I want to buy one "nice" dress - suggestions?

[Curlyfrizzball]

I am the sort of person who usually buys my clothes (well actually everything really) as cheaply as I possibly can - lots of eBay and charity shop buys etc. This is great and I have had some brilliant bargains, but means I also have a load of stuff which isn't exactly what I wanted, or fits ok, but not as well as it could.

My DH and I have agreed that for my birthday present I will buy myself a dress. I don't think I'll be able to justify (to myself) spending over £50, but I would like a nice dress that really fits well and is well cut etc. I have fairly simple tastes style-wise - don't have the courage to wear large patterns and really bright colours, much as I think both can look stunning on other people.

Ideally I would like something that could be dressed up or down for different occasions (especially since I don't have many occasions to properly dress up and I want to wear it!)

The trouble is that I don't know where to look as I'm so used to not buying that sort of thing - any suggestions? Online would be good and then I can send it back if it doesn't fit.

I am 36, size 12, pear-shaped, narrow shoulders which means spaghetti straps don't often work as they just fall off, preferred length would be just above the knee.

Rather long, sorry! Would love suggestions though.

Ugh to V of H though. They look so cheap.

Some lovely trousers on there

Whilst you're here though - I tried this on the other day and thought of you.

The wrap pencil? Bloody love. A bit de trop for a portakabin honking of damp. :(

I told you our careers woman has a canary yellow one ?

What tops do you wear with pencil? I have one skirt and one top that goes

Canary yellow? I WANT it - please find out where it was from. I picked up a neon yellow one in TS t'other day and dp recoiled in horror.

Noddy - usually just a very plain t-shirt and either a Chanel-esque or biker-esque jacket. Sometimes a silky blouse tucked in.

I have very plain cos boxy stark thing which looks good but have nothing else. Too busty for t shirt would look like buxom secretary

Oh his no. It was horrible. Like a dfs sofa

That's why I put the jacket over the t-shirt!

This boring t-shirt is good for nork-shrinking.

Pmsl at DFS sofa. My arse is small though - it is a sofa free zone.

With pencils I wear a fitted shirt or boden ravello top. (This is work )

What sort of fitted shirt? I struggle with shirts due to tiny back and big chest.

I always thought so too - but I chanced my luck because the shop lights were giving me a headache - and she (Debenhams Oxford St) seemed to think it was quite normal to be consulted about a single dress. I said budget up to £150; she brought options from £40 (sale rail) to £150. She also brought me a bottle of fizzy water and waved me off with some perfume samples - so I felt very looked after.

I remarked on it to DH, because just the other week we had a conversation about how 'high street is dead - because it is worse service at higher prices, compared with online'. I think personal shopping with fashion advice makes the high street relevant again.

Dreaded boden again. The Cambridge one was ace. Now it's called "the shirt" and had to get a 14 in it.

Oddly always get compliments on it. From teenage girls and men.

Gah - I want REAL shops. I haven't bought anything from Boden for about 15 years, since I had 2 skirts nicked off the washing line.

It's nice - but would be beyond hideous on me. I try things like that on every now and then, just to make sure - they always look shite.

this is what i have in stone colour am going to get this though as such a good fit and looks good with slim trousers

I like that but I would look like this in such a thing.

I thought that but don't!

me too - cant do brutal type shaping

I like this.

It is quite fitted and elegant

I read that as brutal shagging.

I decided those drapey necks don't suit me make my boobs look saggy!

www.next.co.uk/x5240s1 back to the original question ...... comes in black, red or patterned.