Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Please choose me a dress for my 30th!

118 replies

howthefuckdidthathappen · 11/04/2024 15:03

I'm in DIRE need to get out of my comfort zone. I always end up with a black fitted dress for all occasions. Looking for something utterly fabulous for a big birthday.

It's my 30th coming up. I would like to avoid something boxy and sensible. I'm getting my hair and make up done and want to use the chance to look fabulous. It's an outdoor garden party with a festival theme (it's all been planned for me) so I'm trying to find a dress that will suit me and look fabulous. I've attached a pic of me In case it helps at all. I'm 5'3 and a size 6-8.

Budget £150

As I need to factor in new shoes. I still love a heel but will probably wear a wedge as it's on the lawn.

Thanks all! Please send me some suggestions!

Please choose me a dress for my 30th!
OP posts:
Thread gallery
37
ISpyNoPlumPie · 17/04/2024 17:35

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 17/04/2024 17:17

Fuck yeah - tacky is the word - glitter galore, hair mascara/dye, body paint - all the tacky! Grin Add in a little retro feather boa.

Show quote history

I don’t think I’ve ever aspired to look tacky, certainly not for a landmark birthday. Fucking amazing - yes. Tacky no. Just why? Does tacky make you feel good?

Lj8893 · 17/04/2024 17:37

Ahh but tacky can still be stylish and glam, if done well! It’s a festival themed birthday, so OTT is the way to go!

Lj8893 · 17/04/2024 17:38

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 17/04/2024 17:16

Has anyone suggested this company yet?

[[https://wildthing.com/collections/mini-dress

Back in my 20's/early 30's clubbing and festival days we all wore Karen Millen, Kookai, Morgan de Toi<Miss Sixty, Diesel and there were quite a few independent brands (Hyper Hyper) where you could get good dresses including Portobello Road. I especially liked my crochet Karen Millen tops, dresses, or anything like that.

The ASOS sequin ones here look nice but reading reviews on both are shockingly made (sequins coming off) which isn't good - but then again that's ASOS for you. You could do vintage shops/websites but you could search forever for that, maybe Etsy or Vinted?

For your age and size and occasion basically yes, short, glam and fun. The only thing I would say (there was a pretty mint/light green dress here), if it were me, I'd avoid really light coloured ones, only because I've had it happen to me, someone spilled a drink over me, I got burger/hot dog ketchup/mustard over it and with heels/shoes just be sure you can walk in them - my best mate wore massive heels (she was used to them normally!) and tripped over I think tent peg rope things at one festival and sprained her ankle! Owww! spent most of the rest of whichever festival we were at (V I think) in the tent, bandaged up by St John Ambulance crew and getting pissed/off her face to numb the pain!

This is a brilliant company and they have a shop in Bristol, in case you are local!
I have an amazing glittery, furry jacket from there which is brilliantly made and my annual Glastonbury go-to!

ISpyNoPlumPie · 17/04/2024 17:54

Lj8893 · 17/04/2024 17:37

Ahh but tacky can still be stylish and glam, if done well! It’s a festival themed birthday, so OTT is the way to go!

Not really. Tacky means “gaudy”, a “lack of style”. OTT and super glam doesn’t need to be tacky but tacky is not stylish by definition (dictionary, not mine). Maybe OP wants to look “tacky” (open to interpretation) but it wasn’t in the original brief.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 17/04/2024 18:20

ISpyNoPlumPie · 17/04/2024 17:35

I don’t think I’ve ever aspired to look tacky, certainly not for a landmark birthday. Fucking amazing - yes. Tacky no. Just why? Does tacky make you feel good?

Show quote history

If tacky = kitsch, glam, out of the ordinary then yes. All the things you normally wouldn't wear, those long fringed skirts. Loud bright colours, sequins.

See above - in my 20s/early 30s I wore a lot of that, as well as some classy stuff too - and if it was considered tacky - hell yes, it made me feel amazing!

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 17/04/2024 18:21

Lj8893 · 17/04/2024 17:38

This is a brilliant company and they have a shop in Bristol, in case you are local!
I have an amazing glittery, furry jacket from there which is brilliantly made and my annual Glastonbury go-to!

Show quote history

Sadly not by my SIL's goddaughter and her family live there and we are due a visit soon!

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 17/04/2024 18:25

This company is based in Hythe (Kent coast) - they make one offs, and when I was there last I bought some great black joggers with sequin kimono stripes, a boho deep v front and back sheer turquoise top with sequins (glitter?) and a handkerchief top, plus some accessories. She'd probably make you something if you asked her and gave your spec and if it were me I'd rather have something from here than a tacky Oh Polly or ASOS dress which is more than likely to be made by a sweatshop in China, Romania, Thailand or India (or anywhere else in the world).

