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...

The gold one is not a good shape for you.

I love the gold one and wish I could wear it !

Temperley gold dress

Have ordered some alternatives this morning-will update when they arrive....

I like the VW dress . Maybe you can bling it up with a statement jewel lie a fabulous brooch .
Remember Lady Hale !
OR a handbag OR a pair of shoes.

I’m not planning on wearing the VW at all-I just tried it on for a shape comparison... I’m definitely getting myself something new for this occasion not dragging a 10 year old dress out of the wardrobe.

I'm sorry I don't like the gold one at all. It looks like Christmas wrapping paper. However my style is more under stated than in your face.

I think though with some very high nude sandals, a light tan, and the right hair and make up it could work.

It is a classic . I hope you wear it and don't leave it in the wardrobe.

I like the VW dress . Maybe you can bling it up with a statement jewel lie a fabulous brooch

For a very special birthday dinner the OP deserves so much more than an office dress and a brooch!

Like that VW for shape, but no, def something sparklier needed for this occasion - I think you need a neckline somewhere between those two dresses if possible?

Gold one may indeed be better a size smaller.

(Don't think I've ever seen such a 'Marmite' thread for people loving or hating the original one LOL.)

whitney I don’t know whether i should love it or hate it right now... I’m taking the ‘it could be better’ approach and will keep looking... style is very personal as well isn’t it?

Oh my goodndss, you're 40 not 90 - that gold dress is like something Barbara Cartland would wear. The only way ro wear that gold dress is with white trainers and a distressed black biker.
The VW Vian dress is way cooler.

black

navy

The gold one looks great. I wish I could wear something like that but I don’t have the assets!

I love the gold, how odd how divided the opinions are! The Bombshell dresses look nice but it's such a cliched look for someone with curves. Love the latest ones you've posted, worth trying. Perhaps if I had to say something against the gold one, it may be wearing you, rather than you wearing it?

Wear the gold one. You look absolutely stunning in it.

I think the gold one is a showstopper!!!

Alicia for some it appears to stop the show for entirely the wrong reasons though...

OOh the Rotate dress you just shared in black is gorgeous - I have in cornflower blue and is soooo flattering. Definitely try on, I think it would look lovely on you.

People on here buy clothes from Boden and the local supermarket so I'd take the advice with a pinch of salt!

I've trawled 'designery' sites and come up blank, I am so not designery (so probably the wrong person for this thread anyway LOL, feel free to ignore me).

I think this is gorgeous, some blingy shoes and earrings (if bra could be sorted?):

www.johnlewis.com/reiss-eudora-velvet-bow-detail-midi-dress-charcoal/p4794938

Again, blinged up a bit with shoes and jewellery, I bet this is stunning:

www.johnlewis.com/reiss-moa-drape-occasion-dress/p4765417

www.johnlewis.com/ted-baker-gabria-asymmetric-draped-midi-dress-gold/p4801457

Ooooh I am loving the draped black and gold dress .... I wants it (maybe for my 50th??!)