Statement outfit for a 45 year old

[Bigbirthdaycomingup]

Hi All,

I've a big birthday coming up. Well it's my 45th but for various reasons I haven't had a bash for five years and looking forward to a celebration. I'm looking for a showstopper if that's possible.

Ideally I would like red as it suits me; I'm sallow skinned and brunette. However blue, gold or cream would be fine too. I don't like patterned fabric. Definitely not black, grey or pastels.

I don't like midi so mini (but not obscene) or long with a thigh slit. I don't like satin, sparkly or shiny material.

I'm busty but due to cancer treatment a few years ago low cleavage tops don't look good. One shoulder is ok or racer shoulders. I can't do backless as I need bra support.

I am not slim but I workout out religiously so my proportions are good. I'm 5 ft 7 and a size 12-14. Form fitting but not clingy suits me best, I look ridiculous in smock style or anything oversized.

I'm thinking a dress or jumpsuit. I mainly wear flat shoes. I like to go quite neutral on clothes and bigger on hair, makeup and accessories.

Budget up to 300 but preferably much less.

I have long thick dark hair that I usually wear down. The party is on in a private section of a fairly upmarket restaurant that does great cocktails and is quite dressy. It will be drinks, finger food and dancing.

Any suggestions?

Here's a list of places you could look:

Net-a-Porter
Matches
SSense
Browns

which might all have something suitable in the sales.

Alternatively

The Outnet

carries permanently discounted high end clothes, so £300 should get you something reasonably impressive.

Thanks for the reply. They are all way out of budget unfortunately. I can't really stretch to designer prices. I do browse The Outnet from time to time but I have never been keen on anything there.

Are there any high street lines that that have dressy stuff for my age group?

Might be a bit obvious but I would just run a Google search for say 'red jumpsuit' and a few options come up, eg Joanie have a velvet one but maybe a little low, River Island have one with a cape. I don't necessarily think there are consistent places to buy things these days, eg this retailer sells perfect occasion wear, you have to root around various places. This is what I do when I have something in mind.

(Actually ... I wouldn't have posted that list if those sites did not have some perfectly lovely clothes for less than £300 reduced in their sales. (I know they do because I've bought them!) But most people catch sight of the full price Gucci and Valentino and decide the sites are not for them, rather than identifying more modestly priced brands that appeal and following those up ...)

I'm afraid my phone is out of action at the moment so I don't have my lists to hand. Hope other people can help.

I really like this but it's very short. I'm at least two inches shorter than that model but I don't know if that's enough. I am toned but I'm not lithe if that makes sense. Is it too young for me?

Thanks I'll take another look

Nancy Mac might be worth a look - some gorgeous clothes in colours you like - at top end of budget though. This Asda jumpsuit is a bargain - in burgundy velvet - if the neckline isn’t too low. https://direct.asda.com/george/women/jumpsuits-playsuits/burgundy-knot-front-velvet-jumpsuit/G007758453,default,pd.html?redirectFromInt=1&cmpid=ppc--geor-------_-dskwid-dm&utm_campaign=pla%3A_Fashion-Womens_BAU-_Performance_Max&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxbam3YOeggMV-IlQBh0XrAqnEAQYASABEgKDAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&shareProduct=true
John Lewis is worth searching, simply because they stock so many brands.

Thanks! I'll check out Nancy Mac now.

The jumpsuit is lovely but the problem is it's too low on the cleavage and covering up my shoulders and upper arms (possibly my best feature at the moment).

This might be worth a look too. Better neckline and shows off arms and shoulders. www.phase-eight.com/product/zelda-belted-jumpsuit-22122993208.html

www.johnlewis.com/adrianna-papell-one-shoulder-wide-leg-jumpsuit/red/p110431785
This is gorgeous

I almost love those two red jumpsuits but I wish they didn't have all those extra bits of material on them.

Current fashion really confuses me. It's like it's either all cut out, underwear free zone or else a complete camouflage, no middle ground and certainly no showing off your figure in a reasonable way.

https://www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/disco-jumpsuit-cherry/?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=cpc&utmcampaign=-&adgroupid=&utmmcontent=&utmterm=&gaddsource=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqP2pBhDMARIsAJQ0Czrnffv08yipLGJoBR-NURhsELMpLS2yDYSov7RVU7c-yfGrJWHFDgaAgUOEALwwwcB

Not red but might fit the criteria www.google.co.uk/search?q=red+jumpsuit&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

That's meant to be a link to bright pink Mango Jumpsuit on ASos. Can't seem to copy the actual link

www.asos.com/prd/204338041?acquisitionsource=pasteboard

hopefully this works.

Oh this is lovely. I'm going to order it. If not for this party then something else.

But you said you don’t like satin-y fabric!

While that ASOS jumpsuit is a nice shape and a good strong colour, at that price I’d be prepared for it to be much thinner than it looks on screen, and maybe not particularly well finished. If you’re looking for, or accustomed to, £300 quality - or want something to wear repeatedly - you might be wise to find something similar but better quality. But I guess it’s fine if you don’t need it to last.

(That said, one of my favourite dresses ever was about £50 from Top Shop in 2017 …)

Something like this?

@Gruelle I didn't think it looked satin-y? I'm on my phone so maybe can't see very well. I meant the really shiny satin dresses though. No it doesn't need to last forever and I'd be happy with something that was cut nicely than had extreme longevity. 300 is my upper ceiling .

@Cobwobs that is stunning! I'm not sure I have the body confidence for that one though. I think it it had either the shoulders on reveal OR the thigh high split I'd go for it but both together is too daring for me. Beautiful however.

Does anyone have any opinion on the red dress I posted above? I do look quite young for my age, hair and skinwise but not excessively.

If I'm sounding very unsure of myself it's because I spent most of my 40s ill. I recovered and have gotten extremely fit but I feel like I've just returned to dressing up and not too sure what age group I am anymore.

The red dress is nice but there's not a lot of it, I'd wanna be pretty damned hot from top to toe to pull that off. Only you can know if it's right for you or not. I also wouldn't say it's that special because it's a minimal, quite simple dress and the thing that brings the wow is being a stunner who's able to wear it. If you want the outfit itself to be a wow, I'd want something more special. You could consider hiring a designer dress if that opens up more options and you're not fussed about owning it.

You’re not an ‘age group’, you’re an individual. (Did you miss the memo?)

There will be women who look older than you at 45, and others who look younger. Everyone’s entitled to choose clothes they like and feel suit them - that’s dependent on your mirror, not your age.

I don’t really have an opinion on the red dress you posted - it’s fine, and meets the brief, but for a Winter event I’d probably want something involving ‘fur’, or velvet, or sheepskin, or tweed. So it’s a bit summery for me. 🤷🏽‍♀️

I think the jumpsuits have much more wow to them. I don't think you have to worry too much about what a 45yo can wear, but the jumpsuits have a cool confidence to them and feel more current, whereas the short red dress feels more 'look I've still got it', which is great if you have but you sound a bit unsure. you could always try it on and send it back if it's too short and not right for this.

Reiss Jules Satin Halter Neck Fitted Jumpsuit - REISS

Another red jumpsuit - the top is a bit like the dress you posted