Help me find a dress!

[WobblerWoman]

I really would appreciate some help from some stylish people. I am going to a lunch party with my DH's extended family. I am 60 years old, 5 foot 10 and size 18. The women in DH's family are all petite, slim and very rich. They have all had very different life experiences to me and I feel like a fish out of water. They are not unkind to me but I find myself tongue tied and feel like a clumsy oaf when I'm with them. Please could you help me to find a classy looking dress to wear. Something that would blend in with expensive tastes for under £200 (Absolute max) . I just want to go unnoticed if possible.
Thanks

This thread might help. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4897816-what-do-you-wear-if-youre-a-size-18

Where I am in Central London, all the women appear to be wearing satin bias cut midi skirts with a black or navy fitted top. That might look great on a tall woman too.

I’d be surprised if you ever go unnoticed. But I know what you mean about feeling like a clumsy oaf - I’ve sometime felt the same amongst very neat, petite women - and I’m short.

Agree with reading the thread linked above. But for dresses specifically you could look at this from yesterday:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4898304-if-i-always-wear-jeans-and-a-nice-top?reply=129272311

Just have a look through the lists of dress brands - some will offer size 18, some may not. And they won’t all sell dresses new for the budget you stipulate - but places have sales, and so many things are available new on pre-owned sites.

I don’t know if you’d feel it would be worth the trouble to hire a dress just for a lunch party? You could obviously hire something fabulous. Here’s the important list of websites if you want to consider it:

https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/g29187954/rent-dress/

(Lots of people who always seem to be fabulously well dressed will have rented their outfit for the day or the weekend …)

Ok - I think this seems perfect for your purposes. It also comes in quieter colours but this looks so confident. And is available in an Extra Large which corresponds with an 18.

https://www.justinetabak.co.uk/collections/dresses/products/fuschia-corduroy-notting-hill-dress

It is £45 over your budget. Possibly it’s findable for less elsewhere.

Take a look at these
https://www.albaray.co.uk/collections/dresses?filter.v.option.size=18&sort_by=manual
or
https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/the-bettina-tiered-midi-shirt-dress-by-maeve?category=dresses&color=001&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

This is lovely. What do you think?
https://www.monsoon.co.uk/eliza-embellished-shirt-dress-red-64631619.html

Hot squash maxi dress?

www.hotsquash.com/the-maxi-dress.html

I've got two - the dark teal and the chiffon one with birds. They are so comfortable but elegant. I'm 5'9" and they almost reach the floor.

I got mine brand new with tags from vinted....

I also like the idea of a bias cut midi skirt with a knit top and boots. You could do all navy with black boots, and a nice necklace you already own.

Also, Boden has some good dresses, one and done! There are several plain navy, but I like this polka dot one if you can handle some print.
https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/ruched-jersey-midi-tea-dress-french-navy-spot/sty-d0832-nvy?cat=C1_S2_G4

Thank you so much everyone. There is so much to look at! I am trying to stick to my budget of £200.
The Justine Tabak dress is great but too bright and too expensive. I also like the monsoon one except for the sequins.

I like this one but - again its too spendy.
https://tallulahandhope.com/products/freda-dress-flamecrest-5?variant=44043888427229&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=CjwKCAjw6p-oBhAYEiwAgg2Pgv1Hq1iHE_dHJHMtACtZqiaXFQMCrhmzXXRwiA0oRVE2J63sAq84lBoC9tgQAvD_BwE

My other issue is that I have bad feet. They are wide, size 8 clodhoppers and I can't wear heels. I would love to be a bit more gazelle and a bit less hippo!😂

Palava? Goes up to an 18 and in budget.

Palava 1
Palava 2
All Palava

I love the Palava dresses on other people. They are too short for me and too "out there". I wouldn't blend in in them !

This is beautiful. Think I may have to find more money. 😱

https://www.poetryfashion.co.uk/product-UY92-POEDS/colour-a-teal/dresses-skirts/printed-silk-wrap-dress.htm

This ‘blending in’ thing …

🤔

You’re 5 foot 10 inches. You are never going to be invisible - have you really not accepted that? It seems an awful shame to spend your life choosing clothes on the basis that they might help you to disappear. (For different reasons I’m also quite ‘noticeable’ - if I chose deliberately drab clothes I would still be so - just in drab clothes …)

I don’t know what your husband’s family are like - but I have some history of intimidating country house type in laws. If they’re anything like that - I’d stick to natural fibres and day dress conventions - ie not long and not sparkly. But you’ll know what would be suitable for your particular occasion.

I have seen that Poetry dress shared often on here, and I love it more every time. It's expensive, but you could wear it for all kinds of events. And with boots.

I really like this.

Black cord dress