Long (not strapless dress) for Xmas do.

[Twohootsandapumpkin]

OK am starting to panic now! Read a thread recently about dresses and got a great idea about some to try but they are all pretty much strapless (as they nearly all are these days). I look horrible in strapless since having DD (have those awful flabby bits that pop over the bustier - look like bingo wings!). I am a size 14 and have a bit of a tum problem going on so need something flattering (prob black!).

I can't get out to the shops much as have no-one to watch DD that much and she is just awful to take with me so thought I'd try and order over the net but where?? Also don't have a fortune to spend.

Therefore, has to be:

• Long
• Not strapless
• Not overly expensive (prob up to £100 max)
• On the net to buy
• Not from Debenhams or Monsoon (as you end up seeing the same dress from there on several people - happened to me last year - v un-nerving)

I tried a halterneck one on at the weekend (Mum had DD) and it looked nice but had silver beads on it and someone said it looked 'game show hostess' so it put me off. The style quite suited me though....

Any ideas (don't want much do I?). Please help - Jackie - are you out there? You are normally great with this sort of thing and v helpful

i am a size 10 but have a bit if a complex about my arms so i invested in a v stylish shrug to wear over oy strapless dress to my dh posh xmas party..its good because my boobs are big and shows off ur figure without bulges on show..trust me there is enought flesh on display at these parties without me joining in!

I got mine from warehouse..it just covers 3/4 arms and skims my front(deosn't do up or anything)

Thanks - I have a shrug and bolero jacket thing but always get so hot at these dos so invariably take them off. Really would like something with straps - halterneck or something....

(I've been away for a bit and am trying to cut back - work madness, holiday etc - but I couldn't resist this one...)

Halternecks can look scary on large bosoms (hence the gameshow hostess comment), but are def worth a try.
Have a peek at this one, which, although calf rather than ankle length, would be very flattering to needy tums.
Actually Principles have several dresses fitting the brief here - I rather like the print ones as a change from black.
If you really want a halterneck there's this one in Next but I'm not convinced about the stripes.

Wallis have a few contenders too - their basic long black one is very good value but might be unkind if you're pearshaped as those empirey ones can cling like a bastard across the bum.

Hope this helps some...

Thanks MrsBadger Really kind of you!

I am not that large bosomed really - I think it was more the beads (as they were silver on a black dress and bugle and prob a bit OTT). I love the mid calf length dress but it has to be long for this function (that is another reason I can't find much as the long length isn't so IN this season!).

Hadn't thought about Principles though and they have a few nice dresses so may give that some thought (we don't have a store near us so it would be home delivery which is a pain as I'd need to order 2 sizes!).

Love the Wallis dress but think it may show off too much of my bumps! I actually quite suit that kind of cross over neck so it is a contender (again our Wallis is tiny and I did venture in the other week and they had only one black dress and it was hideous!).

Don't like the NEXT dress tbh - think those stripes would do nothing for me!

Thanks for your advice though as it's definatley brought Principles to mind!

I just bought this (well Dh did )- looks fab on

here

Peachy - that is an absolutely beautiful dress! Only prob is it doesn't seem that long - poss calf length? (needs to be ankle length). I do think that neckline is very flattering and certainly seems to suit me more than the strapless ones. At least I have some ideas now Off to check the Principles website again!

MrsBadger - good to see you. You've been missed on several threads.

Twohootsandapumpkin, agree Wallis and Principles a good place to look. Am looking and found another one for you to consider: this one from Laura Ashley (although it is a bit more than your budget, sorry). There is also this , but I'm not sure it's strapful enough for you, iyswim.

M&S do have a couple, but I find the pics on their website a bit cr@p, so difficult to get a good idea of what they're like. There's this and this , and this (which also comes in brown ) although it may not be long enough.

Are you absolutely sure you don't want to try Debenhams? They have some lovely ones - this , for instance, also another halter neck ?

Hi Jackie - thanks for coming to my aid! You and MrsBadger should be style gurus . I spotted the first one on LA last night but I'm not a lover of silver so discounted it (although I like the style). Wasn't keen on the red one as I thought it would make me look v 'hippy' and also think it is calf length judging by the length it gives.

Its a PITA having to have ankle length and straps as nearly all the styles at the mo are calf length and/or strapless!

Will get there though - the biggest problem is not being able to get to the shops and have a good look! I have a few days at the beginning of Nov when Mum can watch DD so I plan to have a good look then if I don't get anything before that. I just hope they still have my size in stuff by then as it's cutting it fine for buying an Xmas do dress!

Still definately like the cross over neckline the best I think. I have a few tops with that kind of neck and I do think I suit it.

I do love the green shimmer one on the Wallis website. Looks gorgeous.

I love Debenhams (can't get on their site at the mo due to too many people on it!) but everyone else always seems to have the same stuff on (and Monsoon too) so I thought I'd steer clear this year (it was awful having the same two piece as 3 people last year - one being on my dinner table too!). I did see a dress I liked on the Deb web (they didn't have it in the shop last weekend) but they are out of stock in my size and don't envisage getting any more!

Mmm - know what you mean. OK, not sure about these, but casting around for longer dresses - how about this one ? Not sure how it would look on, very difficult to see from the pic. There's also this , which is a gorgeous colour (or comes in black). Unusual neckline. Is this too glittery? I like the look of this one too . OOh this is beautiful, but beware bias cut. I'm guessing that this is too bright.

OOOOh really like the last two - esp the black one! (Always think of black as slimming and as I feel so crap about my figure right now that is a good thing for me - not sure the bias would do me any favours - may skip over the bumpy bits?). Never heard of LXDirect before but they look good - like Amanda Wakeley stuff! Not keen on the brown dresses though.

Might order that black one in a 12 & 14 (depends on the sizing - in Debs I'm a 12 but most other places a 14?).

Thanks for all your help! You are great and can be my style guru any day! Do you work in fashion for a living???

Gosh no! Sadly not. I'm an editor. I do have one friend whose husband calls me the shopping devil, as whenever we go shopping she ends up coming back with loads and I don't buy anything. I'd love to be a personal shopper, but not sure I could handle the pressure of doing it in RL. Hope one of those works for you.

Oh I think you should become a personal shopper - think you'd be great!

I have ordered an LXDirect catalogue but love that black dress so will probably end up ordering it. I am just a bit funny about ordering stuff like that, that I haven't seen in the flesh but as I can't really go shopping for a while it's probably my best bet!

Thanks again to you all who've helped .

LX used to be Littlewoods catalogues stores, have used ythem on and off and they're fine.

Really Peachy - I am surprised (in a nice way of course!). Think they have some lovely Amanda Wakeley dresses!

Yep, they always did- course nobody noticed coz they thought it was all viyella rip offs and carpet slippers LOL! But I used to have an account with them, and it got transferred to LXDirect a few years ago