Please, please help me find a wedding guest dress

[Aprinceinapaupersgrave]

I desperately need help. I'm an all day wedding guest in a few weeks. Venue is a hotel - just regular people so not mega posh but not casual.
I'm in my 40s, 5ft 2, legs horrible above knee, arms okay, pear shaped (size 12 in dresses).
I look best in fitted tops with flared skirts but not skater style. I look awful in pencil skirts/body con style.
I have tried physical shopping but the shops are a nightmare at the moment full of sales racks. I have scoured online but I only know the usual high st places.
Budget under £100 as I will need shoes/bra/bag etc.
If anyone can help me I will be eternally grateful (you can go instead of me 😉)

would something like this work? not too sure if it is too close to skater style for your liking x

Thank you for answering! That would be lovely if it didn't have the sleeves. I kind of have to go with my top half to distract from the bottom. I have never heard of that website so will have a good look through.

I love this Monsoon dress uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.2/7416900712

The Boden clearance has some real bargain dresses which might fit the bill...something like this:
www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/tori-midi-dress-ivory-navy-brand-spot/sty-w0341-nav?cat=C2_S2

Or this: www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/octavia-jersey-midi-dress-multi-stripe/sty-j0440-mul?cat=C2_S2

Or this: www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/leonie-ponte-midi-dress-forest-crocus-spray/sty-j0377-grn?cat=C2_S2

Good luck!!!

Thanks so much. I knew you would all be better at this than me.
I LOVE the monsoon dress but it's not a petite 😢 Story of my life. I haven't got time to get anything tailored.
The Boden stripy maxi dress is gorgeous but I don't feel it's weddingy enough. I don't have the skills with hair/make up/accessories so need the dress to be enough on its own. Might get it just for me though!!

Fenn Wright Manson petite from JL? www.johnlewis.com/fenn-wright-manson-fern-petite-dress-white-navy/p4113198?size=12 Over budget but on sale

Phase Eight jacquard in navy www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-delaphine-jacquard-dress-navy/p3647336

Gorgeous colour and print from Hobbs www.johnlewis.com/hobbs-lauren-print-dress-sapphire/p4085295

The best wedding outfit I felt great in Was separates in a style id wear normally but in nicer fabric

Are you really hung up on a dress? Why not cool trousers and a sparkly or satin top

Asos Petite

next

I'd have a whizz around local charity shops - I often find lovely occasion dresses there but no occasion for them! I recently bought a fabulous fatface dress (looks new and very flattering) for £10 and a Wallis dress (also fabulous and flattering) I got for £3 (knocked down from £5.50 much to my son's annoyance) as it had a seam that needed sewing that I plan to wear for my graduation 🙂

I often find monsoon - fraction of price 😉

I like this dress fennwrightmanson.com/collections/sale-petite-wear/products/dhora-dress-petite and you get 15 % off when you subscribe.

This is pretty too www.johnlewis.com/chi-chi-london-novah-floral-embroidered-dress-navy/p4259550?size=12

Thank you all so much. This is really helpful. The phase 8 dress is lovely but they don't have my size ☹️ The shape of the light blue one is nice too but I'm not sure about the colour. The navy dress from the last post is what I am imagining.
I should have started the charity shop search months ago - can't risk it now.
I am thinking dresses over separates as it's easier than trying to find 2 items that work.
Thanks again for replyng, I'm very grateful.

The Phase eight dress www.phase-eight.com/product/delaphine-jacquard-dress-204805351.html?utm_source=rakutenmarketing&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=2523611:Lyst+UK%2FEU&utm_content=15&utm_term=uknetwork&ranMID=44103&ranEAID=gcdL%2FATRVoE&ranSiteID=gcdL_ATRVoE-kQ0cO2bqPJlUIye8W3weWQ in a 12

www.wallis.co.uk/en/wluk/product/petite-265975/petite-blush-halter-neck-polka-dot-dress-9017288

www.wallis.co.uk/en/wluk/product/occasion-5385632/petite-occasion-wear-8583496/petite-ivory-floral-print-tiered-hem-dress-8898314

www.veryvoga.co.uk/Print-Floral-Sleeveless-A-Line-Knee-Length-Vintage-Casual-Elegant-Dresses-199221377-g221377

www.veryvoga.co.uk/Solid-Long-Sleeves-A-Line-Knee-Length-Vintage-Elegant-Dresses-199256205-g256205?ref=relatedProducts&lab=221377&lastCat=199

This?

www.silkfred.com/boutiques/ax-paris/clothing/black-polka-dot-asymmetric-dress?locale=en-GB&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlpqWx4j04wIVxbHtCh0BDwAGEAQYBCABEgKDBPD_BwE

This?
www.quizclothing.co.uk/clothes/00100021815.html

& other stories?

Pink silk midi here www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/product.long-sleeve-satin-midi-dress-pink.0750978001.html

Love dark blue and pink (hair) www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/maxi-dresses/product.short-sleeve-printed-maxi-dress-blue.0754653002.html

Thank you everyone.
The phase 8 dress doesn't come in petite length grrrr. I really liked that one.
I might have had the wrong idea about skater dresses as the ones you've found look nice.