How does a Cello shape look good?

[JustAMinutePleass]

I have large arms small breasts (but a large ribcage), a small and defined but short waist, wide ‘child-bearing’ hips, a wide bum, saddle bags, big thighs / knees, nice calves and ankles (but with varicose veins so I can’t get them out). I’m a size 12/14 up top and a 16/18 bottom, I’m 5 ft 6. I’m also early 40s.

I have a work event I need to go to soon (it’s a high profile tech networking event) and have no idea what to wear to look remotely stylish. I live in straight jeans and sweatshirts as I work from home but big tech CEOs will be there at this thing so I need to do better. Does anyone have any ideas? Would appreciate the help.

Mmm … I think the idea is that they wear their lumps and bumps proudly. It’s an entirely different aesthetic. Although I imagine some smoothing out happens with other Skims items beneath the dress, the whole point is to emphasise the freedom to be who you are.

I’ve been a recent, rapid convert, mostly because some of the cleverest young women I know are dressing like this now - and just look indisputably impressive.

It's mid October, you'll be fine with black opaques under a dress. I think with your body shape you'll go mad trying to find flattering work trousers, so stick to a fit and flare style dress like that Boden one.

New Look has some good full skirted shirt dresses at a reasonable price.
https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/dark-green-belted-midaxi-shirt-dress/p/874183038

I love that Eat my Dust outfit! My 89 year old mother would be weeping - ‘but you’ve got such a pretty figure. Show it off’

Can you use jewellery eg some kind of statement necklace to provide visual bulk if you've got small boobs? It might have the same effect and won't get lost in your cleavage

I disagree with you obviously on how good that entirely different aesthetic looks. I work with very intelligent young women too and they're not wearing this, so perhaps that view of impressive is subjective - much like the Amish wear you described as powerful.

Well, of course it’s subjective!

I’m not saying everyone has to agree with how I perceive it. The women I know are clearly enjoying what they’re wearing - and I offer it as an option for anyone else who likes that look.

It’s no threat to people who don’t.

OP is early 40s and the event is in a very future- and youth-obsessed field. Those staid tasteful Boden and Hobbs styles signal either complete ignorance of current trends or an inflexible clinging to a 'safe' aesthetic of decades past. On that basis alone they would be very poor choices. (Sure, someone might think your legs looked 1cm narrower in them. At a work thing. Whoop.)

Though the specific items aren't my bag @CountryCousin has entirely the right approach. You don't list a budget OP but if limited I'd rent a high end jumpsuit or coord with oversized tailoring details, bright colours or a bold print. Nothing apologetic or safe.

A threat?!

I agree it’s subjective - an option that is not indisputably impressive.

A jumpsuit or oversized clothing is the epitome of safe - every shop on the high street is crammed with them.

I have no problem with anyone suggesting anything. Taste is subjective, after all.
Maybe the Boden dress is dated; what do I know...

What I do have a problem is posters suggesting that women should not be showing off their waists. Of all the innocuous body parts! It's so weird. If women can wear Skims dresses to show off their booties, they can wear Nobody's Child dresses to show off their waists. This whole business of what women can and cannot show off is dated to me.

Nah … @Lentilweaver - you’ve misunderstood my point. (I may have expressed it badly!) It’s not ‘women shouldn’t show off their waists’. It’s that clothes can perform other functions beyond indicating dainty femininity.

@FluffActually articulated exactly what I meant. Putting myself in the OP’s place - I would imagine what she wants to communicate to the big tech CEOs is that she has a youthfully forward thinking brain (in addition to maturity) and is completely ready to drive the company into the future. What she wears and how she presents herself can help with this. The male CEOs don’t need to think she looks sexually available and compliant pretty - they need to think she looks bold and fearless and capable. She needs clothes that look intentional, not timid. And not dated.

What the Skims dresses do is confront the viewer quite blatantly with the wearer’s body; that achieved, there’s really nothing else to do but talk about work. It’s kind of genius.

And the Girls of Dust dress - I don’t know how anyone can fail to discern how beautifully it’s made, or how completely at ease one would feel in wearing it. It’s just an example - one can find similar dresses by other designers in cashmere or viscose or denim. But it clearly declares that you’ve noticed it’s the 21st century - and you’re equipped for it.

Of course people can wear what they like. I would suggest dying on the hill of 'but the naice frocks I like should always be right for every context because IT'S MY STYLE' may not be entirely compatible with sending the right social signals conducive to career advancement at a tech conference. Speaking as a slightly younger woman in the same field.
I have loads of stuff that I love yet would totally not be right for my work self. Pretty sure that's true of my male colleagues too and call me old fashioned but I'm kinda glad it's not considered socially acceptable for them to show off their tight asses or bulging pecs in workwear.

Maybe you can add some links to bright co-ords or jumpsuits which would be right @FluffActually? I don't work in tech, but maybe I should try some unsafe options in the future because mine is quite a young industry.

what is 'skims' type dressing?

Thanks for helping everyone. I probably should have specified this earlier - but I am your typical tech lady. I wear trainers, I like colours, but to work I wear a combination of jeans and brightly coloured sweatshirts. As I’ll (hopefully) get a job off the back of this conference I need to look the part. I also want it to be something I’ll wear again and no offence to the people who suggested them - but the boden / nobody’s child dresses aren’t me.

But I do like the idea of wearing a dress.

I do like that oversized dress but would prefer it shorter so I could wear ir with dark brown boots and black tights. I can’t seem to find anything oversized and colourful. Everything seems to be black.

Ignore the link lol. It’s tiered which just looks hideous. But I do like the design. No budget restrictions really - I can spend up to £300-400. Would prefer not to though lol

Boden just doesn't work for this. It generally always looks too insipid for me, a bit 'now now sweetie, be a nice housefrau for your husband' and devoid of personality. Their stuff always makes me think of women who conform to fit a males standard, makes them feel safe. I dunno, just not my thing. That said I am no style maven!

How about this, I suggest you wear a look at me top with it
https://www.marksandspencer.com/seam-detail-wide-leg-trousers/p/clp22557945#intid=pid_pg3pip48g2r7c1|prodflag_Online%20Only

That's handy to know what you fancy and your budget OP. There's a lot of flared shirt dresses out there in a huge range of price points and designs. What do you reckon to this one? I quite like it - annoying that it's polyester though.
https://www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-geri-shirt-dress-black-multi/p111016873?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&s_share=jlappios_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

may not be entirely compatible with sending the right social signals conducive to career advancement at a tech conference. Speaking as a slightly younger woman in the same field

No-one is going to send the right social signals if they're standing in front of the CEO thinking 'I feel like a ridiculous sack of spuds in this outfit'. Dress to feel confident about yourself, not what some randoms on MN have decided is appropriate.

I’m the same shape. Fit and flare dresses are most flattering in me. I also avoid v-necks or scoop necks and go for a slash neck to widen my shoulders a bit.

MaxMara … Within budget. Dark green. Shoulder pads might be a good addition.

If you like the oversized dress but want shorter what about a trapeze dress. Or maybe cocoon dress.

bright red

leopard

Dress to feel confident about yourself, not what some randoms on MN have decided is appropriate.

Oh, give over! It’s a discussion forum - where we discuss clothes. I’m confident the OP isn’t such a fragile flower that she feels obliged to order every dress mentioned here. If she didn’t want some randoms’ opinions she wouldn’t have started a thread.

This?
https://soolinen.com/products/black-print-silk-long-dress-oversized-pocket-summer?currency=USD&variant=43253036220583&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=93e4744cc7e5&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwLKvpebhgQMVSuTeCh2EuwgnEAEYASAKEgK4TvD_BwE