Shops in Dorchester for black tie dress?

[ArchiePenrose]

Does anyone who knows Dorchester recommend anywhere to shop for a black tie dress? I am meeting friends there next weekend and have never been. Would it be possible to turn up a couple of hours early and have a look around a few shops where I might get a posh frock? Or anywhere else that's fairly nearby?

Dorchester high street is not great for clothes shopping but
in Brewery Square near the station there are some quite good clothes shops; Hobbs, Phase 8, Joules and a 3 other independent clothes shops. I like browsing there for naice clothes. I am not sure what black tie clothes are though!

Thank you! I am going somewhere really, properly posh for the first time ever - formal dinner in posh setting rather than an actual ball, so I need (I think) a long dress. And I want to look absolutely banging, if possible! Hobbs and Phase Eight close together sounds like a good start - I will look up brewery yard.