Please help - no idea where to start

[lucasnorth]

I have accepted an invitation to a Christmas event with the theme of ‘Vienna New Year Ball’
This is so far out of my comfort zone … I am a jeans and a smart top kind of person. I am 5ft 4 and stout around the middle, size 14 for trousers but have been known to fit in a 12 for a tunic dress.
I’ve tried searching online for ‘ball gown’ and ‘rent ball gown’ with no real success so far. I’d prefer to rent something really nice than buy something meh, but open to all suggestions.
Budget ideally around £100 but if it’s something I could be confident of re-selling I could go higher.

Can anyone help please? I’m London based if in-person shopping is better than online

thank you if you got this far!

Have you looked here:

Hurr

More broadly, this is a helpful guide to the best dress rental sites. Have a look at them all and pick the one whose policies suit you best.

https://www.redonline.co.uk/fashion/a37750531/rent-clothes/

John Lewis may be worth a try - they do dress rental.

Vienna new year ball is basically black tie sort of event . It’s really hard to be honest, as ball gowns tend to sit better on taller women I feel, and you’re not petite either,

id keep it simple, I’d go for something like this, and have it shortened. The ruching and shape will be very forgiving round your tummy, I get this one is over budget,

https://www.johnlewis.com/lauren-ralph-lauren-leonidas-floor-length-column-gown/black/p6108397?size=14

Thanks everyone. Lots of lovely dresses there but all quite classic black tie and my understanding of the look I need to go for is… I don’t know… more pouffy?!
posting a picture but it may take a while to get cleared

Like this

One of these sites might have something.

I wonder if your budget is a bit optimistic.