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...

www.johnlewis.com/rails-kate-cheetah-print-silk-shirt-dark-green/p4281280 This is rather lovely.

www.paulsmith.com/uk/women-s-swirl-print-silk-shirt And this is fabulous!

And I'm sorry but the more I look at that navy dress, the worse it gets. You have a lovely figure, you're only 40 - I honestly think you can do much, much better.

I'm not sure about the dress your wearing in the photo. Looks seriously OTT, and cheap. I liked the first net-a-porter one..... they're not the same dress are they....??

The navy one you posted today makes you look much older than 40 (it’s very mother of the bride imo) - the Rixo was far better in terms of style. Sorry OP.

aghhh!!! I tried on a couple of others which were worse IMO but here you go for comparison... will have to go to an actual shop...

Not against the idea of leather skirt and do like the Anglomania one...

You're over thinking it. You had the perfect dress right from the beginning.

@Whattodowithaminute ^^ MoltonSilver might just be on to something!! Got any strappy sandals instead of the ones you wore in the first pic?

Gorgeous! If that's you in the pic - you wore the dress, it did not wear you!

I'm going with the conclusion that you need to choose and wear something that YOU like and feel good in. No matter what dress you put on here you're likely to get differing opinions. You'll have doubts put in your head about dresses you initially liked.

I loved the gold dress especially when you pulled it tighter. That was a show stopper dress, the sequins never look good static in pictures IMHO but when the light in the room is dancing off them and you stride in with killer heels it's a wow dress for me.

I love the Adriana Pappel one Frannekip posted, its classy but also sparkly and think it would really suit your figure.

I don't think "showstopper" dresses have to be shiny or glittery or brash. Why not wear a sleek, beautifully cut simple dress? Not these awful things, that Teresa May would wear for a Christmas party.

You've got £500. Go to Bond Street or Selfridges or Fenwick and buy something beautiful and simple.

I like this. This would slinky and elegant on you.

https://www.fenwick.co.uk/women/clothing/dresses/evening/lilyanna-long-sleeve-evening-dress/0001123316-001.html?dwvar0001123316-0011_color=Lighthousenavy#sc=1&pmax=500.00&srule=top-sellers&sz=12&start=27&page=1

How about this op www.warehouse.co.uk/gb/just-arrived/clothing/stripe-glitter-midi-dress/036618.html?cgid=new-in-clothing&dwvar_036618_color=99

OP you have an awesome figure! I don't think the gold does it justice. If you like the bombshell styles but not those particular dresses, you could look at Micheline Pitt, Pin Up Girl Clothing, Kitten D'Amour - these all do dresses with wrap/wiggle styles with deep v fronts, all have a bit of structure but they are properly made like the bombshell ones are.

Oh yeah and House of Foxy...

Bombshell do have a gold one which I think would be a good shape for you if you would like something gold and sparkly www.bombshellhq.com/collections/silk-dresses/products/10th-anniversary-gold-sequin-bombshell-dress-1 The woman who runs the Midlifechic blog wore it, although she is a good 10 years + older than you www.midlifechic.com/working-in-london-what-to-wear/

Sorry but that's really horrible and 'old'. It reminds me of Helen Mirren.

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/hexham-jumpsuit-poinsettia/sty-t0241-drd?istCompanyId=a40e1fa1-0635-4a1b-8d9a-2caa763eeee2&istFeedId=2baa5e38-c363-4ebf-aa58-ab2450d639aa&istItemId=wrllwppwl&istBid=tztx&ef_id=Cj0KCQjwjOrtBRCcARIsAEq4rW5JEEkYP2W6OrIWt8azblCfbAkTn7GSI_hhZKeQPg9CpU7eGZyjDQcaAgScEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!8125!3!297909388776!!!g!536705597012!&cm_mmc=PLA--GoogleNMPICSS1585740208--60124337696-_-40100346&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjOrtBRCcARIsAEq4rW5JEEkYP2W6OrIWt8azblCfbAkTn7GSI_hhZKeQPg9CpU7eGZyjDQcaAgScEALw_wcB

I know you said a dress but jumpsuits with the right acessories and heels can look just as good. I think the red would suit your colouring, the v neck good for larger busts and the legs with heels will accentuate yiur height. Happy 40th!

I like the short dress somebody posted, with some killer heels. The last dress looks awful on you, your bust is all hoiked up in it.

This is the one I’ve bought;

www.needleandthread.com/collections/embellished-dresses/products/snowflake-prom-dress-ballet-black

That's a beautiful dress OP. Much nicer than the previous ones.

I hope you have a lovely birthday

Oh wow. Thats stunning.

It's beautiful op! Please post a pic of you wearing it.

I like that one. The gold was too C3PO.