I am short and I need a black tie dress

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

Can anyone help? I know what I don't want but don't really know what would work. I am short and don't usually wear long dresses - they don't suit me and I get lost in too much material. But I have an event coming up and I must wear a long dress. So what I know is that I want a dress that doesn't have masses of extra material - but at the same time I don't want anything too tight under my bum. I haven't really thought of a budget but - I guess up to 500 pounds but less than that also would be good.

Can anyone help? Or just give advice on how those of us who are short can carry off the formal look without being swamped...

Desperate bump...

Do you def need to go long? I wore this recently, am 5' 4'' and it fits really nicely. www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/phase-eightAnabelle-Embroidered-Fit-And-Flare-Dress/202258050.

Duh sorry, have just realised you said really must go long. How tall are you?

Thanks Bobbin. Yes it must be long. I am 5 foot 1. I'm willing to get something altered at the bottom but need a style which isn't too voluminous to begin with.

What size are you?

How about something like this or this?

Or perhaps something which looks like separates to give the illusion of length? Like this

Oh hello Tethers - am so pleased you are here. Read S&B a lot and always like your links! I'm a size 8.

I like the idea of separates but not that exact link - it looks a bit too severe and I worry about looking frumpy. The blue dress is nice but doesn't feel quite right either.

I've just moved jobs and may well have a number of black tie events coming up so I'd really like to invest in something I can wear again and that won't date….

So more expensive, right?

Will look.

not in your size, but how do you feel about the style?

JCrew? Good range of colours - this or this navy is elegant and has a lovely back

Sorry that second JCrew isn't in the petite range.

ASOS very glam?

I think a flared skirt as in the first J Crew one would swap a smaller frame, so surprised its in the petite range. The second one is gorgeous, though.

biba

Oh that Biba would be the one for me! drool. Can you do heels op?

Sorry for the late reply - have been out all day and am on another time zone (which is why I need to order the dress now so it makes it in time…)

Yes I can and always do do heels. Quite high usually. Thanks for the links so far. I really hate to sound picky but: the J Crew I think wouldn't work for me - it's lovely but I don't think someone my height could do it justice. I like both of Tether's links but they both look quite clingy and although I am slim I can't do dress which show every lump and bump as I have a fair few of them. Any other suggestions?

And thanks SO much for the help.

uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_4,mon_4.3/4530326114

my sister is a size 6 - 8 and 5ft tall and this is the kind of thing that she finds suits her at all the glam things she gets to go to.

oooh but i love this!

www.lightinthebox.com/A-line-Strapless-Sweep-Brush-Train-Chiffon-Evening-Dress_p254531.html

www.lightinthebox.com/narrow/petite_v1499t0/formal-evening_v1508t0/special-occasion-dresses_c2048/5.html

joke

ooh wrong link above!!

Thanks for trying Westmorland but I think both of those (and particularly the green one) fall into the 'too much material' category.

I wonder if I am asking the impossible?

I think M&S petite online may have the odd full length black dress.

m.coast-stores.com/deco-maxi-dress/dresses/coast/fcp-product/2213168541

m.coast-stores.com/constantina-maxi-dress/dresses/coast/fcp-product/2213170498

Oh my, that Deco Maxi dress is absolutely beautiful.

No that's OK OP. I think sometimes with these threads it's just a way to narrow down your options i.e. figure out what you don't want first.

I am wondering how you would feel about this evening skirt from Coast -- worn with a top like the model's ? I sort of think it's amazing in theory but no idea how it would work in RL. It is very evening-y and glamorous (would look great with a French twist) but like I say, not sure what it would be like in RL and not sure that I would go for it myself.

J Brand -- too simple? The model is wearing it with flats so lengthwise it might work out fine. Quite elegant actually.

This is simple and not too clingy but it does say that if you're petite to size down and only the size 8 (US4) is left. Like the idea of doing a really interesting clutch with a simple black dress.

Thanks so much Faddy. Both for being kind about my fussiness and for the extra links!

YOu are right this has helped me narrow down what I do want. I don't like the skirt you suggest - waaay to big for my small frame. And I think my conclusion is that I don't like wafty material either (not sure how else to say that). So my conclusion is that what I am looking for is structured/ tailored but not clingy. It needs to be cut quite close to my frame to ensure I am not lost in it but clingy material doesn't do me any favors.

With this new brief, does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks so much again.

Another thought on this: I like dresses which have straps that go over the arms but not the shoulders if you see what I mean (sort of off the shoulder) as I find they balance me out. Also like corsetty type things but really want something classic rather than trashy which is harder to find with a corset.