Dress for 50th birthday meal

[milkymonkey]

Help! It's my birthday meal! Wanted a one off nice fine dining restaurant experience and husband has booked, I don't know where exactly, possibly a Michelin (def London though) but am assuming no jeans/trainers. I am admittedly a nightmare choosing and shopping for clothes and even worse at shoe shopping ( I wear trainers, flip flops or boots on rotation). I am thinking long or knee length patterned shirt dress with ankleboots as I absolutely don't do heels. Budget maybe £50 - £100. I am usually a size 12 and the dresses I have tried so far are lovely but just seem too long on me. Any recommendations? I will try and post picture of me wearing something to get an idea of my shape etc.

And I spent 2 hours in John Lewis recently with a stylist and ended up with an Alice Temperley jump suit that instantly looked crap on me once I got it home (like a kimono, it's going back) and a Damsel in a Dress shirt dress that just seems too long now. ( can't seem to find it to post).
I can't do fitted, short or no sleeves. Awkward I know.

You might, contrary to all the usual post advice, want to dress up in something colourful and fitted and flattering rather than go prairie. A really pretty dress that suits you, makes you feel the full $1m and which might take you to a wedding or two afterwards is actually worth spending a bit more. If you wear it five times in five years, then the cost per wear comes right down to Primark price.