggestions for any other dresses, please?

OP posts:

MsArsebiscuit · 29/12/2012 17:40

This is my new favourite dress site, I've bought three dresses over the past couple of months including the green version of this one for my work Christmas party and it was much admired Vintage glam.

Original poster

Oblomov · 30/12/2012 08:35

MsArse (love name) I ADORE your link. The dress in the plum. They have it in jade green aswell. I may order both.
I looked at the hourglass section, but they were a bit too clingy and I have such enormous thighs , that I really need a material that skims thighs, atleast a little bit, like the link you showed, rather than the classic totally hugging hourglass dresses.
What dresses did you order?
Do you have any other suggestions for ones I should look at. I only ask, because I really like your style. And think it could suit me PERFECTLY.

OP posts:

MsArsebiscuit · 30/12/2012 10:04

I'm glad you like it, the downsides with ordering from there is that you have to pay a (relatively) hefty p&p charge and then you pay an import charge a couple of weeks later, they do arrive within three days though and I've not found any uk stockists so far.

The dresses I have are,the Ava in jade, love it but as the reviews say, the top half is slightly small, I'm a 34ff and I bought the L, it fastens up but is VERY Up Pompeii.

This bad boy easier to wear than the Ava as less structured, also less cleavage-y

And this one Corrrr which I can't tell you anything about yet as I haven't got my sticky little paws on it, it's supposed to have a shaping interior thing.

You might like the Stop Staring dresses ( I have a couple, including the Billion Dollar Baby ) and Vivien of Holloway. Foxy
And a quick thank you to the MN Style & Beauty posters because I heard of all these sites and clothing makes on here.

MsArsebiscuit · 30/12/2012 10:28

Downsides 'are' Tskkk.

Original poster

Oblomov · 30/12/2012 16:42

Thanks for all your help MsArse, but the Ava dress in plum and also sage and not available. I have set up an e-mail request, but at the moment, I am unable to seem to find any dress which has availability

The Deadly dames and Monica (your 2nd and 3rd links) are just too clingy for me. Even the 'stop staring dresses', are lovely (am dead jealous of your figure!!), but I need just a bit of skimming over the hips - I need a material that hangs rather than clings over the thighs and hips, having fitted me very tightly over the bust and waist.

Am starting to feel like I am appearing impossible to please here.
But am a bit gutted that I have found 3 dresses I really like, but can't get the size.

OP posts:

OhCobblers · 30/12/2012 17:11

That Hybrid dress is gorgeous. I have my 40th not too far away and might give it a whirl! Op hope you find something. Thought the Ava dress was lovely too.

MsArsebiscuit · 30/12/2012 17:42

Oblomov, I set up an alert for the Monica dress which was out of stock in my size, they got it back in pretty quickly, and like I say, deliver in 3 days.

If you can't find anything else you like and are ok with borrowing someone else's frock, you can borrow my Ava.

MsArsebiscuit · 30/12/2012 17:46

The Stop Staring dresses, by the way are made of some industrial strength stretchy stuff, which pulls you in and are very cleverly cut/ruched so they disguise one's less attractive bits. I think Northumberland Lass on here got one for her 40th.

Northumberlandlass · 30/12/2012 18:17

Hey Oblomov, MrsArseBiscuit is right, I got the Billion Dollar Baby dress in red for my 40th! It really is made of the most incredible material! I'm 14/16 & 6ft tall - i'll try & put a pic on my profile in a bit.
As usual MrsA has put up some fab links...I lust after many of those frocks.

I went for a 'wow' dress, had hair put up quite 1950's, false eyelashes & Ruby Woo lips

Northumberlandlass · 30/12/2012 18:19

Bugger - can't put photo on my profile from my phone.....

MsArsebiscuit · 30/12/2012 19:38

Oblomov, if you google each of those dresses you will see them being worn by women with very much 'non-model' figures, they're the type of dresses that look better on people who aren't stick thin, honest, have a look.

Northumberlandlass · 30/12/2012 19:48

Being tall has it's moments. I wore leopard pointy flats with the dress & it worked I think!

I've got a pic at work which i'll put on my profile on Wed when i'm at work.

Completely agree though, these dresses are made for curves! The 'Billion Dollar' dress is also cut beautifully and is one of the most flattering i've ever worn. Bought mine from Deadly is the Female & their service was excellent.

Pleased your 'Ava' dress was admired MrsArseBiscuit...its a stunner. I'm looking for an excuse to buy it!!!!

MsArsebiscuit · 30/12/2012 20:03

I'd definitely recommend the Ava, it got loads of compliments but I felt rather self-conscious about my outrageous cleavage so probably shouldn't have worn it in front of colleagues, Northumberland.

I'm a shortarse so have always wanted to be leggy.

Northumberlandlass · 30/12/2012 20:09

Ah love it! Always good to cause a stir at a work 'do' - bet you looked awesome. It's a classy dress, so Classy Norks!

My legs are long, 1metre from hip to ankle, but it also causes problems finding trousers/jeans (see numerous other threads )

MsArsebiscuit · 30/12/2012 20:43

Not so much classy as 'in your face' and much commented upon.

I have the legs of a sturdy northern pit pony...

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