Where to shop for evening 'party' dress

[jenthehen]

I've been invited to a 50th party. I'm pretty sure it will be a 'dress' kind of event and would like to buy something to wear but just can't find anything! I'm mid 40's, size 14/16, hourglass /athletic(busty) tall...shoulder length mid brown hair, lightly tanned.......any suggestions? where should I look? (Haven't been to a party for ages!)

Any style gurus/keen shoppers about?

I'd book in for an hour with a John Lewis personal shopper - they'll run round the shop and bring an whole rail of dresses. Very stressfree.

Failing that - Coast (while it can be a bit sweet wrapper) had some lovely stuff in and Phase Eight can be good too.

www.phase-eight.com/fcp/product/phase-eight/shop-all-dresses/drape-wrap-full-length-dress/204186209

Thanks, I'd not thought about a personal shopper, that could be interesting 😬

I did the JL personal shopper this weekend. It was all very relaxed - ask you a few questions about style and colours you like and budget. They pop off for 15-20 minutes and come back with a whole rail full of stuff for you to try on in a private changing room.

She brought me a couple of things I wouldn't have spotted and I really liked.