Help me find something glamorous

[doggiesayswoof]

I am going to the US with work early next year and will be attending 4 formal events. I reckon I need 2 outfits (different guests so no worries about wearing same thing twice). I can only spend about ?200, including shoes and maybe some costume jewellery.

Sizes etc:
14, pear shaped, smallish norks (36C), arms not too bad
Feet size 6
Brown hair, brown eyes, pale skin

Have looked at M&S - what do you think of this and this ?

how formal's formal? black tie? white tie? cocktail dress?
are norks pert enough to go braless?

Think you might do well in Monsoon / Coast / Debenhams - get shoes and bag (and possibly jewellery) that go with both dresses to leave more budget for the dresses themselves.

Am wary of empire line - am pear-shaped myself and it generally looks ghastly on me.

Black tie or Highland Dress (they are Burns Suppers!)

Need a bra definitely - in fact prob sports bra as will be ceilidh dancing...

Was avoiding thinking about Coast/Monsoon as I thought they would be too expensive.

What d'ya think about shoes? Can't be too high as I'm not great in heels and would like to attempt the dancing without taking them off - this is naff IMO. Are sparkly ballet pumps formal enough?

Apart from the norks (love you're gifted compareed to me LOL) you sound similar size / build etc to me, I shall nip off and show you the Monsoon dress I just bought, with shoes etc that came to well within your budget (tip: jewellery etc- Whizzz on here does fab made to match stuff, did some to match my dress, gorgeous and affordable)

back in a mo

Thanks guys! Would love to be an hourglass - ok, chest may not be that small but hips are even bigger

OK, this is mine it adds precious volume to the norks, with all the fabric there. They ahve loads on similar themes in all colours- deffo advise a trip, I tried on a huge amount.

I'll have a look at wedges. I may go and try the red one on at weekend - I think red suits me. Prob right about the draining thing, should try and stay away from black. It's hard though...

(oh and I prefer the red one of the two M&S dresses)

Sorry x-posts. That is lovely PC - beautiful colour. Prob is though, I've got £200 to get 2 outfits so altho' I can use the same accessories and shoes I will need to get 2 dresses. So £135 may be pushing it a bit.

Got a Monsoon near me so will go! Actually maybe my dm might like to contribute as part of Xmas pressie...

no no NO

You forget the equation

200 budget =
for four events, but then you need two dresses so you divide 4 by £100 then you times that by the number of dresse required (2) which gives the total amount PER dress. £200.

As Dh would say-

LOL!

(And you thought maths wasn't useful )

NAd go for something like gold shoes that will work with two dresses but still look mega glam

Ok then (not understanding a word of it but realising that it magically gives me more cash to spend) gotcha!

What do you think of these

aha, making sense now!
Spaghetti straps are a definite no - the first M&S dress looks possible as those wide straps could conceal any bra! That shape of dress can also look v good when the ruched band bit goes round the actual waist like Peachyclair's or thus rather than round the empire line.
Worth going to try some on with a Blunt Friend (tm) if possible.

Sparkly ballet pumps are probably formal enough but can be monstrously unflattering to calves - even the tiniest kitten heel looks better. You could get away with them if you had an actual floor-length dress but then that'd be hard to dance in anyway.

Think the key to heels is practice - wear them round the house every night to get used to them, and get a pair with buckle / elastic straps etc if you're worried about them flying off when you're dancing. Sandals are often better for this than court-type shoes.

much more glam

cheaper shoe shops like Barratts etc are worth looking in for party sandals.
Get the dresses right first though and the shoes will follow!

Ooh Mrs Badger that principles dress looks very very nice.. love the colour.

another silly question - what about tights? Don't think I can do bare legs in Febuary in Boston....

NB good shape, better price

Yes, that red with the gold shoes would be v good I think.

if sandals no way, if closed toes you could, but better to have immaculately exfolaiated fake-tanned legs IMO as the kind of sheer tights you need to look glam don't keep you warm anyway, and you run the risk of ladders.
(This is why I always wear floor-length dresses - warmer and no-one sees your legs at all

That red dress is divine- i tried it on but for me the shape was wrong, but as I say, am norkless.

With glam shoes you'd look incredible.

Oh god, stress mounting at the thought of
a) all the flights
b) the working/partying balancing act
c) keeping the legs immaculately tanned throughout

At least I wouldn't need to worry about ladders though.

I can feel a wax and a St Tropez coming on, before I leave UK.

It's gorgeous PC, even just in the picture. Looking forward to all the trying on of lovely things.