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

Love becky's idea of a plain dark-coloured top and special skirt - I do this a lot.

Am sat here typing in a slim-fitting v-necked BLACK top and beige-y, suedette skirt!

you are right i'm not used to it. dont fel sexy, just top heavy.

like idea of nice skirt. legs are still size 10

sorry for typing now bf baby

I like this skirt from Wallis - but is black a bit boring? (Black's what I'd probably end up with myself, but I think the true style gurus would frown on it as unimaginative)

Oooh - or this one - I love 'sludgy' colours, but not sure if they're your sort of thing...

Bit dramatic - satin with a fishtail ?

oh yes they are lovely. Like the green / black one though think that flabby tummy means losing the bow. So I need to look for plain top to go with fancy skirts right? [confused emoticon]
Not sure if plain jersey top will be be dressy enough for "black tie" ?

Oh I am SO USELESS at this.........

Actually I think that the bow will hide any sort of flabby tummy (and get magic knickers from M&S to help too, if necessary). But I suspect with a fuller skirt like this you probably need a more fitted top - Come back Mrs Badger - we need your help.

Just noticed that the black one with the white flowers has a matching top - not sure if I like both together - both pretty, but might be too much. There's also this that might go with either of them.

ooh, sorry, wandered off to do some work

Love the idea of an exciting skirt and a plain top, and a dressy skirt means you could get away with a plainer wrap top as beckybrastraps suggests.
It needn't be tight particularly but if it's fitted round the waist the full skirt below and large norks above mean you achieve perfect hourglass-ness with zero effort.

Try Monsoon for skirts - they have beautiful embroidered and appliquéd ones at the moment - and wear fab shoes to show off legs.

mrs badger - are you etiquette queen as well s style queen? Do you think a wrap top is dressy enough for a black tie function?

oh yes, so long as it's not actually a cotton t-shirty one, but if you can find one in an eveningy fabric so much the better. Add a sparkly necklace and stick your hair up. Cocktail black tie is a v forgiving dresscode, much more so than ballgown black tie.

If you're hugely rich and/or can blow the budget, DvF is worth checking out.

all part of my plan for total domination
[rubs hands gleefully]
today MN, tomorrow the Guardian, Saturday... THE WORLD!
Mwhahahhahaha!

ok I see the kind of thing you mean...its lovely - I'll just wait til they have it in Primark

It just says "black tie" on the invite but I assume its cocktail dresses. Went to a similar function last year. This one is in ....ahem....a city well known for the frumpy clothes of its female residents and its also an academic function (ditto). Y'know, the opposite of footballers wives. So I don't think i need to look cutting edge, just passable!!!

Am going to check out Monsoon and Wallis tomorrow, when can get rid of all but one child
( my kids hate shopping almost as much as i do)

Am also seriously considering that monsoon dress on ebay

BTW just to hijack my own thread............dont you think its rather lazy journalism just to cobble together a few quotes from mumsnet & similar sites???? Money for old rope IMHO