If you were a middle aged woman and wanted to look sexy as hell for a Christman party...

[Trainplan]

Without looking ridiculous, what steps would you be taking now?

Don't panic, it's not work related!

I'm mid 50s, 5'"7, size 10, sometimes an 8 if it's not too fitted on the hips, well toned.

Blonde crop, a summer colour palate.

Don't get on very well with heels, don't usually wear much makeup. I usually aim for attractively understated. I'd quite like to make for of an impact at this one, but aware that could backfire. Middle aged sexy could translate as aging prostitute, so we'll try not to do that 😆

I suppose a dress is the place to start, where from?

And totally no with the toes. Do not show feet, nor knees.

https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/midi-dresses/product.off-shoulder-balloon-midi-dress-black.1196212001.html

the bubble hem is very ‘now’ and I think a boat neck is so sexy. Pair it with a statement corsage necklace https://www.bershka.com/gb/floral-choker-necklace-c0p137992082.html and these heels https://www.reiss.com/style/su059354/800611#800611

@MistyBay your post is completely joyless. Bah humbug to you!

OP I'd second a PP who suggested The Vampire's Wife. They have had some high street collabs over the years that you might be able to find on eBay.

Love this. Spot on.

I suppose it's all subjective but the Vampire's Wife dress and the Other Stories dresses are the only ones I like.

The Lipsy ones are awful.

God there are some terrible suggestions on here

Cruise ship glamour, lord

I'll add my tuppence with and say a pait of tight black pants and a silky shirt, leave it open low ish

With heels

But I know you wanted to show your shoulders so my point is moot

I'm thinking a long black velvet dress with a cowl back. I like this one from coast: https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-cowl-back-fishtail-bridesmaids-maxi-dress_bcc04456?gad=1&gbraid=0AAAAACozbbwkmVKhTKptiQ5j6AIwjAt9P&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5O681ODYgQMVFu13Ch2ImQ2lEAQYAiABEgJBNvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&colour=black&size=8

https://meshki.co.uk/products/nadia-maxi-satin-dress-with-back-cowl-black?variant=43499122688242&currency=GBP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5O681ODYgQMVFu13Ch2ImQ2lEAQYKCABEgJlL_D_BwE

https://clubllondon.com/products/francoise-black-cowl-neck-backless-maxi-dress-with-lace-insert-cl128401002?variant=40490950066218&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2OL0gOLYgQMVsYhQBh03GglhEAQYFSABEgJ2NfD_BwE

Navy halter
Sparkley teal
Top & Skirt

It’s not her first time out of the house 🤣

I liked your first link op this one. You need very good posture and straight shoulders to carry off a halter neck, otherwise it draws attention to the size of your hips.

What are your best features?

I disagree that women need to be 'perfection' to look sexy.

Emphasise your best bits for sure but it's ridiculous to suggest that a woman in middle age should have to cover up neck to toe on the off chance someone spots a flaw.

https://www.thereformation.com/products/raewyn-knit-dress/1313648CHR.html?dwvar_1313648CHR_color=CHR&quantity=1

If it's to attract a man I'd say the more skin showing the better. They have simple tastes on the whole.

I also agree with that. I am early 50s, overweight and not well. My health has started to improve after more than a decade of being quasi bedridden, multiple surgeries etc. I don’t have the time or energy for perfection and recently went to a wedding. I got a spray tan to disguise the thread veins, got my nails done and wore a long dress with a deep front split. A guy there was definitely interested in me - not reciprocated or sought btw. And he wasn’t drunk or old, possibly a little younger than me. It was a little boost after the long, dark years…. Not that I’m suggesting op is wanting to dress for anyone other than herself. Despite my size, I got several compliments both from women my age and a lot younger. So size as an imperfection, which op doesn’t have but was brought up in the post by MistyBay, to a degree doesn’t matter either.

Lol that’s so true. My fave for sexiness from a heterosexual women’s perspective is the long sleeved velvet dress.

Fitted dress, with a high neck but a scooped back.

