OK, here's a challenge for you all....

[surprise]

I have to go to a semi-posh 40th birthday do. As I'm generally a very casual (surfy/studenty) sort of person, I'm struggling with knowing what to wear. These are my criteria:

something that has sleeves as I have flabby arms at the top.

I'm a size 18 top (large norks) and 14/16 bottom half, with reasonable legs (from the knee down at least).

I tend to wear a lot of black, so something different would be nice. Electric blue/turquoise sort of colours suit me best, along with khaki and cream or white.

All suggestions much appreciated!

i have posted lots of ideas on this thread. but don't fight over things on ebay .

did you see the 'Look good naked' programme last week i think it was. The lady on there had great legs like you and was large up top. The funny guy dressed her in a pencil skirt and wrap over type top and she looked great. I'm sure you'd be able to see it on the TV channel's website, I'm pretty sure it was only last week. She did her 'naked' bit in a side window of Selfridges but I cant remember the lady's name.

thanks both for your advice - mckenzie, that's exactly the type of thing I was thinking of, but as I can't think of any colour other than black that would look right in that kind of outfit. I have a black wrap top, so maybe just a pencil skirt and nice jewellery would work? And what type of shoes? I only possess boots and birkenstocks!

I think a new pair of shoes/sandals might be called for surprise! You could put the black wrap top with a magenta skirt perhaps, royal blue or be very dramatic and go for a white skirt perhaps. I've seen quite a lot of black and white around. But hey, don't listen to me as I buy everything off the mannequin when I'm shopping as I have no idea of what goes with what etc

i think you need a wrap dress with a funky pattern and some wedge sandals.....skirts and tops kind of cut you in the middle which unless you are v slim can make you feel awkward a wrap dress is forgiving in all the right places adjusts to how tight you want it -is ageless and you can dress it up or down ....same with wedge sandals very now and very esy to wear.

dont forget some unusual jewellry and a groovy haircut