Help! I can NOT do party outfits!

[Tigofigo]

I really need some help please S&Vers!

I feel like I can do daytime style pretty well - usually jeans, trainers, sweats, oversized dresses - I know my style and I like it.

But I cannot for the love of God do any kind of smart / party look! I want something cool, a bit sexy, suitable as party wear but not too "wedding guest" or formal. Would rather not do sequins or glitter.

I think it's partly because black looks awful on me. I'm looking at dresses too, but wondering if separates would be better...

The others things I just can't do are:

Bias cut
Ditsy prints
Monochrome
Straps / sleeveless
Bodycon
Anything clingy or that shows lumps and bumps eg cheap satin
Anything obscenely short
Anything that needs to be worn with heels
Cap sleeves

This seems to rule out 90% of stuff.

Please help me work out what I could wear! I'm a size 10, 40yo, normalish figure

Would you believe this soSansander catalogue I got through this afternoon had some quite nice bits in it. Long sleeves sweetheart necklines

What about a shirt style maxi dress (or for me a midi - 4ft11 so works out as a maxi!). The shirt style ones seem loose but also flattering, seem to give people a waist without showing the lumps and bumps! Plus I think the style works quite well as a smart day or evening outfit.

Thanks I had a look but it's all a bit too smart and formal for me... My day time style is so casual, I need to find something that's night time but also casual!

Thanks this could work but I'm struggling to find one I actually like in colours that will suit - any recommendations?

Don't know if any of these would work for you:

Oversize dresses in velvet from Poetry

Tiered skirt

Or smarter black jeans with a loose silk shirt and metallic or sparkly trainers? Maybe with a velvet coat or jacket? Or a velvet shirt - here's one from Other Stories. Or silver shirt from Asos.

Have you tried searching 'shirt dress maxi' on Asos? It brings up quite a few.

Leather or leathery pants in your favourite style - I love the Spanx Moto leggings, they're a bit edgy
Silk/chiffon shirt OR cami with a blazer
Really pretty shoes

Good hair/bag/jewellery to zazz it all up a bit.

Silk Fred and Dancing Leopard usually have a good selection.

Hi!

Re colours. One of my friends was a colour consultant! She had all these drapes and would tell people what suited their colouring. She said very few people actually suit black, but for most people a true red looks good (as we all have some true red in us from blood). So maybe a red colour? Friend always looks fabulous… she never looks washed out or anything other than this healthy glow, but she only wears a few colours and has very much found her style.

I like this outfit that was posted on another thread

Thanks the velvet dress is nice but the colours not so good on me sadly. The ruffled skirt is cool but not sure I could pull it off!

This looks great on other people but feel like my legs would resemble sausages!! Maybe I need to try it on.

This is nice but not sure about a jumper on a night out.

Stick to what you know - decent jeans (black straight/slim are good for a party), a silk/y shirt tucked in, loads of jewellery, boots.

Yep maybe you're right. Off to hunt down some good black jeans! Thanks

Your dresses with trainers or stompy boots, big earrings and a bold lipstick? Red or neon pink maybe.

How would that feel?

Another leather leggings fan here.