Dress needed - any ideas?

[Hoppinggreen]

Hi All
would anyone like to help me find a dress (or similar) for an event?
Must cover knees and shoulders - says this on the invite
Black tie
Size 16 hourglass, don't love my legs but good boobs
5 ft 5
I am in my 50's
I like colour
Brown hair and olive skin
Have a dread of looking "matronly" or "frumpy"
Have dodgy feet so will have to wear reasonably comfy shoes
Willing to pay up to £200
I like the below but think it might be for someone thinner
Petite Joanna Gold Open Back Sparkle Dress – Ro&Zo

Thank you in advance

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/vila-beaded-dress-100044560012.html

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su768320/w64826

Sorry, I think thats really frumpy

We must have different definitions of frumpy 🤷‍♀️

https://www.johnlewis.com/gina-bacconi-bev-velvet-midi-dress-olive/p114431407

And the other one
It that how chubby women in their 50's are supposed to dress?
Maybe the issue is me and I need to start dressing my age a bit more ?

Thnks to everyone who has posted so far though - does nobody think thee one I like from Ro and Zo would work then?
Thinking hair partly up with big gold earings and black velvet open toe kitteen heels

I think we do, sorry
I do appreciate the suggestions though

https://www.johnlewis.com/gina-bacconi-velvet-wrap-dress-wine/p112791418

I love the colour, green suits me
My only concern is if its a bit empire line - big boobs mean empire line doesn't suit me
I do like it though

I love the Ro & Zo one, you may as well go e it a try or you'll never know if it suits you or not

https://www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-collection-8-minty-wrap-dress-dark-green/p113010402

Selfridges have it in an XL https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/product/reiss-vivienne-cut-out-knitted-midi-dress_R04495951/?msclkid=419111b16b4c1b78df8478a1b7081d48&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=na_na_pla-b_na_na_na_Bing_DOM_PLA-WOMENSWEAR-PMAX&utm_term=2332820077174943&utm_content=DOM_PLA-WOMENSWEAR-CHRISTMAS-PMAX&gclid=419111b16b4c1b78df8478a1b7081d48&gclsrc=3p.ds&gad_source=7&gad_campaignid=23207000564#colour=RED

You said you liked colour.

https://www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-mabelle-tiered-organza-maxi-dress-fuchsia/p111667029

Bronze Sparkle Ruched Jersey Maxi Dress
Anyone like this?

Well no, because you said the dress code is to cover your shoulders, and that dress doesn't.

Is it a daytime or evening event? Presumably soon and therefore in winter?

What bra size are you - some of the other Ro & Zo dresses might be suitable, but the ones I like are high-neck which I would avoid as I have huge boobs. (I am a size 16 hourglass and have been sharing some of the styles that suit my shape but clearly not to your taste!)

https://roandzo.com/products/petite-cleo-black-flocked-cut-out-detail-dress

https://roandzo.com/collections/dresses/products/seraphina-gold-puff-sleeve-dress

DD said she likes it

Love the colour but too frilly

I agree this one is, but I love the Reiss black cut out one you suggested.

I think you have to order it and try it. There's no reason it shouldn't work. But do you have something to cover your shoulders? It seems like the kind of dress that might lose its appeal once you've done that, though, because you'll lose the shape.

On another note, as someone 5'5" I would say it's silly to discount a dress you otherwise like on account of length. Hemming a gown is an extremely easy alteration that can be done by pretty much any dry cleaner.

Also love both of these and agree OP's one doesn't really cover shoulders.

Not really. I think it's quite unflattering. And frumpy

I would need to wear a decent bra (36D)
I thought that Ro and Zo one I suggested might be shoulder covering enough to get away with it but maybe not
I have a lovely dark aubergine Hugo Boss dress but too much shoulder and I don't want to wear a shrugg. I am happy to be cold but HATE being hot

There is someone local who can hem it, they did DD's very complicated prom dress so its not a total no but prefer it if its not necessary

😁

I like the Ro & Zo dress - but would worry that at that price it might not ‘perform’ quite as well as expected.

And I quite like the brown Rat & Boa dress I linked (Rucci) because it seems effortlessly elegant without being too fussy - sort of Petar Petrov on a budget.

I’m rather older than you and personally wouldn’t trust S&B to dress me for An Event. Not least because I’d want to spend multiples of what is considered decent here, and would never touch the depressing MN-approved list of ‘brands for mature women’.