Which dress for my fancy 40th?

[BonneMamanIsMyJam]

Hello!

I’m turning 40 next month and my husband has a surprise ‘fancy’ (apparently) night organised.

I’d like to buy a beautiful dress I will wear lots of times again, and am torn between these 2. Is the red too short? Is the black too Christmassy?

help!

FWIW I am 5 foot 7, size 10.

Option 1:
https://saloniworld.com/products/rina-b-dress-in-brandy-red

option 2:
https://saloniworld.com/products/camille-velvet-embellished-bows-dress

I'm not a style expert but when I read your size and look at the budget I think you could do way better than the 2 you linked to. Go sexy , feel amazing - not sure the velvet would do that assuming it's a party you want to dance at ? I think think the Davina example looks great .

Does it have to be worn lots ? Why not hire something amazing as a one off for your 40th and go for something not high street but fab . Add some wow shoes and earrings . Happy early 40th

I like this one. The bows on the black one are infantile. Yet the dress is matronly. Just weird. The red one is straight-up slutwear, too short for November (and you’re too old to freeze your ass off for fashion.)

well I couldn’t tell if it was you or a model… you look absolutely amazing!! Gorgeous!

I honestly never understand this MN thing of dressing warmly whenever you go out in winter - don’t the bars you go to have heating?

The red one is horrible. It's a non dress. It has nothing going for it beyond being short and tight and presumably "sexy" . It looks as if it cost £25 from a supermarket. The Davina McCall dress is horrid too. The red dress is less horrid in its green iteration.

The black velvet one looks much more expensive but the bows are a bit weird. I don't like either of them but if forced to pick one, then the velvet.

I can't offer alternatives because I can't work out what someone who likes both of those dresses would like.

https://www.sosandar.com/emerald-green-velvet-embellished-scoop-back-dress?glCountry=GB&glCurrency=GBP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiOr2tpTYggMVhYpQBh1tYgP8EAQYAyABEgJwlDDBwE#241=450&foc=2425&fook=9987d0edd974bd6a7ed2084d92c1c1a6&fo_s=gplauk

I wore this on Sat to my own party and got lots of compliments (size 10, 5 ft 5)

Love the red, have looked at buying it before for myself. You can rent both on Hurr….just an option if you’re like me and buy something for an occasion and then never wear it again!

I wore this one for my 40th….
I know it’s quite gaping at the front but I put a little stitch there so still able to wear a bra.

I love both the dresses you picked out OP. Whether the red one is too short or not really depends on how comfortable you feel in it. Both are totally suitable for a fancy location in my opinion!

I'm 55 and I think they are both very frumpy but I'm probably behind the times and they are the height of fashion.

I love this Roksanda dress except for the weird bow at the back!

https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/roksanda/dresses/midi-dress/crepe-midi-dress/1647597318790407

And this although maybe it's a bit girlie: https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/magda-butrym/dresses/mini-dress/gathered-wool-blend-crepe-mini-dress/1647597326478436

Or this 😍https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/saint-laurent/dresses/mini-dress/gathered-crepe-mini-dress/1647597276902747

Reiss have some lovely dresses at the moment

Both are bad.

The red one is just missing face paint and its a perfect clown costume.

In theory I SHOULD like the black one. I like black velvet, like the sleeves, I like bows and little embellishments but something about it give me instant granny vibes. The length is so terrible too, like a Sunday church dress length for modesty not a party dress.

This version looks much better with the longer length but the bow placement still feels off too me and its very 'modest' (fine if you observe that but doesn't scream blow out 40th).

https://saloniworld.com/products/camille-velvet-embellished-bows-long-dress-in-burgundy

I personally from that website you pick this dress. Classy, still respectably modest but cheekier but not as buttoned up all the way to the collar feeling.

https://saloniworld.com/products/margot-b-long-dress-in-black

I’m not a fan of either of them too.

I like the mini dress version of the black dress. With the right shoes and overall look it would be perfect for a fancy party, I think it was the length of the other one that made it too dowdy somehow. Happy 40th!

I'm not a fan of the red one, something about the style and material together not quite landing for me.

But I think there have been a lot of unhelpful comments!

Is it a party op or something else?

I’m not sure about those two

The green version of the red is better if set on one of them

https://www.lilysilk.com/uk/lilysilk-x-natasha-draped-silk-midi-dress.html#color=1894

https://www.thereformation.com/products/petites-casette-silk-dress/1313402BLK.html?dwvar_1313402BLK_color=SNG&quantity=1

Both quite nice and imagine they look better on but what about hiring something designer if just for one night? Then you wouldn't be basiing your decision on what you'd get wear out of...just what looks amazing.

@FMLife

nah, who wants to go out to nice bars all togged up in thick tights?! You have to put up with some discomfort to look good and op deffo isn’t too old for that

RED. 100%

The OP said she wants lots of wear out of it.

Hiring a dress in this price range will take about 5 or 6 wears to match the bought price. Not everyone wears, or wants to wear, a dress only once. I would far rather spend £600 or so and own it outright and wear it to death than spend £100 or so to wear a second hand dress once.

The red definitely, would I pay that much for it, no

I would go for a tuxedo suit with the slim tapered trousers with a wide satin band down the side and a fitted low v double breasted jacket. The highest pointiest heels you can stand and a stunning lacy body suit for underneath.

suit can be worn as separates down the line. You’ll look phenomenal. Very elegant and sexy.

I read it as she wanted lots of wear out of it BECAUSE she was spending that amount on it. Fair enough if she wants a fancy dress to call her own or has plenty of occasions at which to wear it. I was just putting it forward as an option. But I know that when I've bought a nice dress and told myself I'd wear it again, the right occasion has never cropped up or else it's been not quite right.