Apple needs an elegant evening dress. Help please!

[QueenOfIce]

I've been invited to a black tie event, it's going to be very glamorous I suspect, the hosts are incredibly wealthy very well put together and will go all out.

I don't want to look like a bag of sh*t, I need a very elegant dress for my apple shape, I've had a look on John Lewis and there's some lovely dresses but due to my large norks and bingo wings I'd feel very self conscious in a sleeveless number unless I can find a wrap of some description.

Any suggestions please?

www.ghost.co.uk/gabrielle-dress-chilli-red-dd49ca-g21

Ghost? The red one is nice.

@CleopatraTomato 's suggestions is fabulous! Perfect for an apple and suits the event!

www.ghost.co.uk/madison-dress-dd08ca-x95
Another Ghost one. Sleeves, nice fabric, drapes well

Its beautiful, however I have zero waist my torso is so short wrap anything looks awful on me.

I'm quite a classic dresser I like structure, A line fit and flare, high low hem sort of dresses, not that I ever wear a dress!

Size? Price range?

Size 14, I don't want to look like a pauper but I'm not spending hundreds on a dress I'll probably not wear again!

Queenofice I am in the same situation I’m a 5’3 Apple in early stages of pregnancy. I’m having a nightmare. Have you tried Whistles? they usually have some nice evening wear.

Wow, those ghost dresses are stunning!

Love the Ghost dresses just don't suit me, @GlubGlubGlub I've looked at Whistles but they're not formal enough. I hate dress shopping!

Try amazon, they have lots of dresses including some with lace sleeves, I just hem them because they are always too long

Maybe buy a pattern and material and make one?

Try bombshell. They give you shape

I was trying to find a shift dress shape for you as I thought that could be flattering on an apple. Some of these look 😍

www.johnlewis.com/browse/women/womens-dresses/shift/_/N-flwZ1z0rouj?showInStockOnly=true&sortBy=priceHigh

Assuming you've got time, get onto eBay with your size and start looking at Coast or somewhere that's likely to have the right style. You'll still pay a reasonable price for good brands but not top dollar and for formal dresses, they'll only ever have been worn once, if at all.

Shame the Ghost styles are all viscose and only up to size 16. I actually have a paddy in the shops now at the amount of viscose there is.Time and again I see a decent syle/pattern, go to look at the label and -bloody viscose. I am beginning to really hate clothes shopping.

Sheshoots - are you sure an apple would suit shift dresses?.I look like a sack of puds in a shift. I think only Audry Hepburn could look good in one!

I saw some lovely Gina Biacconi dresses in John Lewis when I was looking for a dress for a wedding (as a guest) In the end I remembered a Monsoon dress at the back of the wardrobe - in lace with sleeves, navy polyester which I can wear though viscose is creeping in at the store with a vengeance I noticed the other day. God help me if I really have to go to the shops with something in mind because it is official - i now hate sifting through lorry loads of viscose for something I can wearin size 18 which doesn't show my knickers or strangle my neck and is not made of viscose, lyocell, tencell or nylon!!!!! Is that too much to ask????!!

www.johnlewis.com/l-k-bennett-evia-tie-neck-dress-navy/p3983446

I am an apple, no waist, I always thought something like this shape - not sure what the name of the shape is called - of dress would be flattering.

www.bombshellhq.com/ Game changer.

Wow. They are like what I imagine Nigella Lawson would wear.

Deathray I just googled and this came up. So I guess it depends on your personal preference.

Are you inspired by anything Duchess Meghan wears? She is a classic short-waisted apple shape.

I'm same as you op anf would look awful in those ghost dresses, what about something like this.

www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_61252+283111_-1

Love those bombshell dresses!

I don’t know why people suggest making a dress. I’ve never met anyone in real life who has the skills to make something like an evening dress for an important event. Op i hope you find something, some good ideas on this thread