Please help my self conscious mum find a dress!

[caoraich]

Hoping someone can help me...
My mum is 60 and has been invited as a guest of honour to a gala ball type do as she's nominated for an award. I'm very proud! It is formal but not black tie. She's self conscious though and not a dressy sort of person.

She's about 5 foot 4, a size 12 on the bottom and maybe a 16-18 on top.

We are going to a city with the main big department stores tomorrow.

It's a nightmare getting her to shop as she gets so stressed. Any ideas of dresses we could look out for would be really appreciated!! Budget up to about £100. She already has loads of nice handbags and shoes thankfully.

Coast is your friend - have a look now at their website so you get some idea of the various dresses, and see which ones appeal to your Mum the most. If she doesn't want a dress, there are some lovely skirts that she could choose from, and then wear a glamorous top with it. This might work better for her, if her bust is a bigger size than her lower half size.

Get sonething with a flared skirt to balance out the top.

Try phase 8 perhaps?

What do you think she'd like? Is there anything on this link of Twiggy's more formal looks? Don't be afraid to ask for some assistance in the shops. They're happy to help.

www.google.ie/search?q=twiggy+outfits+m%26s&client=ms-android-h3g-ie&dcr=0&prmd=insv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjXru697PXWAhVpLsAKHamoA5gQ_AUIBygB&biw=360&bih=511

Meant to say if she’s very different sizes on top and bottom a lovely blouse and skirt could worn well. I’ve seen some great stuff in M&S recently. Might be a bit too much if she’s self conscious but this skirt is totally fab:

www.marksandspencer.com/embellished-sequin-pencil-midi-skirt/p/p60126329?image=SD_01_T59_4306_E4_X_EC_90&color=BLUEMIX&prevPage=srp&pdpredirect

Oh I hadn't thought of coast! I think skirt and top would be ok as long as it's dressy enough. She likes dark colours like navy and loves velvet!

That skirt is fab poppy!

Too dressy here? Made for large of bust, so might be more flattering than 'normal' dresses.

Top with a silky/floaty skirt maybe?

Pretty skirt

I like Remus's links and the glitzy skirt but if it were me getting an award, I'd go for velvet trousers, with a matching jacket if I could afford to buy it or a silk shirt. Something like these Massimo Dutti although they're quite shiny.
Toast also have some but they're over budget plus Toast and I are out of friends at the moment. Anyway here's a link

I am admittedly a little obsessed with velvet wide legs at the moment and your mum might not be. But you say she loves velvet and it's far easier to find well fitting separates than a well fitting dress.

My mum is a similar shape and looks nice in phase 8.

Forgot to say (I knew there was something else): velvet wide legs are dressy but also relaxed, modern but also classic, so your mum might feel less self conscious and 'dressed up' in them. I'm assuming the dress code would allow it.

I am a similar shape/height to your mum. St Buster are great (online only I think)

www.saintbustier.com/dianne-black-lapel-dress.html

Velvet www.saintbustier.com/cindy-teal-dress.html

Would she be stressed by going to a department store with a personal shopper service, or find it helpful?

This skirt can be dressed up with a simple black top (which she might already have) and ace jewellery

Thanks for all your help!! We found a lovely Jaeger dress in John Lewis. It was hidden behind Phase 8 and coast so I'd never have noticed it if I hadn't dragged her through there first