Black tie event dress

[LemonCurd1]

What would a 49 year old, size 14, 5ft 7 tall woman wear to a black tie event? Haven’t bought clothes for years somehow and need to wow!

I'm a 12/14 and regularly go to black tie functions. The best dresses I've actually found have been in charity shops! I have a theory it's because someone once bought that dress because it actually looked good on them but only wore it once. Vinted is fab for this as you can filter by size and style.

Are there parts of your body you'd love to show off? I have lovely cleavage and good arms so I love showing those off, I have one of the Bombshell glitter evening dresses for this and they are absolutely gorgeous.

If you prefer to go more covered up, M&S has a sparkly tuxedo jacket - with a black mesh top underneath, black cigarette trousers and killer heels, you'd definitely wow.

Long dress is the safest option (though now you’ll often find knee length or jumpsuits worn for black tie).

What shape are you? What would you like to show off/distract from?

I’ve put about 8kg on since Covid so have fatter hips and bum and but boobs ok, though slight bingo wings…. Have long legs, would prefer dress with a little coverup perhaps?

Definitely want a dress over trousers or a jump suit.

Any of these float your boat?

Some nice ones…. Am I too old for sequins?

Not a single one of those Phase Eight ‘occasion’ dresses is anything close to fashionable …

They have others that are slightly better, but I can’t really understand why anyone would shop there when there are a million other choices.

You’ve just missed the H&M Rabanne collaboration, but this could be a cool outfit - if suitable for your particular event.

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1212489001.html

Adrianna Papell are pretty good if you're looking for sleeves.

Sorry Gruelle I must have missed where the OP said she wanted to look fashionable or cool?

That sequin skirt you linked to will be unflattering on anyone with larger bum/hips and there’s no way a white shirt with a sequin skirt counts as black tie.

OP of course you’re not too old for sequins!