Its a Christmas Party Dress Emergency

[RobinEllacotStrike]

I had a dress on order for my work industry Christmas Party next week, and delivery is delayed. Slightly panicking now so hoping you marvellous women can help me.

I need to find a dress for a big lunch (1200 people) and after party at a 5* hotel.

Dress code is fairly relaxed, and I prefer edgy to sweet.

I need:
Sleeves
Not high neck as I have largish bust (G cup)
Midi though I would consider a maxi
I'd prefer a dress I can wear with boots - I don't do heels

budget up to £150

I love this but as I will probably only wear the dress once or twice its a bit more that I would like to pay and anyway its sold out in this colour:

https://uk.saintandsofia.com/collections/womens-dresses/products/paloma-ruched-midaxi-dress-ditsy-leopard

Hoping you can help me.

thats great @Starlight1979 though bummer about the price.

My Klements dress arrived!!! Its a bit tight across the bust but OK there. Sadly its too small across the top of the arms/shoulders. I can get it on, but I don't think I can wear it yet. I need to lose a few more kilos first. I am mildly devestated as its gorgeous.

So options are now:
relying on Sainsburys Tu delivery (not here yet);
a miracle early delivery of the Wolf & Blass dress from Bulgaria & assuming it fits;
sewing something myself this weekend (though I am VERY busy);
going fuck it all and wearing an old previously worn dress (though they are now all probably too big and will look silly;
going fuck it all and wearing my amazing Xmas jumper & jeans or skirt (it is an option if I wanted to do this though I don't think I own a skirt that fits).

This is the dress pattern I am thinking of if I did make a dress though I would have to use fabric from my stash - I love her gold brocade version & I don't ahve any gold brocade.

www.patternfantastique.com/en-gb/products/mersis-pdf-sewing-pattern?variant=42702900920483

oh FFS!! Sainsburys Tu are taking over a week for an instore delivery (which I thought would be faster than home delivery) so that is no longer an option & will all be returned - what a waste of time.

Usually when I order stuff online its delivered pretty quickly - max 3 days. I guess its seasonal and everyone is busy but if retailers are going to take OVER A WEEK to deliver party clothes at this time of year they really should make it clear BEFORE they take your money & its too late to cancel. That is 2 orders that will take over a week to arrive & be delivered after my party. I never would have placed the orders had they been clear upfront. What a waste of everyones time & effort.

I used to make all my own clothes - slow fashion. I think 2025 will be another year of doing this - its fun, everything fits, no polyester, eveything is unique to me. I just need to magic up the time.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/v-neck-frill-detail-midaxi-smock-dress/p/clp60705416?color=CLARET#intid=pid_pg1pip48g2r8c2|prodflag_A%20star%20of%20our%20TV%20ad
This is really flattering probably have to size down. Wear with lace tights in Next £7 and bootshttps://www.boohoo.com/low-block-heel-patent-shoe-boots/FZZ32072-105-16.html?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDAdHHoqaFSBOt1PJ71PQBUMmpSp5kVzdTnCd4gYCYkxDaP6kM-60p4aAgkAEALw_wcB
Have in dark red £39 reduced from £59 and black full price.

Also lined and won't really crease, plus room for food!🙂

Oh I like that. If I wasn't already suited and booted I'd consider it.

funny enough I have that claret dress in an abandoned M&S basket.
I wonder how long they will take for an instore delivery? At this rate I'll be picking it up & putting it on enroute to the party

Ok that's awesôme and stunning on

Steer clear of ruching if you have bigger norks.

Have you tried Popsy dresses? Fun designs with pockets! They have so many kinds from fun to formal and great prices too! Definitely worth checking out and they won't break the bank 🥰

scampanddude.com/collections/dresses/products/black-with-gold-spot-leopard-jacquard-ruffle-sleeve-tiered-midi-dress

@mathanxiety I have a couple of ruched top summer dresses & they work quite well with my boob size. Balanced by nice wide neck & back.

https://www.riverisland.com/p/cream-plunge-mesh-midi-bodycon-dress-916411
I think thos feels Christmassy it is so nice in with boots

Its gorgeous but there is no way in the world I could go out for a day long lunch party that geos into the night wearing white. Or even jsut lunch wearing white. I wouldnt be able to relax and would probably end up with gravy sport and red wine down the front - not a good look 😁

I have abandoned my search & instigated Plan E.

A friend called over on Friday and I ran through the dress debacle with her. She agreed the Klements is a keeper and I am going on a trip in April where I will get a lot of wear out of it & enjoy looking super fabulous.

If the W&B number arrives in time (unlikely) and it fits and looks great I will wear that on Thursday.

Otherwise I've got a lovely Boden wrap dress that I will wear - its black but the lunch is spy themed so it will work. I'm thinking head to toe ninja black with my Chistmas fairy light necklace & earrings.

So instead of a weekend of stressing about undelivered dresses or looking for a dress, or even making a dress, I got on with the other one million things I had to do, enjoyed my yoga classes, got my hair done, houswrok, time with DD's and got the tree up.

Sometimes enough is enough and I'm really happy with my fallback plan.

I spent over £500 on dresses last week!! Nothing new for the party.

Thanks for all your help, inspiration & sanity last week.

Great dress. (i e the pattern one)

The Damson Madder dress is great. I really like things that can be worn back to front.

the party was yesterday - everyone wore black 😁

the Wolf & Badger dress will be delivered any moment. The original "party season" dresses I ordered in October that were delayed, are still not delivered.

The Sainsburys delivery happened on Tuesday night & there is a dress for £22 my daughter loved on me so I might keep it. Then again I don't know where I would wear it so maybe not.

the Wolf & Badger dress arrived.
It not only fits it looks great.
I thought it had pockets but it doesn't which is a bit of a bummer.
I have no where to wear it though - in 2 minds if I should keep it and wear it on a loop for the rest of winter, or return it.

I would definitely keep it and wear it on a loop for the rest of winter. You can wear it but change up your style. A jacket or cardigan would also look nice with it.

What is the Tu sainsburys dress your DD likes on you?

These 2 both look great - and are cheap.

But I will never wear them:

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc144980765?clickSR=slp:term:gold%20sparkle%20ruched%20midaxi%20column%20dress:1:11:1

this link is from Next but I had already ordered it via Tu:

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su210310/276833?ranMID=53096&ranEAID=TnL5HPStwNw&ranSiteID=TnL5HPStwNw-wPiszJRX0E4Ji9YeMnZRVw#276833

If you won’t wear them then best to return. Could you conjure up an event where you would wear them?

Yes me too haha , hope you found something though ❤️

My inital party dresses, due to arrive end of November, arrived today.

Good news is that I've previously worn a size 22 in this range, and I now fit the size 18's delivered. Well one of them at least. The other is a bit snug in the boobs which is annoying as its a "large bust range" and my bust isn't that big.

But I am still losing weight so come spring it should fit me really well. The other one is wearable now. Neither are really "winter" dresses so I will get wear out of them and I will keep them.

The big success out of this party dress debale is I now have that Wolf & Blass dress - I never would have come across that ordinarily and even though it arrived too late for my party I have kept it and will be wearing it all winter.

Happy Christmas all xx