Help! Rare night out soon and need a dress that won't make me look and feel like a frumpy mum!

[VinoTime]

I'm on a night out with some of the guys from work in a couple of weeks time. I don't usually have the cash to go with them (city's just far too expensive for me) but I've caught back up financially after Christmas and I actually have some spare pennies for a change. I'd like to treat and remind myself that I am only 26 by going

I'm a size 12-14 with a god awful jiggly mummy tum I've got lots of sucky in pants that can smooth over the jiggly parts, but I need to find a dress that won't advertise just how disgusting my stomach is. Best features would be my legs and I can always give my boobs a gravity defying boost if I have to, to draw attention up. I'm not really a fan of sleeveless dresses but all the short sleeved ones I've looked at are hideous.

I want to feel young, pretty and confident. I don't want to spend the night thinking, "I feel fat and look ridiculous."

Please help!

i like that skirt Noddy.
OP dresses are hard.. have you any separates you like
plus COLD remember

Thank you so much for all the replies

I'm day shift as far as I know, so plenty of time to get home after work and get glammed up. Plan so far is go to a few bars and then head to a club. It's on a Thursday night which can still often be busy, so I want to look nice without being tarted up to the eyeballs as if it's a Saturday.

Maybe should have mentioned this in the OP but I'm only 5'2, so certain dresses can swamp me at times. I'm short and stumpy!

Budget? For the right dress I'd maybe swing up to £70-ish, though I'd rather keep it below £50. And yes, ideally I'd love a dress. I don't get out very often and it is a big treat to myself. I figured I'd go and flash a little leg whilst I let my hair down

Ignore her maryshelley-perhaps she will go away

Op -lots of nice dresses out there for your age-your bloody young! I would have a look again at Asos or on the high street try dotty p's or H&m.

you need bloody petite stuff then surely?
the stuff i pick up thinking this is nice and then i see the PETITE lable of doom

I like that one too, although tits - might make her a bit of a square

What about:
top

statement necklace

jeans

killer heels

A dress might be a step too far if your feeling a bit body conscious!

this would have been nice
but is out of stock
www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/black-jersey-off-the-shoulder-batwing-dress_299540101

I quite like this but it looks very short. Do you think they've stuck an incredibly tall model in it by any chance...? My legs definitely aren't that long and my thighs aren't that skinny! Kinda hating that model right now...

necklace again

i have a top a bit like that but from New look here www.newlook.com/shop/womens/tops/burgundy-long-sleeve-utility-shirt_285826867 mine is dark green. Is se through but wear an opaque bra. tuxedo jacket etc\

have it slightly untucked

that dress looks like an Alpine maiden

i wear very much like this with these acutal jeans - not as naff as pvc ones and toe capped shoes
shop.mango.com/US/p0/mango/clothing/coated-super-slim-jeans/?id=73328256_TN

Has anyone linked to the Zara snakeskin dress from their new season? It looks insanely short on the model, but should be fine on normal height people. I will find and link - it looks cool and not at all tight.

I have the Me + Em dress and it's very forgiving.

This one: www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/dresses/animal-print-dress-c565292p1666685.html

Another vote for me and em dresses. I am around your height and i got the cowel neck dress with sleeves. What is great about their stuff is you can make it shorter or longer simply by adjusting the pleats .

I think the me and em is too old hat for her.She is young. They are Loose woman tastic and a bit mother of the bride for clubbing.

www.coast-stores.com/mojito-dress/sale-dresses/coast/fcp-product/2224837780 how about this?

I like the style of this but would it hug in the wrong place...?

Gathered waistbands like that are horrid on mum tums. You need structure.

Sorry vino if your short, that style will make you look as wide as you are tall.

What kind of shape are you? Big/small boobs?

I don't know how to link but I wore this dress to a night out in the city before Christmas (met old team for night out and I am 26 too) and felt great in it - wore it with a black blazer and high high black shoes. Mine was a slightly different print but the style exactly the same and really flattering
m.topshop.com/mt/www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/dresses-442/floral-print-tea-dress-2583782?bi=25&ps=24
I don't know how to get links to work but google topshop floral print tea dress and should work