Need outfit for work-related black tie dinner

[ladette]

So, next time am coming back as a man. Black tie = bleeding obvious if you're a fella. This is a do where I am representing work (ie my DH won't be with me) So, don't want to be showing flesh and do want some semblance of professionalism without being too boring. Am a very ample 12/14 so not a great figure to flaunt. I don't want to spend a huge amount. And have an hour's train journey to the dinner so need to be able to travel in whatever. Any thoughts?

No flesh at all? Arms? What sort of shape are you? Norks or not? And what sort of budget?

and is it a dinner / cocktail thing or a full-on ball?

Flesh: prefer to have shoulders covered and not too much cleavage, but happy to put something over the top of an otherwise revealing dress. It's an awards dinner so champagne reception and dinner. With clients. My DH won't be with me, so even less inclined to show flesh. Very much a work-related dinner, not a full-on ball. Shape = flabby arms, flabby stomach. Norks shouldn't be on display. Budget = as cheaply as poss and don't want to go much over £100 unless it's something I can dress up/down to wear over and over. Then would go go £150 - £200

I did wonder about this, but not sure from your description of yourself that you'd be comfortable in it. You'd need good arms too.

That 1 hour train journey makes the fabric as important as the style too, if you're not going to be completely creased by the time you get there.

Ah - x- post. Not that one then.

you need wide-legged poss velvety evening trous and some kind of glamourous top

Nice dress tho Jackie. I might just order it, try it on and see whether it suits and whether it would travel It ticks a lot of my boxes and I do like it. Pls keep ideas coming tho

This kind of shape would be good, with a shrug on top. Do you want black, or can you do a colour? If black, then this looks good.

MrsBadger's idea is good - I did wonder about an actual tuxedo?

Monsoon has lots of shrugs.

Oh my, now we're getting there Jackie. Love the shape of both those dresses. Am good with black, but also happy with colour. The green is the wrong green for me, am more autumnal shades. Mrs B, also like idea of trousers and glam top. Just need to find them, having searched the local shopping centre and drawn a blank