Work Event Outfit Help

[Magenta82]

I'd really appreciate some help finding an outfit for a work event. It's at the end of the month so I have a bit of time to try online, vinted, etc as well as physical shops.

The event is pretty much a conference/networking event in the day moving to an awards ceremony in the early evening, the industry is financial services.

I have been entirely WFH since the start of the pandemic and have had a baby in that time so my pre-pandemic clothes are not suitable. I am at a complete loss on where to even start and my previous tactic of begging a sales assistant in John Lewis to help won't work as they have all closed.

I am short, 5'1" on a good day, but have a fairly normal length body and really short legs. This means that dresses suit me better than skirts and especially trousers which can make me look dumpy. Dresses that are supposed to be mid calf or below also make me look odd as they come out the wrong length on me.

I'm a size 14 in most shops for dresses and jeans. My hips and bum are where I carry my weight so very fitted/pencil skirts and fitted suit dresses don't work.

I know this is a big ask, but I'm not even sure what kind of thing I should look for. If you can give me a few suggestions on styles or brands that would be a massive help.

My budget is around £200 for the clothes.

I'd also welcome suggestions for comfy flat or low heel shoes to go with the outfit.

Thanks very much in advance.

Would this be too dressy?

https://sisterjane.com/collections/dresses/products/pomme-bouquet-bow-dress?edit=one

Is there anything else on this site that might work?

Thanks for the suggestion I really appreciate you helping.

To be totally honest, most of the dresses on that site scare me a little bit. I think some of them are lovely, but far too different and interesting for my taste and probably too young for me, I'm 42.

I like this one, and could see me potentially wearing it to an outdoor event or wedding, but not to this work event. sisterjane.com/collections/dresses/products/tulipa-jacquard-tiered-dress?edit=one

Ok!

Is this too short? Too straight? Too shiny?

https://www.thereformation.com/products/alaine-silk-dress/1309814BLK.html

I couldn’t sleep last night and spent an hour browsing Warehouse sale dresses (prompted by another thread). They have quite a few, with big reductions, but you need the patience to search.

Would you be against renting a dress from somewhere like Hurr?

https://www.hurrcollective.com/

Damsel in a dress is nice. Something like this:
https://www.damselinadress.com/product/enya-dress-240601600.html#cgid=sale-dresses&is=false&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=240601600&pos=39

Are you sure people aren’t changing for the evening event?

You could invest some time in browsing

The Outnet.

Endless dresses if you have the patience …

This is lovely, great shape and pretty versatile.

The awards are early evening, followed by a few drinks. The whole event will be over by 8pm at the latest, there is no time to change. They are prestigious but the ceremony will be more like after work drinks than a glitzy event.

I'm not getting an award, but there is a chance I may need to get involved in presenting them.

I really like this, great shape, I think I would prefer it to be a little longer to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions.

The fabric is nice and I could see me wearing it out in the evenings, it would potentially work for this event but I think I would go for something less shiny so I could keep it available for any other work things that come up.

I love the idea of renting! Thanks for the tip I am going to bookmark that site for the future.

I really appreciate your help, I hope you managed to get some sleep.

You sound like my double 😂 same age, shape and I work in finance too.
For a work to evening event I would go for something like this:

joliemoi.co.uk/products/off-the-shoulder-dip-hem-dress-steel-blue

Shoes, a belt and a necklace can dress it up but in a normal work day flats can dress it down.

It has pockets!!!

Lovely dress, all the colours are nice but the black is probably most useful.

Do you know what their sizing is like? They only have the black in a 16 which might be too big for me.

Every dress should come with pockets!!! 😁

I find their sizing more on the generous size but depending on the cut you might be ok with a 16... I was thinking the darker blue would be nice with a tan or nude coloured heel and belt. A bit like this

I've ordered the Teal/dark blue in a 14 and the black in a 16. Really looking forward to trying them on. Thank you

Fingers crossed 🤞🏻 @Magenta82
Let us know how they work out!

Hi Mavis, I'm keeping both, the blue is lovely, but I think the black looks better on me, with my colouring but they are both lovely. tbh there wasn't much difference in the size, they both fit really well.

I looked for nude shoes, but couldn't find any non frumpy ones I could wear for more than a few hours in the right colour. I got these which work fine with both dresses. www.carvela.com/women/shoes/heels/poise-black-patent-carvela-0940300309

That's great news- really glad you liked it and it looks good 😊
The shoes are fabulous!
Hope the event goes well.

That's brilliant that you have something lovely to wear now. Well done @MavisTheMonkey

I came to suggest this, as with that sort of length it wouldn't matter if it were a bit longer on you. Just posting for anyone else with a similar dilemma, now you are sorted!

https://www.oliverbonas.com/fashion/crinkle-sleeve-dark-green-satin-midi-dress-359137#selection.color=16