Which dress is nicer for a special party?

[Wafflesnaffler]

Thanks to a previous thread I realise I need to buy a new dress for my husband's 40th party. It's a night-time thing I'm organising and I want to look nice as almost everyone he knows/likes is coming. I have some dress options...

I love this, but know I'll only wear it once (don't have any call for it usually, and it's too memorable to wear a lot). A lot of money for just one night - that money could be added to the behind-the-bar fund!

www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Dresses/71ANP/Spectacular+Sparkle+Dress.htm

This is my favourite because I love it and I could also wear it to future things like weddings and parties, but not sure if it's too daytime-y for this party, or if it could be dressed up enough for night:

www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Dresses/71AFW/Woodland+Confetti+Dress.htm

This, in 3 possible colourways. It's versatile, is the cheapest and it has the right cut to suit me, but it's the least "special":

Lime/yellow
www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Dresses/71AIW/Feline+Wonder+V-Neck+Dress.htm

Autumnal
www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Dresses/71AKW/Pebble+Petal+V-Neck+Flared+Dress.htm

Red
www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Dresses/71AKL/Feline+Wonder+V-Neck+Dress.htm

I'm 34 and a size 12-14 btw. Thanks very much! :)

Number one! It's so timelessly chic. Sorry, I know it's the most expensive

what time of year is it? Only the first one looks suitable for a winter evening do.

Ooh I like all of those! I think I would go for 1 or 2. The first is a great party dress, the second is really classy.

Number 1 definitely. I think none of the rest are partyish enough

First one it's stunning!

I like the last one, the red one. You could dress that up with heels and jewellery.

I am just a little bit in love with the first one and will not partake of any wine this evening, for fear of buying it myself!

It's truly timeless though, you would wear it more often than once....

The French Connection dress is diiiviiine.

I've just bought this which is similar and cheaper!

I actually really like this but then I am rather ((very)) <a class="break-all" href="//conservative!www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Dresses/71AXT/Twist+Metal+Jersey+Dress.htm#BVRRWidgetID" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">conservative!www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Dresses/71AXT/Twist+Metal+Jersey+Dress.htm#BVRRWidgetID

Sorry! Link here

www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Dresses/71AXT/Twist+Metal+Jersey+Dress.htm#BVRRWidgetID

Oh maaaaaan, now I'm in trouble. I was hoping you'd make me un-love no.1 and tell me that no.2 could indeed be made partyable with the right accessories. If it wasn't his 40th I wouldn't even be considering no.1 for a one-off event. By the time an event came round where I could wear it again, I'll probably be too elderly to pull it off with the length it is! Maybe I could flog it on ebay afterwards, making it less expensive.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your honesty again.

Bunny, the dress you bought is wonderfully similar! I'd be all over it like a rash except I have a short neck and therefore need a deep neckline.

Thanks Windowbasket, that's a nice dress but I couldn't wear it as I have bumpy bits, small boobs, short neck and sausagey arms/weak shoulders. So I always look for heavy fabrics and things which fix, detract from or suit those issues!

This? www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Dresses/Occasion-Dresses/WH600-TEA/Womens-Teal_Black-Tulip-Party-Dress.html

A few more

Oasis

ASOS available in 3 colours!

House of Fraser more prom style so maybe not your style but pretty and a great reduction!

I like the first one OP but it's quite short, have you got good legs?

Number 1 is beautiful

Get the Woodland Confetti one, or the HoF prom dress Bunny posted. I don't like the shape of the other FC ones...a bit unforgiving and not as chic as the others.

BunnyLebowski, you are a veritable genius! That ASOS one looks like an excellent compromise! I'll order it and see what that skirt fabric looks like in real life.

Windowbasket, thankyou for the Boden one....still concerned about my stumpy neck in it though!

Twinklestein, I've got very good legs from the knees down (fat knees but that just means I have to wear tights if they're on show), so I'll give it a go. If not it'll be dress no.2 which is my standard flattering length.

Oh yay

Hope it's as nice when it turns up! Keep us posted!