Help desperately needed for DD17

[Andthentherewere5]

My 17 yo DD is a size 14/16 and 5’4”, she lives in jeans, shirts and boots. She NEVER wears a dress or skirt. She scrubs up really well and can look polished when she needs to, taking care with her make up and hair.
She has formal black tie xmas do coming up at school and I am at a complete loss of what she can wear. No way will she wear an evening dress and jumpsuits look ridiculous on her. She said she would wear a jacket and trousers but they make her look really blocky and to be honest not very formal wear, rather she looks like she’s going to the office.
I love her very much but we have started falling up over this and I’m on the verge of giving up. Can anyone offer any suggestions or any retailers that might offer a solution. A jacket that would flatter and look evening wear would be the ideal solution.
I’ve always said mumsnet will have the answers so I’m hoping you style queens can help me and DD out! Many thanks.

Delightful, thanks ever so!

My best friend is the same. Now as an adult she has to go to a lot of black tie events due to her career. She has a beautiful black velvet suit from ASOS which is perfect and can be dressed up in so many ways - the velvet makes it something special and not office-y

Andthentherewere5
that top is by coast...it is £39 and is also available at debenhams and john lewis. If its too pricey im sure you can find the same style elsewhere, just Google high neck sleeveless top.
Good luck xx

I’m petite and curvy. Trousers with tops and jackets absolutely do nothing for me, nice cut dresses are more flattering and give me more confidence.

Has she considered something like this? She could glam it up with accessories and shoes.

www.warehouse.co.uk/gb/clothing/dresses/d-ring-midi-dress/032948.html?dwvar_032948_color=47&position=16&cgid=dresses#srule=New+In&start=16&categoryID=dresses

Yes, I'm also a size 14 and wear 50s clothes. These type of
Dresses pencil dresses look better on in my opinion on a larger frame
And they show off the curves in all
The right places. And why not on a shy teenager? Although they show if your figure they are also demure in length and around the bust.

Also look at velvet suits. There are some fab colours around if she will do colour. Try Boden (which has a mustard one but also black and navy) and Massimo Dutti (lovely dark green). She can wear with a simple white t and pointed flats or even trainers

Glad to see you're sorted. If they don't work out, my dd wore a Zara women's tux to her school prom & looked fabulous. This one except that if you're not a tall skinny model the trousers are a much more sensible length. She wore it full black tie style with a white dress shirt & bow tie with her oxblood DMs as footwear.

Once again thank you for all your ideas. The jackets arrived this morning (beautifully packed and delivered in a box!), and my DD loves them both. Huge sighs of relief from me. We even found some rather lovely boots that I have joked will make her look quite the principal boy and she loves the idea!
She can’t decide which jacket to keep and which to return but I’ve made her earn it by repeating the phrase “I will never mock mumsnet again, they know all!” So that a win as well...