Unsure what to wear to party

[Char65]

DH and I are going to quite a formal showy Christmas event in mid-December. It starts at 2pm and goes on into the evening in a hotel, its organised by one of DH’s ex colleagues (who likes to flash the cash) and will be a Christmas party plus a 55th birthday party for his wife (and I think his daughter's birthday too). I imagine there will be quite a lot of people there of mixed ages and no expense will be spared! There be a buffet and dancing but not a sit down meal so not unlike a wedding reception. I’m stumped over what to wear I would love to wear something like this
https://www.mytheresa.com/de/en/women/giambattista-valli-jacquard-a-line-midi-dress-gold-p00851724
but wonder if I’m too old for it and if its too OTT I’m 58 and 5 foot 8 and a size 10/12 so quite slim but have a largish bust (36D), what do others think? Should I play it safe with a more traditional dress?

Surely you can pay for a personal stylist if you can afford a dress at that price

Look for something simple.

Wear that dress! It's beautiful!

Thank you very much @Insertdeadcatsnamehere I will definitely wear that one! I will order it today! I think I’m having a bit of a crises of confidence as just become a grandmother for the first time and suddenly started to feel really old! 😊

@Thiswayorthatway I used to sometimes use a stylish I knew when DH was working and we went out to a lot of black tie and formal events a lot more regularly but since he’s retired we don’t socialise nearly half as much as we used to so not worth it plus I kind of like browsing the internet for clothes.😀

Have you thought about shoes? It sounds as if you are going to be on your feet for a lot of the time.

It is a beautiful dress. My reservation about wearing jt (being a couple of years younger than you) would be that my décolletage and upper arms aren’t as smooth and firm as they once were. I wouldn’t go so far as to say mine were crepy or that I had bingo wings but they are no longer the best parts of my body though they once were.

I don’t cover up completely of course but I wouldn’t find something with so much of my less attractive zones bared as flattering these days as it would have been 10 years ago.

Its a beautiful dress but I'm the same bra size as you and my boobs wouldn't fit into those cups.

My reservations are the same as yours @Katrinawaves in regard to the décolletage and upper arms - I don't normally like so much flesh being on show and agree @sweetpickle23 about the bra size - sometimes these tight bodices don't look good - I think you need to be a certain shape to pull them off. I was going to wear it with a pair of black strappy sandals with a moderate heel (I have loads of shoes to match it up with!)

I think I may rethink it - I got carried away by the design and skirt but think I will go for something a little more conventional as below.

https://www.mytheresa.com/de/en/women/diane-von-furstenberg-borris-floral-midi-dress-multicoloured-p00855820

Thanks for suggestions/comments.

I think the gold might just be too Tinsel for a day-time event. It's mid December so not slap bang full on Christmas week either.

I'd just be afraid if the other guests are less dressed up, you could look like the Christmas Fairy in shimmering gold with a full skirt.

And you'd get FA wear out of it afterwards.
So take the opportunity to buy something you love that you can wear again.

By all means get a banger of a dress but just not gold maybe.

The gold dress is stunning.

I’d get a fitted cashmere cardigan to wear buttoned up over it - will work for daytime and then, if it is a super dressy event, you can remove. I have one that has tiny diamanté buttons set in gold (Selfridges, many years ago).

A cardigan that sits right on the waist, very slim fit with opera sleeves. Could go mohair too. Black heels (simple, classic court heel). Hair in a low bun (if long enough). Chandelier earrings (gold based).

I’m not a fan of the other dress.

I think you’re having a chuckle at our expense, @Char65 …

A DVF won't cut it - it is a work dress. I'm not a fan of that style of the first dress. How about something like this? I love red and am a big fab of Elie Saab.

https://www.mytheresa.com/de/en/women/elie-saab-embroidered-tulle-midi-dress-red-p00819573

Also love this black one

https://www.mytheresa.com/de/en/women/elie-saab-sequined-tie-neck-gown-black-p00819594

If you like DVF I wore this one to an event recently and it is beautiful and very flattering

https://www.dvf.com/products/dolores-dress-in-teal

I wondered this too! Come on OP there must be some middle ground.

I think you boobs would be to big for those

Perhaps a wrap dress in a velvet or slightly sparkling fabric ?

I agree, or even a fitted cashmere jumper.

Buy this!

https://www.wiggykit.com/collections/party/products/the-sputnik-dress

Probably the wrong shape for you, @Char65, but, for afternoon through evening festivity, I’d rather like this:

https://www.farfetch.com/uk/shopping/women/chopova-lowena-floral-jacquard-cut-out-midi-dress-item-21269571.aspx?storeid=9921

Or even something slightly more everyday from any of their last few collections.

agreed, she should definitely wear shoes.

OMG I have just come back from a day out with DH and seen all these messages and I’m even more confused! I only put the DVF dress as an example of what I might wear (and often wear similar) as it was in my MT favs and I was writing this in a rush this morning as DH was in a rush to leave the house and not got MN on my phone but don’t think it is glam enough. I like the sputnik dress but I still love the gold dress and like @GonnaNeedABiggerBag suggestions – don’t know what to do now! Thanks for suggestions - I can see you point @Flyinggeesei234 that its 2 totally different looks but I can never make my mind up and don't know whether to play it save or be daring. Thanks anyway.

stunning dress, the bust is going to be an issue though.

Have a fab time whatever you decide

Those don’t look like D cups on the gold dress. And as a side note, if you’re a 10/12 I highly doubt you’re truly a 36D, more like a 32F.

If it did work with your bust however and you’re OK with leaning towards the overdressed (and why not - it’s Christmas!) I like the styling suggested above.

I have this exact dress, I wore it for a 21st 3 weeks ago, I got so many compliments , I won't wear it again, as so many friends and family have seen it
A friend has already offered to buy it from me, so will get a high proportion of the money back
It was a blast to wear, go for it.

Thanks I'm definitely going to buy it and see what it looks like and how it fits, there's a bit of time to go if I need to send it back, thanks for all the comments and advice.