please help me find a cocktail dress

[MrsWobble3]

ok - the challenge - I have been invited to an old college friend's 50th birthday party. he is a hugely successful hedge fund manager - there are party organisers - so whilst I've no idea what the party is costing I think it's fair to assume it will be a lot. And I think the party guests are likely to be a wealthy bunch. I realise that this is very shallow of me but I think that I've also been reasonably successful (if not at the same financial level as my friend) and I want to show off too.

So, I need a new dress. I think the women there are likely to be a mix of old friends and trophy wives. I don't want to be frumpy but nor do I want to risk the mutton dressed as lamb look - so what do I wear?

I am 5 foot 4, size 8, fair skin and highlighted light brown hair. I am not particularly constrained by budget - but don't know where to start looking.

any suggestions? I'm in London so can get to a reasonable range of shops.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Can you give a ball park budget? Up to £100 or up to £1000?

What sort of length? Sleeves?

What do you usually like?

Do you want to stand out or blend in?

any thoughts on this?

thanks for replying. Budget is relatively unlimited so £1000 on the right dress isn't a problem.

your other questions are where I struggle - length - i like short dresses but am 49 so think i'm probably too old - so I think probably just above the knee.

Sleeves - no particular view but not keen on strapless since i don't like not wearing a bra and find strapless bras uncomfortable.

what do i usually like? probably dresses that are too young for me unfortunately.

and as to standing out/blending in - i don't want to especially stand out - i'm not looking for a wow factor, but i want to look good.

i don't think i want a black dress - but then i'm not sure about a colour either. i quite like the idea of a colour block shift dress - but haven't found anything that's quite what i had in mind. i think it needs to be dressier than something you could wear to the office.

does any of this help?

What colours do you like? This colour is incredible irl.

that's possibly too black - but otherwise not too far off the sort of thing. and it gives me a name to start looking for so thanks

tethers love that also saw this on there which i would love if I had the £ www.stylebop.com/uk/product_details.php?menu1=clothing&menu2=5&id=563650

Remus - that colour is fantastic - do you know how the draping on the hips works in real life? i guess it's probably something you can only tell by trying on

noddyholder - if that dress fits it's perfect - thank you!

but please keep the ideas coming - this is so much better than googling

thank you all

Not tried it on, sorry. But you do need to see how her dresses work on your figure.

Where do you usually shop?

(Wishing to avoid a grandmother / eggsucking situation...)

Navy VW one here

If it were me I'd want something fierce from say Rick Owens or Acne Studios....

colour block dress

here in an 8

In fact, I'd go to selfridges and start trying on

Remus that petrol dress is beautiful.

what about this

Love colour block dresses and love love love Noddy's dress. Want it.

The VWs have the advantage of being 'cheap' compared to the others too, so more money to spend on shoes etc. Must admit that the idea of spending £1000 on one dress for a party is far beyond my world.

Please stop calling it Noddys dress I am crying here ;)

It is lovely, noddy- maybe we should have a whip-round

yes that would be FANTASTIC Dress aid I'll set up a page.

black and white

ooo red

more red

I'm becoming obsessed. Must stop.