Help me choose a dress

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

While the milestone party has been postponed until further notice, I have lost weight this lockdown, feeling fiiine and am fantasising/shooting the breeze.

So i'm tall (now!) slim with sizeable boobs, mid 30s. Buying all to return most still feels an eye wateringly expensive way of shopping and of course I'd rather be trying dresses on in a shop but there we are. I've just looked on The Outnet and John Lewis so any other ideas welcomed.

What do you think of these dresses?

Rachel Gilbert

Adrianna Papell

Gina Bacconi Black

Gina Bacconi Navy

Damsel in a dress

I love the first dress, the blue sequined dress and the green satin one is gorgeous.

I dibt think they are right for the occasion but they are beautiful and you should just buy them anyway.

@lonny I must have missed where the OP said it's her own dress code. All black tie events I've been to have been private, many have been family & close family friends only. However I have a pretty big family.

Like the first one! ! I think it will definitely show your figure perfectly! !

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie Old lady cruise ship was harsh too but frankly, I disagreed with it. I'm not an old lady and I don't think i'd look like one in those dresses, everyone's entitled to their opinion and i didn't want to be hostile to people with different opinions to mine.

Yes it's my party, my dress code. My family have had lots of events where the men wore a tux and women wore a fancy dress of some description. I don't disagree with lots of the posters who suggested a younger, more fun look. I've ordered a selection of more fun options to try on. Thanks for your opinions!

What's the celebration anyway, OP?

There's actually two, one milestone birthday and one anniversary. One this year (hopefully....) the other next year.

My understanding (admittedly purely through a former life as a student at a posh university) is that knee or long length are both fine for black tie - it's white tie where full length gowns are required for women. Debretts agrees with me...

www.debretts.com/expertise/etiquette/dress-codes/black-tie/

www.debretts.com/expertise/etiquette/dress-codes/white-tie-dress-code/

I thought it was on the knee which is why most go for long as on the knee is not particularly flattering

2 and 4 are my favourites.

Have a lovely birthday.

Just looking at the options you've linked to OP I would suggest that you need to actually see the dresses side by side to compare quality. They look very similar type of dresses from the pictures but one is only £85 and another over £400 which is a big difference and i would definitely want to inspect and compare them.

They look like Oscar-party type dresses to me so I don't see why they would be too old for you, although I say that as someone with a very casual lifestyle who couldn't imagine where I would ever wear such a dress!

I like 1, 2 and 5.

5, because of the colors (I personally wear bright colors) and as you said you are tall, soooo show off you legs and a bit of cleavage.

1 and 2, are very elegant and would suit rather formal party.

3 and 4 makes me think about ''Great Gatsby''...

No.2 is my favourite by far, slightly unusual and just beautiful.