Find me a dress!

[Kundry]

Please ladies of Style and Beauty, help me with a dress emergency!

DH and I are going to Venice on Saturday. We are going to the opera which normally I'd be quite happy about dressing for.

He's just discovered that it's opening night of the production, it's part of the Biennale Art Festival so will be full of the great and good, being televised, oh and the tickets are for the front row! which would explain why they were the only tickets left and were feckin extortionate

Now he can turn up in his linen suit and look fine. Me in my aged maxi dress, in which I have been mistaken for being pregnant, and shows my bra, not so much.

Please can you help a size 16, v busty, 40 yr old who needs to buy something on a sensible budget on line that can be delivered between now and Friday!

That ASOS pink wrap is v me!

I'd go for either Bunny's OTT (it's not) or her A bit Downton? (also not). A deep V neck is flattering for a big bust, and I like the swishy skirts on both of them. I'm assuming you're going to Teatro La Fenice - a good bit of swish is never OTT there, and would make me feel elegant and polished.

Order them both in sizes 16 and 18 and try them on?

I like the OTT a lot

Looking at the John Lewis website I have:

www.johnlewis.com/closet-midi-pencil-dress-pink/p1923337

Possibly too near something I'd wear to work

www.johnlewis.com/ted-baker-paisley-toucan-tunic-dress-multi/p1953654

Love it, worried it will be too short and/or make me look like a barrel

kundry I think you should order my dress. It doesn't look overly structured so I reckon a 16 will definitely fit.

All the short dresses are, imo, just not glam enough for the occasion. Opening night at the opera in Venice = gown.

Think you are right about the glam - have been to opera in Italy before, Italian women don't really do casual! Whereas I normally go to the opera in jeans

Now getting distracted by this (navy version):
www.asos.com/ASOS-Curve/ASOS-CURVE-WEDDING-Maxi-Dress-With-Drape-Cold-Shoulder/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5065470&cid=8799&Rf-800=-1,153&Rf-300=1946,1992&Rf1012=4461,4458&Rf981=3680,3679&Rf-400=13511&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=204&sort=-1&clr=Nude&totalstyles=36&gridsize=3

Think Julia Roberts in that film with Richard Gear....

Ah! Pretty Woman!

Ha, DH has just realised he can't wear a pale suit on opening night

Now we are both having a fashion crisis - he is going to have to pack his wedding suit!

I could wear my wedding dress (blue, strapless) but think that would def be OTT.

Don't understand how my smartest outfit has turned out to be a homemade version of this:

shop.goessl.com/37347-4843.html

Which is nice, but only wearable in Austria!

Bunny is right. The ASOS one is a long dress. The OTT is a gown. At least order the OTT and try it on!
(From someone who's been to the opening night of an opera in jeans and sweatshirt - long story - but NOT to La Fenice!!)

The navy draped ASOS is lovely, also love the pink wrap kimono and Bunny's OTT one ( plus many of the others)
I wish I had a glam Italian opera to wear one too

OK - 2fedup's lace and Bunny's OTT appear to be winners. Neither totally what I would pick given all the time in the world to pick (thank-you DH) but agree long is the way to go.

BTW DH has just gone off in a huff as I won't focus on what HE is going to wear - err, no!

I hate to do this to you, but.....

2fedup's lace dress is out of stock in most sizes, including yours.

Oh crap

On to the House of Fraser website then...

this in aquarium or blue.

Or this?

Or this over your price but very dramatic.

Or maybe this

Or this?

Just see that 'long' is the way to go so scrap all of mine

Do you like this?

Or this is a bit different.

Dramatic red

Blue with crystals

Not long but very elegant

Didn't know Mango had a bigger size range - loving those, thank-you.

Also like the navy from Monsoon. Will ask DH for his thoughts on the short list why I don't know as he is a permanent beige dresser while I tend to lurid colours

Yes yes to the navy dress from monsoon. Good find 2fed. I'd go for ott gold earrings and red lipstick.

While I like the navy dress a lot as a 34H it does have bra issues I do have a strapless bra but it's akin to torture wearing it.

However this did lead me to the rest of the Monsoon site, which I would never have looked at, and I'm going to order this:

uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.2/7453976116

I also love the Mango Violeta dress Follyfoot found and am going to try that

shop.mango.com/GB/p0/curvesizes/clothing/dresses/evening/dress-victoria/?id=41097665_70&n=1&s=prendas_violeta&ident=0__0_1431278909469&ts=1431278909469

And having not looked at ASOS in years, you may all have sparked an enduring friendship with the Curve range so am ordering a bit of that too. We'll see how much is sent back

Thank-you all so much

Hope you love at least one of those and have a fantastic time!