Help! You are 36ish and need a party frock....

[theluckiest]

Where do you shop for killer dresses?!!!

And I spent over an hour in John Lewis looking at all sorts of monstrosities. Am a teacher with young kids so don't get much to browse anymore.

I am mid (ok, getting to late) 30s, size 14, 5ft 5. Mrs Average UK. Bit of a tum, chunky thighs and bum but nice boobs, neck & shoulders. I need a lovely, knock em dead frock for my Christmas do.

Everything at the moment seems to be little flippy skater dresses geared at yoof (used to have the legs, not now sadly) or awful, frumpy, ruched numbers geared at God-alone-knows.

So if you are me, where do you shop? Where can I find a cracker of a dress? willing to spend up to £100.

I tend to go for 50s style, classic shaped stuff. Any ideas?

Dorothy perkins do some great dresses, lots of 50's style pencil dresses, really flattering. AND they do some amazing discount codes.

there's more online than in the shop too.

Oh, you sound like me.

Dorothy P do good pencil dresses that compliment our shape. You can get a good hold you in slip in m&s. Warehouse sometimes have great vintage style dresses too.

Thanks cuppa & Skate, will have a look.

Anyone got any secret online stores or amazing dress shops that you're keeping to yourself?!!

I used to have a link to a great Ebay shop that did 50s style / vintage stuff. Buggered if I can remember it though.

Shamelessly marking my place, you could be me!

The Pretty Dress Company might be good OP!

Also, was the EBay shop Sirens and Starlets? I use them loads .

Marisota do a lot of nice dresses. Their website is pretty good.

OP, I think you are me (although I'm not a teacher!)
will watch with interest.

East does some lovely dresses: so flattering!

I'm not sure how to do a link on my ipad, but Miss Bamboo do fab 50s style dresses.

Over budget but has sleeves - comes in black and royal blue too...
over again, stunning
LBD
teeny bit over budget (again, sorry) but stunning in the green taffeta. Proper sleeves again too. Love the back
this comes in loads of colours, great shape

Collectief, LadyV,
Vixen and Lindy Bop are worth a look sometimes.

These are nice - overbudget but 20% off so getting close
www.baukjen.com/uk/shop/be-inspired/get-the-party-started

I got an amazing dress from Deadly is THe female but nearer the £175 mark.

Banana Republic has 30% off everything until 11 December and has some nice dresses too.

Seems like a lot of shops are already starting discounting so there are bargains to be had!

vivien of Holloway on Ebay? Lots of circle skirts / dresses etc...

deadlyisthefemale.com/boutique/

Just what you're looking for.

Nigella made them a bit famous this year...

www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Nigella-Lawson-dress-Frome-s-Deadly-Female/story-18011526-detail/story.html#axzz2mhOHq7fl

Sorry I'll try again with working links

deadlyisthefemale.com/boutique/

www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Nigella-Lawson-dress-Frome-s-Deadly-Female/story-18011526-detail/story.html#axzz2mhOHq7fl

That's the one I bought Hercule, gorgeous though I did end up going up a size as couldn't have eaten anything in the small!

I'm your age and size but a touch taller and I found loads of stuff at atterley road. It looks too expensive at first glance but when I sorted the dresses by price I found lots.

I like Phase Eight for dresses - they make them for grown up people rather than little girls

Collectif
Deadly is the female
Lady vintage
The pretty dress company
20th century Foxy.

All do amazing dresses.