[[https://www.daughterofabohemian.com/dresses-2

Dresses | Daughter of Bohemian | England

One of a kind silk slip dresses repurposed from vintage Japanese silk kimono. Made by local seamstresses in London.

https://www.daughterofabohemian.com/dresses-2

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 17/04/2024 18:26

Lj8893 · 17/04/2024 17:37

Ahh but tacky can still be stylish and glam, if done well! It’s a festival themed birthday, so OTT is the way to go!

Indeed it can. My feather boas were stylish and glam but verging on the side of tacky. Bloody loved them!

MumTeacherofMany · 17/04/2024 19:05

Type in boho dress in Shein, loads of lovely ones. They can be teamed with black chunky boots or vans/converse depending on the style you're going for

MoreDangerousThanAWomanScorned · 17/04/2024 19:27

OP said she had a £150 budget, why are people telling her to buy sweatshop stuff?

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 17/04/2024 21:56

OnHerSolidFoundations · 17/04/2024 21:39

The only thing I'd be concerned about with some of these (and the ASOS reviews say as much) is the quality. Seems a bit questionable at most.

I like the sequin boob tube outfit though and the white stars dress and if I were 20-30 years younger would be rocking those!

The other Nasty Gal outfits - I dunno, to me they seem a bit boring.

OP has a banging body though so could wear most things and look good.

OnHerSolidFoundations · 17/04/2024 22:01

Better quality....

scampanddude.com/products/floaty-short-dress-black-with-metallic-pink-star-and-lightning-bolt

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 18/04/2024 09:48

@OnHerSolidFoundations nice dress but still gives off slight mumsy vibes to me.

@MissAtomicBomb1 - similar - mumsy vibes but nice dress.

I guess you're torn between - do you choose a fabulous dress which you could potentially wear again but which is a bit mumsy, a glam out there dress but which could fall apart (the Asos etc stuff) or like me, a one off boho/festival dress from the Bristol shop/Hythe shop I posted?

It is a real pity re the ASOS and other slave labour dresses, the lilac/light purple sequin posted earlier I was tempted by myself (go on a starvation diet!) but the reviews on the quality were appalling so I passed.

howlismoving · 18/04/2024 10:52

I was thinking more boho festival vibe but if you're thinking glitter/sparkly then nastygal have so many great options - https://www.nastygal.com/gb/sequin-halter-neck-flare-jumpsuit/BGG16387.html?color=155

Please choose me a dress for my 30th!
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 18/04/2024 11:03

ASOS Luxe dresses in case they're a bit better quality than their main dresses, also note that the sequin ones (can't recall about the other embellished ones) do have extra sequins and thread or whatever so you can reattach some of these on, and also note, the embellished/sequinned ones are often heavy due to the sequins (my Frank Usher tops, which are sequinned, are quite heavy!)

[[https://www.asos.com/asos-luxe/asos-luxe-gem-embellished-satin-mini-dress-with-embellished-trim-in-white/prd/205949878#colourWayId-205952883

[[https://www.asos.com/asos-luxe/asos-luxe3d-floral-embellished-puff-sleeve-mini-dress-in-pink/prd/205662556#colourWayId-205662561

[[https://www.asos.com/asos-luxe/asos-luxe-off-shoulder-embellished-mini-dress-with-bows-and-tulle-hem-in-silver/prd/204501653#colourWayId-204501655

[[https://www.asos.com/asos-luxe/asos-luxe-pearl-cupped-embellished-asymmetric-mini-dress-with-faux-feather-trim-in-blush/prd/203932579#colourWayId-203932580

[[https://www.asos.com/asos-luxe/asos-luxe-3d-floral-sleeve-dress-with-belt-in-blue/prd/202238077#colourWayId-202238100

[[https://www.asos.com/asos-luxe/asos-luxe-plunge-neck-asymmetric-sequin-mini-dress-with-faux-feather-detail-in-silver/prd/202881854#colourWayId-202881860

[[https://www.asos.com/asos-luxe/asos-luxe-disc-sequin-mini-tux-dress-in-lilac/prd/202238011#colourWayId-202238013

Festival dresses from past 28 days, ASOS:

[[https://www.asos.com/search/?q=festival%20dresses&currentpricerange=5-210&sort=pricedesc&refine=attribute_1047:8416|currentprice:5%3C150|freshness_band:5|size:116

https://www.asos.com/asos-luxe/asos-luxe-gem-embellished-satin-mini-dress-with-embellished-trim-in-white/prd/205949878#colourWayId-205952883

MissAtomicBomb1 · 18/04/2024 18:32

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain
Disagree that wearing anything other than skimpy/full on sequins requires a description of 'mumsy', I'd save that for the floral midi dress with trainers brigade.
You're right though, it depends whether the OP wants something out there or something she can wear again.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page