Workwear help urgently needed

[SuseB]

Am a freelancer/work from home, almost never have to wear professional dress and haven't for about five years... but now need to present at big event and have no idea what to wear. Am petite (5ft 2in), size 8, brunette, fair skinned. Wondering about a dress with long black boots/cardi? I like red/deep blue/teal/emerald type colours and they suit me. Any or all advice welcome, I feel like a teenager starting a first job

THIS is lovely
Do you have a budget?

That is indeed lovely! If only it were half the price or less... I guess I'm looking at spending under £100 (it might be another five years before I need to be this smart again...)

this is nice might drown you a bit though being so petite???
Would you be happy to work something like this?
could be good
2 colour options

I think part of the problem is I never wear smart so would feel like I was going out for a posh dinner wearing any of those! This is helpful though as it tells me I need something more conservative... what about this (dressed down with boots and cardi www.next.co.uk/g832248s1 or this www.next.co.uk/g417136s2

Why do you want to dress down? If you are centre stage at a big event jacket and shoes are the way to go rather than cardi and boots.

Cardi and boots because I already own them - can't really run to new shoes and jacket as well.

How about this in red or black from Sainsburys?

If it is a professional /big event definitely a jacket. Maybe an inexpensive black jacket from a petite range (so sleeves are not too long) and a more coloured shift type dress that you can wear again. Plus scarf or necklace to tie the look together. Boots OK if they are smartish.

jacket
will look smart under jacket
I know that won't win any prizes but at conferences its better to look smart than stunning.

Ponte dresses are a bit easier to wear if you don't dress up much.
Having said that I'm a fan of TK max website for when you don't want to shell out too much - just order 3 or 4 in your size to try on.