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Original poster

Help me find a black tie dress!

20 replies

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 18/02/2025 07:09

I’ve been invited to a formal event in a couple of weeks - dress code is black tie.

My go to black tie dress is too big, and I’m between sizes while trying to lose a final stone so I don’t want to spend a fortune - ideally no more than £200.

i need to be able to wear a bra (I’ve never found a strapless one that really provides enough support), so straps are a must, and I’m a fairly curvy size 10. Don’t love my (very short) legs so not keen on thigh high splits or anything. I’m 5ft 6.

i thought about hiring, but I’ve not seen anything I’ve really liked, plus, I’d worry about whether anything I hired would fit well.

Any suggestions mumsnetters?

OP posts:
Thatsenoughadulting · 18/02/2025 07:25

I've had a few dresses from club L London. They're recently priced and always found they fit well. Good stretch etc. Pretty much all the sell is evening dresses so I'm sure you'll find something to suit.

123ZYX · 18/02/2025 07:27

How dressy is it? I've ordered a couple of dresses from the Jolie Moi brand at next and found them excellent for me as an hour-glass shape. This one one a bit too dressy for what I needed but might suit black tie and is well within your budget.

www.next.co.uk/style/su682816/f91403#f91403

Original poster
WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 18/02/2025 08:50

It’s pretty formal @123ZYX Thanks for posting that dress - not quite my colour I’m afraid and I have an aversion to floaty sleeves and shoulders.

OP posts:
Original poster
WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 18/02/2025 08:55

I’ll have a look at club L thanks @Thatsenoughadulting - I came across them
in my searching but I wasn’t sure about quality as I haven’t come across them before.

OP posts:
TheGlamour · 18/02/2025 09:13

When you say ‘ pretty formal’ do you mean it must be a ‘traditional’ long evening dress rather than anything else?

heldinadream · 18/02/2025 09:22

Long sleeved?
https://www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-vila-beaded-dress-purple/p113010398

Wordau · 18/02/2025 09:26

https://www.reiss.com/style/su403623/e86655

I particularly like this

TheGlamour · 18/02/2025 09:26

Because this might be lovely if cocktail length is an option. (You can get bras with one strap.)

N-a-P Solace London dress

TriangleLight · 18/02/2025 09:32

TheGlamour · 18/02/2025 09:26

Because this might be lovely if cocktail length is an option. (You can get bras with one strap.)

N-a-P Solace London dress

That’s a lovely dress!

I love the Reiss dresses too, but a lot of them look tricky bra wise.

i can get away with one shoulder items by just using normal hefty bra with strap off one side

CharlotteCChapel · 18/02/2025 09:33

This shouts black tie to me

https://www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/giselle-gown-black/

Rina66 · 18/02/2025 10:25

Debenhams do good evening dresses, various brands. I've had a few from there.

Original poster
WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 18/02/2025 11:33

Ooh, lots of posts. @TheGlamour yes, full length formal, but not military @PaintDecisions so no rules about shoulders.

i definitely couldn’t do one bra strap.

i’ll have a look through links!

@heldinadream - didn’t love the sweetheart neck I’m afraid, and I’m not sure about long sleeves (more a personal preference)

that Reiss dress is lovely @Wordau but the sleeves cut in. I know you can get halter neck bras but I’ve never found one that is quite right.
@CharlotteCChapel it does scream black tie, if it didn’t have that nude fabric cut away bit I would have tried it on

thanks for the John Lewis links @PaintDecisions - most don’t pass my bra test I’m afraid and spaghetti straps are a definite no for me.

i appreciate all the links and suggestions though!

OP posts:
PaintDecisions · 18/02/2025 11:35

I'm a 42F, and often wear a normal bra with one shoulder strap tucked into the cup so I can wear a single strap dress. Might be worth wearing the right bra for you out to a shop to try some dresses on!

Original poster
WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 18/02/2025 11:35

@Rina66 i’ll have another look at Debenhams. I did get a couple of Coast ones from there, but they were awful on, really badly fitted. Which is a shame because many moons ago Coast would have been my go to for this kind of thing. I even had a search on vinted but nothing caught my eye.

OP posts:
Original poster
WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 18/02/2025 14:24

Thanks @unsurenow2025 I really don’t have the legs for a thigh high split, and one shoulder/plunge styles not suitable due to wanting and needing to wearing a bra!

i’m afraid there’s no way that last one would contain my boobs, and probably more of any eyeful than I’d want to share with my work colleagues!

OP posts:
Original poster
WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 18/02/2025 14:28

PaintDecisions · 18/02/2025 11:35

I'm a 42F, and often wear a normal bra with one shoulder strap tucked into the cup so I can wear a single strap dress. Might be worth wearing the right bra for you out to a shop to try some dresses on!

Edited

You’re maybe a bit firmer than me, I look lopsided if one strap is looser than the other 😂

OP posts:
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