My style mojo has gone

[GongXiFaCai]

Am in a rut and need help. I've always been fairly clued up on what suits me, where to buy it etc but I'm floundering!

I've moved, so can no longer nip in to my favourite shops, put on weight, and stopped working which means I've little money.

So, have a party to go to next Friday and I need an outfit. Help me please!!!! Would like to look classy, polished and, of course, irresistible!

Some hints :

Am 40
I'm 5'10
Pear shaped
Good boobs though
Reasonable waist
Can just about hide the saddlebags with spanks
Size 16 these days
Hate, hate, hate my legs, so it's
Maxi dress, skirt or wide leg trousers.
Can do very deep v / scoop necks
Love colour
Hate cheap looking fabrics and really don't want to resort to tunic-y type things as my waist is still good, if the hem line falls in the right place!

I don't mind looking different, I am a tricky shape to dress, so could never do high fashion.

Favourite things in the past have come from one off boutiques, HN, DVF, skandi/German brands as they're long in the leg, big bottomed and small ish on waist. Love colour and patterns. Can not do white, yellow, taupe etc.

Am happy to spend up to £350 on a dress or top and trousers as I'm desperate! But don't want to look to tooooo over dressed, which is easy with a maxi dress. Was wondering about pretty top, good wide legs and a nice necklace?

Ergh, should add that the reason I'm in such a state is that I've lived abroad in the heat for 13 years and so have nothing hiding in the back of the wardrobe to pad out a new top etc.

Would be so grateful for any suggestions!

I knew I was a lost cause!
Am seriously considering pretending I've got a sick bug : (.

Umm, I'm not really the same body type at all, so would have no idea how to dress you, do you have time to have a personal shopping session at a department store? What about a wrap dress? Can look really glam with the right accessories.

I had a terrific experience recently with a john Lewis personal shopper, recommended by someone on here. I explained what I liked, what I was looking for, what suits me etc... And she suggested a good range of designer and high street stuff, quickly got to grips with what suited me and focussed in on that... 2 hours for free, was so fab. Although not quite so free at the end of it cos I got carried away and bought loads of it

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women%27s+designer+dresses/301,default,sc.html?prefn1=Length%20WW&prefn2=Size&prefv2=16&prefv1=Maxi&fix&ajaxLoad=true&spcl&brandTab=0#www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women%27s+designer+dresses/301,default,sc.html?prefn1=brand&prefv1=Biba&prefn2=Length%20WW&prefv2=Maxi&prefn3=Size&prefv3=16&fix&spcl&brandTab=0&ajaxLoad=true&ajaxsearchrefinement&brandTab=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Biba has some beautiful maxi dresses, I especially like the navy button detail one.

Or what about this gorgeous satin skirt with a cami top?

I love that second link! How do you feel about your arms?

Some nice wide legs amongst these:
www.meandem.com/trousers
Good quality think material in my experience. There's wide legs or something like this :
www.meandem.com/wool-crepe-elegant-trouser-black
with ankle boots?

Not sure about tops but I love these:
www.massimodutti.com/gb/en/women/shirts-%26-blouses/view-all/silk-shirt-c911173p5200906.html?colorId=402&categoryNav=911173
Tucked in to structured trousers. Maybe not dressy enough though

I still that link FauxFox though...