Lost my ability to dress up nicely, pls help

[Helloword]

I have no sense of style. I used to dress nicely in my 20s amd 30s but now in my early 40s, I am 10 ks heavier with a round belly and flappy arms.

I have a business event, dress code is smart casual. I am 5'3", 60.kg, size 10 but recently bought a loose fitting dress from Zara in xs size.

I want to get a nice dress which I can wear both day and night time. Not too businessy but not too informal. I spent a lot of time on websites and I am lost. Please help.

Will this stick too much on belly? I dont want to spend more than £120

https://www.asos.com/closet-london/closet-london-ribbed-pencil-dress-with-tie-belt-in-emerald-green/prd/21800724?clr=forest-green&colourWayId=60382969&cid=8799

I like this too. Is it too casual?

https://www.sezane.com/en/product/aurena-dress/alcazar-blue#size-6

Someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly, I’m sure but I would think the 2nd is a little bit too informal. I like your first dress but “smart casual” can mean different things in different industries IME. I work in finance and people tend to be smarter at business events than what I would expect to be “smart casual”, so your first dress would be suitable. I suppose the type of event will also matter.

You can’t wear the second to a business event! And I wouldn’t have said a very narrow dress, like the green, would be the best shape to accommodate ‘roundness’.

This shape might be better but this one may be too long.

This might be easier - very versatile and could be taken up at the hem if necessary.

OP, you have a BMI of 23.4, and whilst people carry their weight differently and you might be heavier than you were, I doubt that anything on you would register as “round” or “flappy” to most people! I’m about your height and weight and could wear the green dress no problem.

Boden used to be really good for work dresses but I just looked and there isn’t much really. I’ll have a think…..

https://www.baukjen.com/products/landry-dress-with-lenzing-ecovero-bright-emerald
some tummy ruching but might be a bit long

I love both of the green dresses and would happily have worn either of them to any one of the 100s of business-related events I've attended over the years. I always think that smart, tailored and plain works best for anything corporate. For me, the Sezanne dress is way too casual for work and the Stories dress is a bit fussy because of the pattern, but it would be a great shape for covering a tummy. Agree with the previous poster that you don't have to worry about any roundness!

Try John Lewis personal shopper online

If you log on now there’s spaces for Sunday afternoon
and it’s free

I understand about the round belly and flappy arms as I am trying to rid myself of the same. Work in progress.

In the meantime, being of erm shorter stature myself, I find the most forgiving shape is a shift dress that skims the body.

I am not wild about the print of these but it is an example of the shape. Use accessories to dress it up or down or cover with a jacket if it is too casual.

https://www.roman.co.uk/ombre-textured-shift-dress-14005108
https://www.roman.co.uk/check-shift-dress-14011934

The green dress is lovely. I have control pants which helps with my belly. They were from m and s. Amazing fit!

the blue dress is a bit beachy for a work event

have you had a look at lk bennet. They have some sales on but also a monthly thing where you can rent an outfit and send it back. Some beautiful stuff

I think the Baukjen and Closet dresses while lovely will be too long and not easy fabric to alter.

Oasis and Boden petite are good. Whistles have a new Petite range which is exciting.

I have just bought this and it’s beautiful irl. Looks way more expensive than it actually is …
Alternative to the Sezanne one?

For smart casual I’d be planning on trousers and a nice blouse. Reiss petite trousers are lovely for work. They are expensive but such a good fit Reiss trousers and Mango and Zara do nice blouses

Not sure if you liked the other green dresses. If you did here’s a petite version …

Oasis petite green dress

Oh I forgot about Whistles Petite. This is nice:
https://www.whistles.com/product/diagonal-fleck-dobby-dress-36796.html#cgid=Petite_Clothing_WW&is=false&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=diagonal-fleck-dobby-dress-36796&pos=11

The green dress from ASOS is ideal for you needs and it looks amazing.

You need a good cut, which means a better brand of dress. Nothing that you wore in your younger days. I speak from experience!

This doesn’t mean spending £££ though. Lots of new second hand stuff out there, or Sale. Or try an outlet mall. I don’t think looking online works unless you know & trust the brand IRL...

Thanks so much for your replies. They're all so helpful. I am still ok BMI wise but my middle area is disproportionately big. I like shift dress but these days wven they they show stomach or I have to go for a size which is much bigger on me overall. That's the reason I liked Sezane, I know it is quite casual. I am not in law or banking, my industry is a bit more chilled out.

I like all suggestions here but oasis green dress is my favourite. I also like whistles and &other stories, though I have one similar to black. I also like the idea of trousers with a smart top.

this comes in petite - https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/melissa-wrap-jersey-dress-we769#colour=193

The Oasis green dress is beautiful. Kate vibes. Some of the others are too casual and some I think may be too business like. If you think smart casual to men could be jeans, shirt and a blazer, then the Oasis one would work for so many things. Love it.

I like the green dress but I have a big belly (43 and look a bit like a menopausal tweedle Dee from Alice in wonderland) and I couldn’t wear a plain dress like that because I need a bit of a print / drape to the dress to distract from my stomach, plain fabric just highlights it. But that’s just my preference.

Lovely dress - is the fabric very thin ? I ordered a shirt in that pattern but sent it back as thought the fabric was too fine/thin.

Depending on what exactly the event is, the dress might well be suitable. I also ordered (and am keeping) the shirt dress in that pattern.

I would have thought this shape https://www.asos.com/closet-london/closet-london-wrap-tie-midi-dress-in-navy/prd/21607950?clr=navy&colourWayId=60180516&SearchQuery=wrap+dress would be better for your shape than the green one.

I'm the same height and about 62kg. Weight is around my middle and top of arms unfortunately.
Fitted clothes look better, no high necks, a v neck or shirt dress with the top buttons open. I just bought a fitted jumpsuit that looks good, well better than most things.
Anything loose or baggy makes me look like a barrel.

I imagine this is way out of your budget but I use it as an example of a dress that can disguise a tummy. Flowing material, busy pattern, v-neck and high waist combine to be very feminine yet with strong color and good for work or any occasion. This is the kind of silhouette I would suggest.
https://thefoldlondon.com/product/leone-dress-navy-and-red-silk/

A top like this is also a good option to disguise a tummy if you want to do separates. Again, this is for illustration, I know it’s expensive, but I am suggesting shapes and silhouettes if you are struggling with knowing where to start.
https://thefoldlondon.com/product/piedmont-top-cobalt-blue-jersey/

A fit and flare dress is also a good option.
https://www.talbots.com/maggy-london-belted-fit-and-flare-dress/P232036465.html?cgid=apparel-dresses-wear-to-work&dwvar_P232036465_color=BONNIE%20BLUE&dwvar_P232036465_sizeType=MS