I'm sending up the bat signal, help me.

[MainStreetOrHighStreet]

I need something to wear for a creative industries awards do.

I'm 5'4", size 16 - 18, weight round my middle but broad and sturdy all over. Long body, short legs. I don't show arms, length must be below the knee at the shortest. I look best in stuff that drapes and/or is semi fitted, as opposed to tight or voluminous.

I'm a Winter, so suit jewel colours, charcoal grey, black, cobalt blue, navy, burgundy. Silver accessories, not gold.

I look best in v necks or a fastened up shirt neck, as opposed to round or scoop.

To give a sense of style: I like 100 Stars, but gather from reading here that the quality is iffy. I like Cos but look a berk in everything they sell. I'm not averse to print. My favourite item of clothing is a dress from John Lewis Kin. I don't like stuff like Popsy.

Please help me, I will be very grateful! Budget about £150.

If you like Cos, what about Arket? I find it a bit more wearable. Would either of these fit the brief?

https://www.arket.com/en_gbp/women/dresses/midi-dresses/product.flared-wool-blend-midi-dress-black.1245856001.html

https://www.arket.com/en_gbp/women/dresses/midi-dresses/product.midi-drape-dress-green.1235757001.html

I saw this earlier when browsing, it is in stock for size 16.

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/saz-satin-knit-dress-black-10011040001.html

Oh, sorry it has a round neck!

How about this

French Connection satin drape

or this

Finery burgundy in the sale

or this

Plisse black Ro and Zo

or this which I think is fabulous!

Forest Green Asos

https://www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-draped-mesh-shoulder-pad-premium-maxi-dress-in-forest-green/prd/207141707?affid=28698&_EAIaIQobChMIv7Td9JudiQMV5JFQBh2GbQ1nEAQYHyABEgKYL_D_BwE&channelref=product+search&ppcadref=21095812988%7C%7C&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21095812988=&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADqFjOB10N240opGLvSBR4Ht8IrAP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv7Td9JudiQMV5JFQBh2GbQ1nEAQYHyABEgKYL_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Stupid link - this is the most excellent Asos green draped dress

Just seen the Asos one is backless (because Asos must ruin all the Nice Dresses) but I would wear it with a silk vest underneath either to contrast or vaguely skin tone.

I like Cos but look a berk in everything they sell

That made me laugh - so do I, and I haven't heard the word berk for years.

V-Neck wrap dress- wrap dresses are really flattering

This is nice but don’t know if you’d like the neckVery Green Velvet Dress

Oh! So many ideas already! Thanks very much.

I wouldn't be comfortable with a leg slit, or a shoulder out. My legs are far from my finest features and I wear a stout bra at all times so a naked shoulder is the stuff of fantasy. Shame, because I really like the French Connection Fenix one and some of the green ones.

Loving forest green as a colour.

I'd forgotten Arket existed. I like the black dress, but does wool blend mean it will be sweaty? The drape dress from there is a bit sludgy for me, unfortunately.

I'm going to try the Finery one, but I have a feeling that my hands will disappear, given that the sleeves look quite long on the model.

This is very helpful, do keep the ideas coming!

What about this? The neck looks like it could work. Don't know why a high round neck somehow looks better than a lower one.

Don’t be afraid to invest in some good shapewear if there’s a different style you’d like, you can get bras where you can change the straps to halter/one shoulder etc that are still supportive. Conturve are a good shapewear brand.
Sally Hansen airbrush legs is brilliant too, smooths, evens and blurs the skin like tights but on bare legs, it’s not waterproof though!

I think Forest / bottle green is a lovely glam colour, esp. at this time of year

Some lovely things in the Jigsaw sale https://www.jigsaw-online.com/products/hammered-satin-midi-dress-blue-1?variant=45107951927462&currency=GBP&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD4Q9mSjCW4aRb-A7A7RcB3SfSuj2&gclid=CjwKCAjw1NK4BhAwEiwAVUHPUJ0rRy6c1dlurUbjvOq-hXyHeig4gHuGOS58NIObH82alZ4qK3aW8BoC-XsQAvD_BwE

It’s nice OP, a bit glitzy but not too in your face! is the length good on that for you? I’m 5ft3 and I cannot pull off a midi!

https://www.jigsaw-online.com/products/crepe-flutter-sleeve-dress-green?variant=45612690178214&currency=GBP&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD4Q9mSjCW4aRb-A7A7RcB3SfSuj2&gclid=CjwKCAjw1NK4BhAwEiwAVUHPUEfAvyYLkue5MePSa3TaLPN_o-fajallDKzniUmF-sPthTykWMjwhRoCk7cQAvD_BwE

I'd forgotten about Jigsaw too.

Touch and go, @AdviceNeeded2024 , sometimes midi works and sometimes I look like I should be on castors.

😂I have the same problem! New Look sometimes have some good petite dresses in, the midi in a petite falls better for me than a normal one.

I wonder if the zebra might be teetering into Julie Goodyear territory, but I think I'll order it and see.

I can't work out if this is nice, or just Too Much String.

I love my 100 stars kimono style top - quality seems fine so far

Nice with gold or silver shoes and bag? https://www.ghost.co.uk/petal-viscose-v-neck-midi-dress-d09g040-a01?_gl=11rwr1jt_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjw1NK4BhAwEiwAVUHPUJL2UYrZ4OerYDgtNOLING5bGQiF0SwpHIClMdWWTroHYpp-68OXexoC1LAQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADnMJoZ2cCGTUCcq-OZLJmnJVCBtH

Sleeves too sheer? Comes in petite sizes https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/christina-tulle-midi-dress-green-spots/sty-d1094-grn?code=N7V9&tc_ch=ps&tc_ve=goog&tc_so=pmax&tc_me=cr&tc_ca=drop-offer&tc_au=&tc_cr=na&tc_campid=UK+-+Performance+Max+-+WW+-+FP+-+Active&tc_adgroupid=&tc_kwid=&tc_matchid=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw1NK4BhAwEiwAVUHPUBFjLSM0YKrms84q7CkLMzF7f1ipWbEqOySKC2OlAueR9JX4ofiGohoCzdIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Velvet, v neck, petite and nice colour? www.hobbs.com/product/petite-melodie-dress/0223-5839-9845L04-EVERGREEN-16.html?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=20999048544&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20999048544&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADC5o-JSnmKRWxc9nWQKNVWk3tU71&gclid=CjwKCAjw1NK4BhAwEiwAVUHPUIM2IFc7sZFHQmnRJ0LVZZ3mMMwF7zbrASGy5_YTNPspKXNrDyXXFhoCto0QAvD_BwE

Definitely a dress? I saw these:
https://www.ghost.co.uk/imogen-satin-wide-leg-trouser5-p08g003-k10?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADnMJoao7iE-QgxN4HlSaDYIbGRFA&gclid=CjwKCAjw1NK4BhAwEiwAVUHPUK2iQyp-RCnN_8Pt6wDgAf_ggXNDTWCETn1dfqoufd5TSJBALcgwNhoCtL8QAvD_BwE

I've got lost down a Ghost rabbit hole. I love this but I'd have to get it shortened. https://www.ghost.co.uk/arabella-spot-embroidered-wide-sleeve-midi-dress-d09g006-a01
It might also be a bit daytime-y.

Thanks again everyone, you're being so helpful.

I think I'd feel a bit too wedding guest in those green ones @AncientAndModern1 , but your Ghost suggestion has really helped, I have a few in the basket.

I love wide leg trousers on other people @Renamed , but I'm just too short and chunky, they basically make me look the same width from my shoulders to the ground.