Dress for a 40th

[Bearlionfalcon]

Help me! I’ve got three young kids, including a baby age one, and as a result I barely ever go out and all my ‘going out’ clothes are from about 2012 🤣 HOWEVER I now have some 40th birthday parties coming up and I would so love to look vaguely stylish / nice.
I’m usually a nice top and jeans sort of person - or will sometimes go for a leather mini skirt with a looser top if feeling daring - but I think I probably need to think about dresses, which I am not very good at. Also never know what sort of shoes to wear with them, as I live in trainers!
I am size 10, 5’6 and don’t like wearing heels unless you can recommend some really comfortable ones. Would love to look a bit sexy but I don’t love showing off shoulders and upper arms. Also, I generally need to wear a bra as boobs are size E

I think a leather mini with a grand, oversized lace or silk blouse would be a gorgeous party outfit. And far more versatile than a dress. Add some new boots and you’re done.

You haven’t given a budget?

Hello, sorry! Budget - I could spend about £200.

I do agree with you usually about leather skirt and blouse. I guess I was thinking maybe everyone would just think I was wearing what I always wear if I do that, though!

I think you’re probably right that I need some boots as well. What sort of boots would you go for? How high?! I’ve got no idea.

If I did go for a dress, I was wondering about something like this. I like the idea of figure hugging (can wear Spanx 🤣) but lace to hide wobbly upper arms. But maybe I need to get out of my comfort zone more…

uk.saintandsofia.com/products/runway-lace-dress-black?variant=40233698721895&country=GB&source=aw&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=259955&utm_source=awin&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=uk&utm_content=259955&awc=109964_1758535875_407be15dff43201425ed42aa0b85b7cd

That dress is neither one thing nor the other to my eyes. It’s neither figure hugging nor voluminous, so just looks timid and a bit clumsy. (It’s also much more expensive than it looks.)

This is more current and celebratory:

Sister Jane dress

Alternatively this (in any version) would be gorgeous:

Realisation Par dress

And this site:

Essential Antwerp

has too many great dresses to count. (And epic boot styling.)

LOL - you've certainly got my number @MissPrismsMistake .... timid and a bit clumsy is spot on

I'm really enjoying looking through the options you sent over though, especially the last one- lots of ideas there. Think boots will be key! Thinking it might be useful to have them high enough to escape the potential minefield that is tights...

I like the one you've posted much better than the other suggestions. Way classier!

If you like leather skirts, hit up that style! The cut of this dress is frumpy tbh, and not flattering on the model.

If you like lace, what shapes of dresses would be good on you? What skirts do you wear? Pencil or A line for example?

@JurassicPark4Eva Good question. I think I have historically (I know they are not fashionable now) looked good in the bodycon style of dress- form fitting without loads of skin on show? I used to have the whistles bodycon dress with the zip up the back in a zillion colours and used to dress them up and down. This maybe is a better modern example, though I used to wear shorter ones with black tights
Black Foil Print Mesh Bodycon Midi Dress | NOHAA | Ted Baker | Ted Baker
I also used to be a fan of an embellished all saints T-shirt mini dress, or Claudie Pierlot swing mini dresses (when I had the cash!).
But obviously I'm a bit older now and increasingly feel like I want legs more covered up. Not being good at skirts, I've gravitated more to wearing jeans and tops, or jumpsuits like this sort of one -
L.F. Markey Felix cropped washed-twill jumpsuit - ShopStyle
I suppose I just always feel a bit casual, and I'm just keen to actually look 'dressed up' for once. But I just don't know how to do it anymore!
I could, per the first poster, stick to leather skirt and something like a silk top. Only thing about leather mini skirt is that tights and shoes can be a bit tricky I find.

Bit of a budget blower but.... a couple of jumpsuit options perhaps:
https://www.meandem.com/silk-wide-leg-jumpsuit-tie-raspberry-red

Or
https://www.meandem.com/2-in-1-wide-leg-jumpsuit-silk-top-lipstick-red (also available in green)

A bit risqué.... Perhaps if the bodice was less erm open?
https://www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/black-leather-corset-dress

Bodycon is definitely back in fashion though, have a look about!

Bodice is a bit erm open on that last one indeed but I feel it could be sort of on the right lines

I'm just not sure I want another jumpsuit. I just fancy wearing a dress to this party

Thrilled to hear bodycon is back! Will hunt around