Help find the impossible frock!

[nancy75]

Going to a wedding early Sept & need help!
Wedding is posh venue, we are just going to the evening. Couple getting married are quite a bit younger than us, so most guests will be too & they dress up (in a boohoo, tight dress, high shoes kind of way)
I am rapidly approaching 50, have had various health issues (and too many cakes) and have put on a lot of weight - size 22.
Don’t do tight, can’t really wear heels & generally feel a frump!
Help me find something to wear! Olive skin, almost black hair, short & round - prefer to cover arms & legs budget up to £200 (preferable less!) General style is kind of hippy dresses with sandals/dms! Hate chiffony mother of the bride stuff. Is there any hope 😂😭

@nancy75 what about something like this?

https://www.johnlewis.com/scarlett-jo-verity-velvet-midi-dress-wine-flock/p112189621?size=22&sppc=2dxxmixedfashionnBAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1wXahOZBL2cERtxR8GwdvP15&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqMqGGujhwMVKJhQBh06ED1LEAQYHiABEgIe1fDDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

A nice velvet dress could work in September. I was imagining a green one in my head from your description of yourself, but then saw your comments about green.

Or this.. similar to the green coast one .

www.asos.com/asos-edition/asos-edition-curve-broderie-wide-sleeve-plunge-midi-dress-in-red/prd/205939296?currencyid=1&browsecountry=GB&affid=16746&freelisting=yes

https://www.yoursclothing.co.uk/yours-curve-red-broderie-anglaise-button-front-dress-p?currency=GBP&S=ADPRODUCT&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtsy1BhD7ARIsAHOi4xYFGyRgGn-zqmi27_PPOxjmdZxSHY115QBjMTI09qC1UAo7hrFFsdUaApksEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds ?

Or https://scampanddude.com/products/midi-dress-coral-red-broderie-anglaise-puff-sleeve?variant=42624722272435&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtsy1BhD7ARIsAHOi4xaaTPyd3g7pNjywlP6DJifdtmMpWwfd9kUYvNr4DgmaXl8bcV14RRkaAjgJEALw_wcB ?

Joanie has some quirky dresses and have a good range of sizes.
Every time I see someone wearing one of their dresses on insta, they catch my eye.

Good luck in finding 'the one'!

The red/orange asos one has been purchased and sent back - it’s a weird shape in real life, as has the red yours one (not dressy enough) did I mention the postman already hates me due to the amount of parcels? 😂
At this rate I’ll have bought & returned every frock in the country!

My daughter has this, she says it sits well and the material is lovely:

Scarlet Darkness Renaissance Dress Women Cottagecore Corset Dress Ruffle Maxi Dress with Pockets https://amzn.eu/d/53gM6kt

https://www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-senna-lace-midi-dress-vermillion/p111878341?size=22&srsltid=AfmBOorYbBbktR1ZHzPHEL1J8v87PhWRn6V7kvw-gTboP34yJCPCe77_UZQ

Another try

https://www.freemans.com/products/monsoon-josie-jacquard-tea-dress//A-85W182216?utmsource=GOOGLEBASE&utmmmedium=Froogle&utmcampaign=WomenssDressesOccasionDresses&utmmcontent=85W182&nscampaign=WomenssDressesOccasionDresses&nssmchannel=Froogle&nssource=GOOGLEBASE&nsslinkname=85W182&nsfee=0&ordermedia=F0105&entry=6

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/brittany-embroidered-dress-in-recycled-polyester-5408646122.html

I’ve got this one and wear it to wedding and races, it’s very flattering. Only size 24 left but worth a try, and free returns 👍🏻

Rixo over budget but great shape

Very different vibe to most of the above, but for various irrelevant reasons I got sucked into Spanish wedding guest outfit tiktok for a while. Of course I’ve lost the screenshot, but I was particularly taken by a woman who was wearing a very simple satin/silk column style maxi dress (hers was a kingfisher blue) with one of those long maxi jackets/light coats/long blouses that Trinny is forever waving about in Zara on top. I bet there’s millions of them on Vinted. Flat sandals, very modern chunky jewellery and a cool clutch bag. I was really taken by how simple the outfit was and how comfortable and modern she looked. Also how much wear you’d get out of each of the pieces of the outfit and how easily you could update/personalise it to fit your taste. That’s what I’d go for and reading your OP and your reactions to some of the other things that have been suggested I think we might have a similar approach to occasion dressing. I have an open abaya bought for work in the Middle East that would work beautifully - I understand from my TikTok research (“research”) that the whole look I’m describing is very heavily influenced by south Asian and Middle Eastern style.

No. Even the model looks depressed at the idea of wearing that!

@nancy75 Whatever you own that makes you feel the best, wear that and dont give a shite what anyone else thinks. True style comes when you are happy and comfortable.

I would recommend a John Lewis personal shopper experience. It's free, and they are very good.

QVC have 127 dresses in size 22 or 24.

Have a look on there because you get to wear them for 60 days and if you don't like them you can return them. All you lose is the postage costs each way.

It would give you a chance to order a couple and choose one you really like and test drive it prior to the event to make sure you're comfy.

Unfortunately shops only have larger sizes online, so there wouldn’t be anything for me to try on!

I had your dilemma earlier this year (I swear I tried every dress available) and to my complete surprise Hobbs came through - specifically the Aurora dress. They update the print each season so you may be able to find an old print if you don’t like the current one on eg Vinted.

It’s spendy but totally worth it: it’s well made, lined, hangs well and gives shape even where there may be none!

https://www.hobbs.com/product/aurora-dress/0224-5213-9045L00-NAVY-GREEN.html#navAjax=true&is=true&cgid=clothing-dresses&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&prefn1=size&prefv1=22&pid=0224-5213-9045L00-NAVY-GREEN&pos=2

Try Phase Eight Julissa dress . It comes in numerous colours and is flattering on.

https://www.lkbennett.com/product/DRHEDYCOTTONMultiGreen~Hedy-Bouquet-Print-Organic-Cotton-Tiered-Dress-Green

This one might be nice.

I think you will have to pick the best of the worst, really. I am not plus size, but I hate polyester, florals, prints, girly styles and tiers. There's very little that does not fall into those categories!

Not red, but also not green!
https://anothersunday.com/puff-sleeve-milkmaid-floral-applique-midi-dress/DR000082

Purple in the style of the green coast dress. https://www.monsoonlondon.com/ie/fabiola-broderie-dress-purple-54088804.html

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/kezia-floral-wrap-midi-dress-222003000.html#navAjax=true&imageType=model&is=true&sz=60&start=58&cgid=dresses&isSecondPage=false&prefn1=size&prefv1=22&pid=222003000&pos=61

Religion do a range on Simply be that might fit the bill here

I’ve actually got that lilac monsoon dress - I’d wear it to go shopping! is it dressy enough for a wedding?

I think this is a lot of my problem with what to buy - I wear dresses every day, so I don’t know if things are dressed up enough when perhaps they are?

It's all in the styling. Good hair, makeup, shoes. bag and jewellery and it's definitely dressy enough.

So if I wear the purple monsoon dress - what shoes? Would normally wear with flat gold sandals but definitely don’t think that would be dressed enough (I’d wear that for going out shopping or for lunch)
Ive got a pair of low heel Esska sandals in red, too clashing? I could get gold the same (can’t really wear proper heals - can only manage these as they are block & low)

OP - imo the Brittany Monsoon dress would be a good choice for you! It’s dressy and special enough and a nice length, as it will be longer on you than on the model