I wore this dress the evening before the wedding. I know it’s not expensive. With the spray tan it looked amazing. This was the one I got complimented the most on. My cleaning lady liked it so much she has got one for new year. https://www.next.co.uk/style/ls418453/k55907#k55907

Don't wear the Lipsy dresses unless the man you are interested in is a very, very simple creature.
They are terribly cruise ship and not very grown up. My opinion only, which you can ignore.

https://www.warehousefashion.com/sequin-halter-neck-jumpsuit/AWW04734-148-22.html?istCompanyId=9875fbb9-8403-4ba5-a198-ed8f594c95e5&istFeedId=da0f5c51-3435-4ead-bbfe-845651be6b20&istItemId=rxrwaxxai&istBid=t&gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_cfDqKXZgQMVDOPtCh2g1glnEAQYHSABEgINq_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

This has potential

I wasn't going to get involved. This is not my forte. At all. But I can't stand by and say nothing while there are posters still trying to talk the op into wearing a jumpsuit.

The brief we have been given by the op is 'sexy as hell', not stylish or fashionable or arty or professional or a night out with the girls or meeting your ex after 20 years. And never in my life have I met or heard of a man who had a thing for women in jumpsuits. Of course the odd one will exist but why take that chance? Even if he turned out to be an outlier who could see into the op's authentic soul, she'd probably have to show him how to take it off.

For what it's worth, I'm team tuxedo. They worked in the 90s, which was the last time I pulled.

There are some great suggestions on the board, but many are not suitable for a glitzy dinner dance at a posh hotel or similar, in my humble opinion. Before covid, I used to go to these kind of events maybe 3 times a year, but admit I haven’t to once been since Xmas 2019, so maybe I’m out of date. When I say dinner dance, I mean sit down dinner and then disco, four star hotel, guests aged mostly 40+.

At the ones I went to, about 70% of the women wore long evening dresses, another 25% wore short but dressy/sexy cocktail dresses and about 5% wore some of the other suggestions upthread. (And looked kinda out of place, like they got the wrong memo! )

Of the first three Lipsy dresses you mentioned OP, the long one was spot on for those kind of events. Some of the other long fitted ones suggested also looked good. Quiz Clothing also has some great options. Yes, a bit ‘cruise ship’ and probably not as ‘grown up’ or ‘cool’ as some of the other posters might like, but fun, gorgeous, sexy and totally appropriate for the Christmassy event you’re describing. You’re tall and slim, so you’ll look great whatever!

Lol at @Floisme! I have never met a man who was into Other Stories bubble dresses either.

I also suspect most are not into tuxedos, so my suggestion would be one of the quieter Zara dresses.

Yes I can't imagine any heterosexual man thinking that a jumpsuit is a sexy look however fashionable and attractive we may think it. Unless it has cleavage split to the navel and is skin tight leather perhaps. Many of the ones on this thread are great but they're the sort of clothes women wear for themselves and to impress other women.

Personally I'd go for clingy bias cut satin in an offbeat colour like ocre or duck egg, which is current (the shops are full of it) and shows your arse off as long as it's a perfect fit.

This is quite nice.
https://www.tedbaker.com/uk/p/Womens/Clothing/Dresses/Midi-Dresses/LILYMAY-Cowl-Neck-Bias-Cut-Midi-Dress-Dark-Blue/268468-DK-BLUE?cmpid=ppc~google~PLA~performance_max_uk~~268468-DK-BLUE-3~na~na~UK&gclid=CjwKCAjw9-6oBhBaEiwAHv1QvIQFhhOvr_zQvXvy2Nnyw-jFJ1CNZku0mj75bcf2Aryw4gaJbzaAwBoCI04QAvD_BwE

If I were shopping for a posh do today I'd buy this, and team it with a very plain white satin camisole top and killer heels, but I'm not sure it would work with flats alas.
https://www.jigsaw-online.com/products/sequin-midi-skirt-green?variant=43630832156838&istCompanyId=5cb36b28-3b54-4573-9793-5e46611a0358&istFeedId=862761a5-2bf0-4417-ab0a-7e46ee93302a&istItemId=rpmitlpwm&istBid=t&gclid=CjwKCAjw9-6oBhBaEiwAHv1QvMaEoxAeNs4icnSBwBHG45ob5_IlYPn7kZSYg7vN0LtKls5BXMB0hRoCA5YQAvD_BwE

It was 2ndMrsdeWinter who suggested The Other Stories dress, seconded by me, not Floisme.

This thread has possibly the most awful dresses I've seen on MN, particularly the Lipsy dresses. I'm not convinced that all men are so simple as being suggested on here.

Bombshell always looks a bit cat slater barmaid to me, opposite of classy