Help needed!! - Evening dress for university reunion

[crummyusername]

Hi all

I'm going to a university reunion in a couple of weeks. It's been 10 years since I last saw everyone and I need to look fabulous!

But I have some quite specific requirements and I'm struggling to find anything. Have looked at Reiss, Hobbs, Coast, ASOS and nothing yet.

I am 45 and a size 12, pale skin, brown hair. Favourite colour is burnt orange, but I could also do mustard, maybe dark olive green, possibly chocolate brown. Definitely not black. It's a formal do (black tie) but I don't want full length. And I don't like my arms so I would really prefer sleeves, though at a push I could do some kind of bolero but I think that might look messy.

Help me everyone! I am happy to post photos once I have a couple to try on!

would this work? have a great time!

I know this isn’t one of the colours you mentioned but I’m a similar colouring to you and wore something in a similar colour to an event last year and got lots of compliments
www.whistles.com/women/clothing/dresses/occasion-dresses/big-cat-carlotta-dress-30449.html?cgid=Occasion_Dresses_Clothing_WW&dwvar_big-cat-carlotta-dress-30449_color=Teal#start=0

This is gorgeous but prob not the right green:
www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-nikita-lace-embroidered-maxi-dress-emerald-green/p3901652
John Lewis has a good selection and you can search by "evening dress".

This is lovely, comes in a chilli red which is sort of orange...
www.johnlewis.com/ghost-gabrielle-satin-wrap-maxi-dress/navy/p4301565

But sorry it is a bit long....

Have a look at Phase Eight, if you haven't already.

I think you're going to need to broaden your requirements a bit. A short dress with sleeves that looks fabulous and is suitable for black tie is hard enough to find but when you add the colours you like (which are not in plentiful supply at the moment) it's a needle in a haystack. You might need to consider long dresses too.

Plum?

Do you like plain or pattern, what about lacy

Not quite mustard yellow, more canary

www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/midi-dresses/product.midi-wrap-dress-yellow.0493460009.html

Thanks all so far - I like the Whistles one most I think out of these. Looking for autumnal colours rather than brights. I’d go lacy or plainer and probably prefer fairly fitted. I did come across this too though not sure if I’d need to be taller / thinner to carry it off? (I’m 5 foot 6)

www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-dafina-maxi-dress-galactic-green/p4447064

5 foot 6 is plenty tall. That dress is lovely.

yes i love the one you've linked to! you are tall enough.

Right I've ordered that Phase Eight one... will arrive in a few days....will post photo!