Dress for Dinner & dance with DH’s work

[Mudonstairs]

Please accept this challenge wise style and beauty gurus! I’ve obviously left it very late to be looking but I have had a lot going on with my son and been so busy, but DH and I will be going to his work dinner and dance next Saturday. It’s at a posh hotel in a cold part of the UK. All dresses I like are not posh looking enough but I really am not a posh sort of person so am struggling.

I am 5ft 5. Size 8. In my late thirties. Brown hair and eyes, olive complexion. I am a pear shape and small/empty breasts so low cut or v necks don’t suit me as they tend to gape or not sit right and accentuate my pear shaped silhouette too much. I prefer dresses that are not too short as I am chunky of thigh and buttock! I would prefer not a maxi dress as I find they are always too long and I’m not going to have the time nor the money to have it taken up (side question - can anyone explain why maxi dresses always have a 5ft11 woman modelling it on the website when the average woman is not this height?! Just puts me off buying maxi dresses completely).

I don’t wear heels as I can’t walk in them so if you could post the link of a dress and a shoe suggestion that I won’t break my neck in you get bonus points! I like shirt dresses but again they are never dressy looking enough. I would like to look dressed well but also not in an attention grabbing kind of way. Understated and classy is the look I want but can’t seem to find. I would like to wear a normal bra so no dress that needs any multiway contraption type bra or any chicken fillet style sticky ‘solution’ please, and dresses that show a lot of skin aren’t my style anyway, hate cutout or spaghetti straps or back on show. Just a ‘normal’ dress if that makes any sense. Would prefer sleeves of some kind. As you can see none of that sounds particularly dressy does it but that’s what I like 🤷🏻‍♀️

Also prefer to shop in Next, ASOS, M&S, River Island, New Look as they are easy to get a return/refund from my local stores or lockers near me. Not necessarily loving what is available in those shops but the returns process usually stresses me out with online shopping so I like to be able to just return in store. Budget is less than £100, cheaper the better without it looking cheap.

I basically need help with the whole outfit as well so jewellery and jackets or cover up suggestions are also welcome x

This might take a chunk out of your budget but I’ll be wearing this to my works Xmas party which sounds like a similar event
www.marksandspencer.com/satin-ruched-detail-maxi-dress/p/clp60705107?color=GREEN&extid=ps_ps-pla-pmax_ggl_ww_ch__-UK-_-_bau_smec_counterfactual&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD7g6bT6sD-nQxLFpLedb82UUsyMN&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI083x94ziiQMVPJ6DBx1W5wMuEAQYASABEgJVo_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

@Mudonstairs

Would this one work, OP?

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/brielle-shimmer-maxi-dress-221802070.html

A couple of options here!

Black Velvet Drape Off Shoulder Column Dress | River Island

Dresses | Satin Lace Mix Midi Wedding Guest Dress With Asymmetric Hem | Coast (Debenhams are very easy to return to)

Blue drape shift midi dress | River Island

Thanks. That looks nice. How tall are you? Is the length ok on you? I am worried it would be too long for me and I can’t walk in heels 😬

Thanks. That’s a nice shape but I’m not sure if the v neck would be gapey on my non existent breasts. Also, not sure if the maxi length would be too long. Not in love with the all over sparkly look as well as the price but I guess I could overlook those two things if it was a dress I thought was otherwise perfect.

If you search 'fit and flare' you might find something in that style. There are lots of lower block heels around which are easier to walk in, or low heeled Mary Janes.

There are some lovely velvet jacket and trousers around at the mo . . .

You could look at the petite ranges on the M&S and Next sites

Thank you. I don’t like the black velvet. I think the shoulder situation looks like it would irritate me 😂

Thr Debenhams Coast one is my favourite so far if only it had a better sleeve to it. That’s the perfect dress for me if it had a sleeve. The strappy shoulder look isn’t for me. I don’t mind sleeveless as much, just not a strap, even a thick strap if that makes sense.

The light blue one isn’t my favourite but ticks all the boxes in terms of what I will and won’t wear. Just perhaps a little boring? Could perhaps be accessorised. I’ve just seen it’s not available in my size to try it anyway.

I am not petit though am I? I thought 5ft 5 was average height for a woman. Frustrates me that I have to look at petite when I am not petite 😂 I would if I knew it would look better I suppose. I just find it ridiculous that an average height woman can’t wear ‘regular’ height clothes but also isn’t the correct height for petite so what do others do? Do other average height women buy petite range too and it looks fine?

I do think you could take a look at the

& Other Stories party edit.

Afraid I don’t know whether their stock is carried by any of the stores you mention. They do have lots of their own shops.

(I would say that the Debenhams dress you liked does not strike me as understated or ‘classy’. It’s in a deeply unfashionable colour and looks strangely old fashioned, even though there are other dresses with a vaguely similar cut.)

www.marksandspencer.com/satin-crepe-round-neck-midi-column-dress/p/clp60704197?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

www.marksandspencer.com/sparkle-flat-ballet-pumps/p/clp60700954?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

www.marksandspencer.com/statement-crystal-rope-necklace/p/clp22605619?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

www.marksandspencer.com/metallic-clutch-bag/p/clp60683035?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

One shop outfit for delivery purposes. Dress is more than the budget but a classic shape.

I would add a blingy bracelet too.

Would you wear a dress like this? It's Next, has floaty sleeves, ruching over tummy, round neck, flares out over hips and is a midi? Also comes for colours.

fhwt.app.link/LJ1j79iMAOb

I really like the Sienna Miller one above, it says it is 140cm from neck to hem. The Next dress above is also really lovely.

Alternatively this is mid calf and could be nice if it is a colour that suits you (I am a cool summer so would look terrible in warm caramel brown!)

https://www.marksandspencer.com/jacquard-spot-print-square-neck-midi-dress/p/clp22602130?intid=mobileapppdpshare

A skirt/top combo may work better than a dress as you can find a skirt the length you want and a top with the neckline and sleeves you want without having to find one item that ticks all 3 boxes! There are lots of pretty satin slip skirts out at the moment. Look at the partywear section of the M&S app.

https://www.johnlewis.com/adrianna-papell-crepe-tailored-dress/red/p109248731?size=8

www.next.co.uk/style/su202942/e16138

www.next.co.uk/style/ls440379/e10747

Next has so many options, here's just 2 ... you can search by sleeves, neckline, length and price etc.

This from H&M?

With These shoes?

Small bag, a black wool coat, and a statement earring.

Here's another, also through next

www.next.co.uk/style/su266832/n99635

It's more than the others I selected but again you don't need heels and pair with a wrap perhaps if you have one, or a jacket but you don't really need a cover up like with short sleeve dresses (I'd just wear a normal coat and check it into the cloakroom!)

Hope one of the suggestions work. I'm surprised that a work dinner and dance still happens at some workplaces.

Why, @LlynTegid? It seems a perfectly normal and nice end to the year?

I love the accessories. Not sure about the black dress. It’s very plain. I wanted something more to it but then again as a PP has already said, perhaps I am not ‘classy’ after all 😂

Sorry but I can’t see the dress when I click on that link. Could you link it again please?

I love that nobody’s child dress. Not thrilled about the colour though.

It's this one...Green ruched satin crinkle midi dress - also comes in red, leopard and silver

https://www.reiss.com/style/su445071/b53714#b53714

I've got this in burgundy petite, I love it.