What do I wear with this evening dress to cover my arms and make it more fitting for a 55 year old?

[MoragWilson]

Bought this dress in the Monsoon sale. In RL it looks classier and not stripey.

{uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_13.25/1434950108

Going to a gala dinner type event next month and need something to wear with it to cover my arms and so I don't look muttonish.

I'm tall and slim so the dress looks good but I need a warm cardi something to wear with it.

Guidance please.

I would feel exactly the same as you OP and i know how you feel. My arms are not great. But, and i mean well saying this - the thing is a shrug is going to spoil the dress as well. Glamorous full length evening dresses aren't enhanced with what lets face it ... a cardi. Even an evening cardi

The dress would look best seen as it was designed - sleeveless. Sometimes it's better to be brave and BE YOU in that great dress.

I went through the same thing about 6 years ago. In the end i bought myself a floaty chiffon shawly thing in the same colour (jessica rabbit deep red dress) just to get me into the room, and then bit the bullet and took it off. No one passed out or left the room in shock and there were lots of other ladies there dressed in sleeveless dresses with less than perfect arms all getting on with enjoying their night.

Exfoliate from now on, and moisturise, and let someone to put a fake tan which suits you on your arms and shoulders for you for the big night - practice this - and then enjoy yourself and the dress.

Agree with Laiste.

Butif you really must do a shrug, don't do a bright colour, just stick with black.

I see it with something like this organza wrap but not sure if it would be awkward to wear.

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Mint+Velvet+Black+Velvet+Cape/253899078,default,pd.html

They're out of stock in most sizes but might be available elsewhere?

How about something like this:

www.romanoriginals.co.uk/chiffon-bolero-10804bla

or this website here, which make similar arm only cover ups similar to the ones in m&s:

www.wingzfashion.com/shop/

If you know you're not going to feel confident with your arms bared, I'd definitely wear something. As a pp said, you can always take it off later.

I'd go for something that is a nice garment in it's own right, rather than trying to pretend it isn't there or is part of the dress. My DM has a couple of beaded chiffon jackets that she wears on such occasions. I can't quite see the sort of thing - a bit art deco- but this gives the idea.

This is fabulous but seems to only be large sized.

I would cover my arms too but I think the trick is to go for something fabulous. The trouble with a lot of shrugs is that there's something very apologetic about them - I'd go for full-on old school Hollywood glamour, Grace Kelly-style.

Some of these are pricey but, if it was me, I'd spend as little as I could on the dress and as much as I could afford on the cover-up.

[[http://www.johnlewis.com/gina-bacconi-subtle-stripe-faux-fur-slot-through-scarf-multi/p3036039 This looks like it would stay in place and leave arms free]]
Beaded but might be a bit short
Feathers?
Satiny?

More on John Lewis / House of Fraser websites. And if you want more coverage, how about some extra long opera gloves? I'm hoping these are over the elbow I'd be tempted to cut off the fingers so I could get at my dinner or if you have a goth shop you might get some lacey, fingerless ones.

There are cheaper versions of some of these in places like New Look but they don't give as much cover.

Get a fabulous pashmina or long chiffon scarf and drape it so it crosses your back but leaves your shoulders uncovered, falls around the outside of your upper arms and down and inwards on the inside of your elbows.

May not have explained that well but like this (although I wouldn't have it so high on the shoulders):

s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/98/59/23/9859233c695dde415d452256111cef5c.jpg

House of Fraser and Debenhams usually have lots of nice ones:

silver
www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_087010300797_-1

berry

www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_54510+703945720_-1

Ah jeez, a bright bolero is an awful idea. No one will focus on uour arms, people look at the whole package. If you do do it, then an organza shawl or something would be more acceptable.

how about some extra long opera gloves? I'm hoping these are over the elbow I'd be tempted to cut off the fingers so I could get at my dinner

You take your gloves off when you eat.

I really like the idea of the arm cover item being gorgeous in its own right.

What size are we looking for and any particular colours you like?

Otherwise, I have my eye on these chiffon jackets on Silk Fred when I need something similar.

Not sure I could wear a capelet but isn't this fabulous?

You take your gloves off when you eat.
Ha ha yes! Even I am not so vain as to think people might be looking at my arms when there's dinner to be eaten.

I still love over-the-elbow gloves though. There's something so silly yet, at the same time, so glamorous about them.

That's lovely NewPants. I've actually got one like that but sadly, now that I'd really like the coverage, it's too fragile to wear.

Beaded Biba

I'm considerably older than you OP. I'd wear that dress with the floaty cover up from Silk Fred linked by newpants. I'm reasonably slim but have washerwoman arms which seem to run in my family so I totally get being uncomfortable showing them.

I love the idea of a fabulous organza wrap but it just wouldn't work if I had to dance in it as they obviously move around too much.

LOVE that feathery one from Phase8 flo.

I'd go for this. I think a cardi can really ruin a nice dress so something more structured.

shop.mango.com/GB/p0/woman/clothing/jackets/blazers/cropped-velvet-blazer?id=71085544_99&n=1&s=search