Help me feign an aura of chic togetherness...

[TheYoniExpress]

... Instead of frazzled new-ish mum!

My DD2 is being christened at the end of July. I have not lost loads of weight as planned so am now desperately trying to think of an outfit that will help me look half decent.

I am...
5'9" so tend to wear 1.5 inch heels max, 13st7lb and Carry most weight round tummy/hips - this seems to be a size 18 ish (apart from H&M who seem to think it means size 24)

Ideally would like a dress as by then will have stopped bf and want to celebrate not having to wear loose easy access tops.

Don't want empire line as will make me look pregnant... Maybe something a bit more tailored to hold in?!

Ideally patterned to hide any baby vom expelled throughout the day.

Not overly fussed about looking super glam, just don't want to look dowdy or pregnant still!

Help!

What about this? Sounds like you have the perfect figure for it, plus Boden have 30% off all dresses at mo so you can look at others if you don't like this one.

I think this may be a ladyV moment?

Aw hadn't thought of Boden and never heard of lady v. Thank you! I think i would need to go to an actual shop to try on as these hips of mine can radically mess up a nice dress ....

Might call up lady v and see how they take returns... Their prices are amazing!

Lady v dresses are lovely - I'm slightly shorter than you and around the same weight - busty but also been beaten with the hippy stick and have a considerable tummy (but a waist too...low down tummy which makes trousers or pencil skirts hideous ) and they are very flattering on. Mine is a 14 - the hips are pretty much freesize. If not them specifically then there are a lot of dresses around with that fuller skirted, slightly fifties shape and IME it is ideal for hiding the hips.

Others I like/have my eye on:

peopletree have a few
fit and flare
French connection have lots
monsoon
and again
pepperberry I have a last season colourway of this and it's very hip friendly.