A challenge for the style shop - cocktail dress required for large norked middle aged mum

[KristinaM]

Is the style shop open? I need a cocktail dress (or similar) for a black tie do. Only problem is I have HUGE BF norks - a 32J which makes me a size 18 on top . And a flabby post babies tummy. The rest of me is about a 14.

So strapless is out because of the norks and anyway I prefer my arms covered - they are flabby as well. The curse of middle age......

I've been to Debenhams today and they have loads of "prom dresses" which would look great on my 20 year old daughter. Clearly women of a certain age are not expected to go out after dark

Two suggestions for you -

1)separates

2)monsoon

I've got 32H norks with a size 12 bottom half. CAN'T do dresses, - ever. Recently gor gorgeous red, ruched top (v strappy, so may not be what you want) from Monsoon, wearing for a wedding next week + black tie do in Nov with a gold, pleated/A-line skirt from Next.

HTH

Sassy - that is very helpful. i have no idea how to dress myself as this is all new to me....I was under 8 stone and size 6-8 a few years ago. until 3 pregnancies back to back and a thyroid problem have put me up to over 10 stone. That plus the enormous norks has just floored me

I still think like a slim woman who used to wear bias cut shift dresses in clingy fabrics....so everything I try on in shops looks terrible on me

Seperates makes perfect sense .

You could book a personal shopper? They would help you dress your "new improved " shape, show you what works etc.

are you a monsoon regular? Do they have personal shoppers? Are the staff fairly helpful or is it full of snotty teenagers?

I have used the personal shopper in John Lewis years ago ...coudl try there...

Thanks Sassy

Ok , have looked at Monsoon online. i know i've to get a skirt and top rather than a dress, but what kind of top will have sleeves and also look formal enough for a black tie dinner?

all the tops i have seen look like something you would wear to the office

Separtes yesm but I would go strappy top, plus a pretty cardi/shrug thingy I think. Monsoon have some loely stuff, but you maybe a little early foor their 'party' clothes. When is the do?

Look monsoon chila here on ebay. This dress is fab. I had a green one which in a size 16 was huge around the boobs. However I sold it on ebay and bought the top in purple which I can get more wear out of

Sounds like a job for the silk kimono wrap top - get one with plunging v to showcase norks and with ties that wrap round at waist level to create definition and disguise any tummy-saggage.

I have a rather elderly one from Monsoon that I trot out at least once a year but they don't seem to have any at the moment - Principles have one which might do the trick?

Time permitting, I'd consider getting a dressmaker to make some things up for you. You could have a lovely dress made to measure by taking a pattern in two different sizes and having the seamstress put it together.

It costs a bit more of course but you have the benefit of choosing a colour that really suits you and they often find lovely material.

I know a woman who does this and designs clothes to suit people too. They're stunning.

ok crunchie , that looks like it would work for me. I might bid for one but must confess I am an ebay virgin. When you say the 16 was huge on the boobs....ahem....can I ask you what bust size you are

I agree with the wrap top suggestion, very flattering. The principlres one linked too would look gorgeous with a long black satin skirt. You can always dress up with shoes and jewellry

As a bit of an aside, as it's not dressy enough for cocktail, but lovely for daytime - did you know that Bravissimo now do a wrap dress ? Looks nice, too.

jackie - I actually went into Bravissimo last week, after major logistics of getting DH to watch hoards of small children who hate shops and trains. They had NO autumn clothes in teh shop, only summer sale stuff. Tho did get new HIDEOUS 32J nursing bra in exciting colours of white and black. sigh

"Do" is on 8 october. i went to one this time last year when hugely pg and had to find dress for that too. At least norks were smaller then and looked positively miniscule next to bump.

Now I dont look pregnant just fat. Wish i hadnt moaned so much about looking pregnant

Ok so going with wrap top / kimono style

is thsi suitable? blak and white top

can you tell I never wear dresses? Apart from the one I got for black tie do when 8 montsh preg, the last one I wore was my wedding dress

i am too used to being a SAHM scruffing around teh house in..........whispers............. trainers, trackies and fleece. i used to even ( oh no, i cant bear it, I need to confess now ) wear them on the school run. Until I lurked in the MN style shop and became SO SCARED of the snooty staff. I thought they might track me down, y'know like Trinny and Suz. ..... so i went out and bought a short red coat, smart jeans and brown boots. And am still looking for a nice big brown leather bag to replace my Asda plastic carrier

this one?

I saw it but hesitated to recommend it because a) I think the neck is too high and b) it's got an empire line.
This may work for you but I find things that cinch in at your natural waist make it look much, much smaller than empirey things that flow past it, but it is worth a try.

snap Mrs Badger!

Kristina - my monsoon top is size 14 and a snug fit on my 32Hs, 16 would be a bit big.

Which black and white are you looking at?

sorry that was teh one I was trying to link to . Strangely only seems to come in size 12???

guess the other sizes are just out of stock at the moment

Just seen it.

Mmmmm, not sure. Might lose your waist in that, look a bit pg.

I love the Miko, mink top - there's a lovely matching evening skirt too. Bit pricey though - £125 for the lot.

sorry sassy i messed up the link. It was the one Mrs Badger linked to. So I coudl get the monsoon dress in a 16 as i'm a size bigger than you? Or does it not work like that? I just measured by bust it is 42"

If I were you I'd go for a plain black wrap top and a really fantastic skirt. The problem with the top you linked to is that you would be all boobs, and if you're not used to the, that can be hard to pull off!

Last christmas I wore a green wrap top with a brown silk skirt, just on the knee, with a fancy pleat-type think at the back. The top was just plain jersey, but it looked dressy with the skirt. Or you could go for one that's embellished, beads or jewellery.

OMG - typing! I hope you get the gist!

Mine is 39" (just checked for you).

Mahoosive norks, slim back, y'see.

I'd have thought 16 would be ok. 18 would prob lose your shape altogether.

(Can you tell I'm used to this massive hoo-hars malarkey?)