Dress for a reunion in 40s need help!

[PenelopeSkye]

Please could someone help me find a dress! I have already ordered and sent back 4!

I am mid 40s and have a dinner/dance coming up for a reunion. I don’t particularly even want to look knock out amazing, I just don’t want to look like I haven’t changed my wardrobe for 20 years (even though I haven’t!), I honestly have no idea where to look for a posh frock these days.

I’m 5 foot 6 and a size 8-10. Dresses I’ve bought so far have been either too floral, too bridesmaidy, too frumpy, too clingy. I used to buy dresses from Ted Baker, Karen Milen, Coast, but this was 20 odd years ago, I’ve had no reason to attend a posh event for so long!

ANY help or suggestions would be massively appreciated! I am quite pale in complexion and am easily washed out, so can’t do purples, reds, oranges, blacks, these make me look washed out, equally very pale pastels don’t work for me either. I love greens and greeny blues, potentially navy. Like fairly fitted but not too frilly or fussy. Some sparkles would be good if not too over the top!!

Thanks for any help!

I'll start you off with this as it's gorgeous with those red shoes but equally you could dress it down with flats for a less dress look

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/bonnie-floral-embroidered-tea-dress-blue-64027161.html

Pick an attitude to help with searches! You can wear anything with your figure, lucky you. Starter attitudes:-

"I didn't want to stand out or spend much, but I appreciate I need to dress up for this"

1, https://www.roman.co.uk/puff-sleeve-sparkle-midi-dress-14207578
2, https://www.roman.co.uk/ruched-mesh-stretch-dress-14560909
3, https://www.roman.co.uk/sparkle-embellished-ruched-wrap-dress-14175391

"I Have Arrived"

4, https://www.cos.com/engbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.gathered-a-line-maxi-dress-blue.1245350001.html
5, https://www.next.co.uk/style/su117056/q47074#q47074
6, https://www.silkfred.com/womens/clothing/dresses/bodycon-dresses/goddiva/two-toned-v-neck-sequin-maxi-in-navy

"I seem casual, but I'm sexy"

7, https://www.cos.com/engbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.pleated-knitted-maxi-dress-green.1235447001.html
8, https://www.stories.com/engbp/clothing/dresses/maxi-dresses/product.draped-velvet-maxi-dress-green.1235195002.html
9, https://www.zara.com/uk/en/midi-dress-with-buckle-and-cut-out-detail-p09878156.html?v1=364107430&v2=2420909

Further proposals:
I'm so Fun!;
It's Fashion Darling;
You Couldn't Afford me;
What, This Old Thing? It's comfy!;
Still a rebel.

Go on ... give us a clue 😁

Obviously if you don’t want to look as if you’re wearing the same clothes you wore 20 years ago you firstly need to avoid brands you were wearing 20 years ago. (Which thankfully cuts out all the tedious, unfashionable legacy brands.)

And presumably you want to look thriving and relatively successful - so nothing horribly cheap, unless pre-owned? Or you could rent.

For a few ideas you might not see elsewhere - just for inspiration - you could have a look at the clothes here:

https://koibird.com

Possibly you might like Connor Ives - some of whose clothes can be rented from places like By Rotation.

a couple more ideas:

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/by-anthropologie-velvet-ruched-maxi-dress?category=party-dresses&color=041&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/maeve-short-sleeve-sequin-striped-mini-dress?category=party-dresses&color=049&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

Budget?

This is quite "I haven't tried too hard" and looks drapey rather than clingy. Hard to say how it'd look as the model is doing a weird pose.

This navy one is pretty but could be a bit bridesmaid (also in dark green but I love the look of navy satin type fabric)

Bias cut/ slip dresses like this seem quite in - in navy or green (adjustable straps look handy so you could make it not too low cut if preferred and I like the tie back so you can tie it to be most flattering).

If mini is appropriate, this is quite dramatic. I'm not sure if I could carry off the balloon sleeves but I'm a bit shorter than you!

This looks very effortless and possibly flattering (hard to tell due to funny model poses again!).

Just saw this - it’s a bit flowery, but with irony:

Zara silk dress

I really like the other stories dress upthread.

There’s this

I like this - a darker green

and this

I love these threads.

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/the-kallie-flowy-tunic-dress-mini-edition?category=dresses&color=099&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/by-anthropologie-off-the-shoulder-drop-waist-midi-dress?category=dresses&color=049&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

These are gorgeois

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/maeve-sleeveless-colourblock-midi-dress?category=dresses&color=049&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/maxi-dresses/product.satin-maxi-dress-turquoise.1235190003.html

www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/midi-dresses/product.slim-satin-midi-dress-blue.1118540014.html

https://www.omnes.com/products/rosie-puff-sleeve-dress-in-navy

https://www.omnes.com/collections/dresses/products/uma-one-shoulder-dress-in-green-print

I’m not in my 40s, (much older) but assuming it’s not a ferociously formal black tie event I’d want to wear something like this. (Probably with many thermal layers beneath.) Flat mesh shoes if those boots are too informal.

Alemais dress

Would this work @PenelopeSkye https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/maeve-sleeveless-bow-front-barrel-column-midi-dress?color=015&size=S&type=REGULAR&cm_mmc=rakuten--affiliates--Lyst+UK/EU-_-3725711780926210025037268&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=rakuten&utm_campaign=Lyst+UK/EU&utm_term=1158563&utm_content=3725711780926210025037268&utm_kxconfid=v3sdgzjs8&ranMID=37257&ranEAID=gcdL/ATRVoE&ranSiteID=gcdL_ATRVoE-gjw0rxfYFdHs_Q8tCacvEg&quantity=1

I'd probably go for something like this https://www.next.co.uk/style/ls450281/aa6573#aa6573
Or
https://www.next.co.uk/style/ls455607/n24736#n24736

Jumpsuit could work too

https://www.next.co.uk/style/ls443978/e63577#e63577

Seasalt do some lovely dresses, quality prints, different styles, different lengths, necklines and sleeve lengths. I would use some nice jewellery to dress something up if needed, and some mid height shoes or dressy boots, with a decent handbag.

There are some exciting, charming & inspiring finds on this thread 🤗 and more to come, no doubt! Hope you'll post back, @PenelopeSkye.

I've just discovered this brand. The designer used to be head designer at Issey Miyake. I'd go for something from it.

CFCL

Oh, thanks, @IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle, I was looking for this and couldn't remember the initials! You wouldn't believe the odd phrases I tried to get Google to find the designs 😂 (It didn't.)

I sometimes think the responders get more out of these threads than the OPs!

Your safest bet is Reiss. Google Reiss navy dress and pick the shape you like.

Anything you like op? Do give us some guidance and we can keep trying.

Quite possibly!

Please serve me your "I'm still a rebel" picks

These are all gorgeous and I and would probably wear the one in red.