Which dress designer does structure, tailoring best on dress for a lady, hourglass size 12/14

[babypinkcrystals]

I've a big reunion and haven't seen many of my uni friends for over twenty years. I would like to look my best but tiredness, weight , stress has not been kind to my face or my body.
With weight training and walking along with a calorie deficit , I hope to be a toned 12/14. Please advise me as to how I can look my absolute best . I've ten months !!!
Which designers do great dresses? Preferably red !!!
Why not!!

Jasper COnran does a great shirt dress in either silk or cotton https://www.jasperconran.com/collections/dresses
should be a good style for an hour glass and can be dressed up or down easily. I have a reunion in October and am considering one.

Gorgeous! The red 'Edie' is half price too!

THis one is a bargain in the sale https://www.jasperconran.com/products/edie-silk-full-skirt-shirt-dress?variant=44175137800426

In fact I might just have bought one.....

Never heard of these but there are some lovely dresses for those who preferred structured dresses.

Kevan Jon do fabulous structured dresses. One of my dearest friends wore one to her son's wedding - I was her style consultant lol because I love clothes and shoes and she doesn't!

https://blushboutique.co.uk/product-tag/kevan-jon/

Tallulah and Hope have some lovely designs with kimono-waists. I'm a 12 hourglass in my late forties and find they're a great balance in highlighting my good features and skimming over my less favoured ones (they have sleeves!):

tallulahandhope.com/collections/dresses/products/lauren-dress-crimson-embroidered

They also have top and culotte options for a less dressy look:

tallulahandhope.com/collections/tops/products/gloria-blouse-black-embroidered

I'd buy this in heartbeat if I was confident i'd get to a size 12 (they are a fairly small cut brand)

www.nobodyschild.com/products/red-drapped-off-shoulder-katty-midi-dress-d242353red?variant=44397037256875&utm_source=NMPi&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PaidSearch&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs-CC66-BiwMVPpFQBh2m-QTyEAQYASABEgL18vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Roland Mouret

Love the Ralph Lauren posted earlier. Or this. Damsel in a Dress was brilliant, look on vinted now.

10 months will be wintery?

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/tatiana-ruffle-wrap-midi-dress-221581250.html#navAjax=true&is=true&cgid=dresses&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&prefn1=color&prefv1=Red&pid=221581250&pos=28

Can I suggest you look at dress rental places even if you don't want to rent. You can sort by size and colour and then you can get a feeling for what brands you like the look of.
If you do rent you can often buy if you love it or think you will change shape at all, rent and then you can always buy in a different size.

The Fold is great for structured dresses but possibly a bit formal for dinner and drinks.

Not red, not particularly structured, but I saw this and thought that if someone turned up wearing it at a drinks do with some minimal good jewellery, good hair and a bright lipstick I'd think they looked really classy. I don't think you should have to try too hard, OP. And you might get more wear out of it than you would something flashier.

www.meandem.com/pleated-midi-shirt-dress-belt-black

I can't believe they wanted almost £300 for made in China recylced polyester. Me&Em is dreary as hell. Never seen anyone look good in it.

I'm thinking that it depends on the setting, what's the venue? Some of these dresses while structured and very gorgeous would make you look and feel completely out of place in a mid range surbuban bar with everyone else in jeans and trainers.

I think it's a fine line between looking great, and looking like you're overcompensating for something.

Another vote for The Pretty Dress Company - you can also pick up absolute bargains on their stuff via Vinted - I’ve bought 4 of their dresses since Christmas for a total of £65!

If you like a vintage-style as well as structure, take a look at Seamstress of Bloomsbury and House of Foxy.

https://theseamstressofbloomsbury.co.uk/collections/dresses

https://www.thehouseoffoxy.com/collections/vintage-dresses

Pretty Dress Company dresses in red size 12 and 14 on Vinted: https://www.vinted.co.uk/catalog?catalog[]=10&size_ids[]=5&size_ids[]=6&status_ids[]=6&status_ids[]=1&status_ids[]=2&brand_ids[]=275440&search_id=20313088255&order=newest_first&time=1737401002&catalog_from=0&color_ids[]=7&page=1

There’s a gorgeous French lady on Instagram that posts loads of videos in Pretty Dress Company outfits:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEsGI40g-ck/?igsh=MWZubWYxNGczMm02NA==

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DE-HNVAghAv/?igsh=MWVtZGJ0M3p5eTVhMQ==

The dresses on Seamstress of Bloomsbury are beautiful!

I love you and hate you in equal measure for posting this. 😅

There’s some nice pieces of theirs on Vinted too 😜 #enabler

Just to add to my banging on about the Pretty Dress Company, they’re doing 25% off full price items today only with code BLUE25.

I love the Roland Mouret red dress.