Evening / party dress help please

[BB49]

I have a couple of 50th do’s coming up before Christmas, one of which is mine! I am 5 foot 2, size 6, and suit quite fitted dresses. Probably in a petite size. I’m not too fussed about length and I don’t mind short sleeves or sleeveless but ideally would like to wear a bra underneath. I’m brunette and suit dark colours - navy, teal, dark green, burgundy, black. Budget up to around £100. I’d love some recommendations please as don’t get out or dressed up much!

A few from John Lewis, a couple are a bit summery but you might disagree!

Thank you @Defiantly41 of those I think I like the shape of the rust satin dress best but not so much the neckline. Ideally I don't want very thin straps as it will be cold and there's the bra problem!

I'd love some more suggestions please - can anyone else offer any? Dressing up is out of my comfort zone!

The rust was my fave too. You might find more choice as party wear comes into stores over the next month or so, the combo of size 6 and petite really restricted the choice available though. Depending on your body proportions (I have short legs but normal length torso, so length shortening plus a bit of strap adjustment works for me) it might be worth trying to find a tailor/dressmaker locally, but if you are proportional all over this probably wouldn’t work. If this would work for you, these are all available in size 6, some come in other colours too

Could you give some idea of what you like? The suggestions so far are all long and sort of "eveningy" and shiny. I don't like any of them, but is that the sort of thing you're looking for?

On a budget of £100 , I'd start at Joannie and Sister Jane.

Have to say, for a fiftieth birthday I’d want to look kind of cool and louche. So with a budget of £100 I might consider something like this magnificent

Stories blouse

(under which you could wear a dark camisole instead of just a bra if you preferred). That would be all your money, so then I’d beg, borrow or buy pre-owned some velvet or suede flares, or a leather mini - whichever suited me best. (That choice would determine footwear choice.)

I love the first two you've posted especially, thank you @Defiantly41, are they John Lewis? @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle thank you for the suggestions of Joanie and Sister Jane, I'll have a look too! @TheRavenKingsDaughter that blouse is absolutely stunning but I don't think I'm cool enough or have the confidence to carry it off!

I think this is absolutely beautiful - a classic Little Black dress and in budget. They don't have many sizes, but they do have size 6.

John Lewis Whistles velvet dress

I like your style and your thinking!

@BB49yes, all JL (I used to work for them in fitting rooms!)