Panic! Need an outfit able to cope with........

[toastedteacake]

smart school open day to include; tour of school, presenations and prize giving, picnic lunch and sports afternoon. There are some v.chic mothers there and I always end up looking like a sack of potatoes in comparison.

I am 5'2-3, I am what T&S call a Vase. Usually wear a 12-14 top (mostly a 12 as otherwise shoulders are too big) and 10-12 bottoms, though the busts and waistbands are a little snug at the mo .

I went to Monsoon yesterday and tried on three dresses which all did up beautifully around my ribs, but there was no way the norks could be persuaded to fit! (34 F BTW)

Budget wise less than £100.

Thanks in anticipation

How about one of the Bravissimo dresses like this one ?

My similarly curvy friend is currently swearing by their dresses.

The Bravissimo dresses are a nice shape, but.....

I forgot to say I am mousey, with pale-ish skin and blue/grey eyes. I can't do really strong colours, neither can I do pastels without looking like I have lived undergound for 6 months. I live in a sea of 'muted brights'.

I just know that I am destined to look like a matronly bin bag again this year, looking longingly at the giraffes and gazelles gracefully swaying across the sports pitch!

monsoon never fit me either, always too big round bottom and tight on bosom.

wallis fit better, hobbs? also you could try empire line, then it just needs to fit on the top and can skim down nicely.

kew also have very nice colours of that sort.

Hobbs are good for curvier figures (Monsoon crap on me too). What about Phase 8? Haven't tried any one but they look nice.

this?

www.hobbs.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1017&productid=0208-5692-2099L00&productvarid=0208-5692-2099L00-APPLE OFFWHITE-10

ooh yes phase 8 good.

how about something like this?

more expensive but lovely colour

www.hobbs.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1017&productid=0108-5678-2055L00&productvarid=0108-5678-2055L00-NAVY_ MARINE-10

??

reduced!

that pansy dress is lovely - I have similar colouring and it would suit me

I love silk dresses as well - they don;t crease as badly as linen and are warm/cool as situation demands

not frumpy on delicately coloured person. but think i prefer the reduced one.

anyway where is toasted?

EP - Lovely dress, but I am sure I could make that look matronly

I am 35 and beginning to feel my age and think I have got a bit 'old before my time'. I am having a mid-life crisis trying to be a bit more youthful and yet not mutton.... Mind you the Giraffes and Gazelles are in their early to mid 40's, perhaps its confidence envy that I have and height envy and figure envy....

pansy one is frumperama - gathers like that under a big bust = 'when's it due?' comments

Fishie - Sorry have to agree with LL on Pansy dress, could look maternity on me......

Fishie - I am liking your thinking on this dress in blue reduced What are Kew like for Nork room?

LL - love the colour of that top! Would definately need something under as tops of my arms are seldom displayed and certainly not in front of 'Giraffes and Gazelles'. Could I wear a cardigan/ shrug?

Do you think this might work?

Fenn Wright Manson

Or is suited to someone taller?

P.S. Sorry about disappearing before..... Builders in the house, been here since mid-Feb on a 12 week job

yes i like that one.

The FWM dress is lovely, if yuo can get away with the colour (I couldn't but am sallow)