Hit me with the best dress for 40th dinner

[Whattodowithaminute]

My 40th birthday next month-dinner with friends in very naice London restaurant. Want to look amazing (better than my size 14/16 body-busty with too much of a mum run) diet in progress but half a stone is probably all I will manage...
Hit me with your amazing dress options. Happy with up to £500 for a killer dress.
Planning on going shopping for said dress and will provide live updates but will have restricted time so want to narrow down which shops I should hit first...

Could this work do you think?

[https://www.net-a-porter.com/gb/en/product/1186045]

That's an amazing dress! I'm a size 12-14 with large chest so I always choose a deep v or scoop neck.

Thanks lilyjade I think it’s gorgeous but not optimistic that I will fit into it...

What skin tone are you? Hair colour? I think if you're too pale that amount of gold will make you looked washed out.

V neck, bracelet arm length (learned that on another S&B thread) should work best.

How about this: www.needleandthread.com/collections/dresses/products/shimmer-mini-dress-champagne
Or this: www.needleandthread.com/collections/dresses/products/dragonfly-garden-midi-dress-ballet-black
Oh and happy 40th :)

Wah that first one is gorgeous!! Is that what Tess Daly was wearing on strictly last weekend?

Hair dark brown skin tone quite pale normally although currently abroad so will be a gorgeous sun kissed by the time I return!

samosaurus thanks for the needle and thread links-I really like the first-what would you do bra wise for the back on that? Not so sure on the dragonfly one-would try it on though...

With such a healthy budget I'd order loads from Net a Porter and have a big trying on session at home.
Or go to Selfridges.

shirley I found the first dress whilst looking up what Tess was wearing last night 😂 this isn’t the same as that as it was higher necked and more open backed.
This is one I understand she wore earlier in the series;
www.net-a-porter.com/gb/en/product/1162548

@whattodowithaminute you could wear this with it I think: www.wonderbra.co.uk/produits/w08kz001/

Thanks samosaurus I will get myself to a specialist underwear shop as well then. The wonderbra one only goes to a d cup and I’m an f (following intervention thread!) but I’m sure there’s something which will work

Bombshell dresses are amazing. They have all sorts of structure going on underneath but still comfortable to wear.

What do you think of this?

Anyone?

Looks great and the shape really suits your figure.

Thanks cathyandclare what about shoes and accessories? Think these are a bit too solid (and high) but I’m not great at walking without enclosed toes and heels.

Wowsers op you look amazing! I'm so jealous of you having an opportunity to wear such a fab dress!

Ahh Scarlettsdarling that’s so lovely of you. I think I might look a bit OTT but I don’t care...

You really look amazing OP, what a beautiful dress on you. Enjoy your birthday!

Haha @ShirleyPhallus you stuck to your original choice. Looks wonderful on you. How far would you have to walk? I expect the strappy sandals the model wears are suitable only for home -> taxi -> dinner (no dancing).

Actually I'm not sure that dress does you any favours - I suspect you have a much better figure than it looks there.

Vivienne Westwood would probably be good for you if you want a bit of 'engineering'.

Is the dress you're wearing the first one you posted, I can't work it out? First one seems to have more colour variation, which I think accentuates the shaping.

Oooh, fab gold dress! Looks good on you.

What an amazing dress. I’d love to have that for a glamorous event. Price isn’t too bad for what it is either.

Yes it’s the same one-I think the light really changes the colour in it. I’ve ordered the next size down as there is quite a lot of room over my stomach and hips, not sure I can manage it up top though... I’ll see which looks better... I should lose another half a stone in the next 3 weeks.

I won’t be doing any dancing-just dinner and drinks. Might need some flats to get me to and from the station anyway so might get something which looks better for aesthetic purposes for my feet...

whitney I may still go and have a browse around some shops to try some other things on but I like that this takes the pressure off a bit. Will make sure I look at Vivienne Westwood.

Thanks all!