Friday afternoon style challenge - help me find an outfit for my 40th birthday, please!

[wilbur]

I am toying with two options for my 40th b'day party in 3 weeks time. It is an evening thing, but not mega smart.

Option 1 - nice frock with a bit of sleeve or shrug option

Option 2 - I have a great pair of linen mix dark soft blue/grey trousers that I love and feel fabulous in. I would need a top with some kind of sleeve and killer shoes (not too high and delicate wedges would be good) to go with it.

The bits of myself I am happy to show off - cleavage (helped along by push up bra)
midriff, ie from below boobs to hip line, so something that is fitted in that area would be good.

I am pear shaped so nothing clingy over bum and thighs, but otherwise I am 5'8" and about a size 12. Budget is generous, but not silly.

So, stylish ladies, you are always brilliant at finding ideas, please help!

Real red hair - I am of you and MI. I have to pay for mine.

So what would you / did you wear to your 40th Beety?

I wore all black
nicole fahri number - trousers

love that last dress i linked though

oh and I had nail extentions - loved those!!

My red is ahem enhanced.

And personally I spent my 40th in repulsive drawstring trousers (charity shop) and a too-short vest over my 34 weeks pregnant bump.

Oooh, Nicole Farhi - lovely stuff. First ever designer item I bought was NF. Still have it.

MI - enhanced, I shall use that the next time anyone asks me if mine is real...

Yes the printed silk dress is fab and good for a summer party. Plus I already have a shrug that colour. Am going to have fun trying some of this stuff on.

I want it though

I saw some really stylish dresses in Ted Baker this afternoon - it's my 40th next year and was tempted to try one on just to see what I looked like. No wedding this year so no excuse to dress-shop!

I find some of the Phase 8 stuff a bit old-fashioned/mother of the bride. As is Monsoon - too high St; you're likely to see someone else wearing the same kind of thing at function.

here is what I saw:

www.tedbaker.com/shop.do?cID=596&pID=4167

www.tedbaker.com/shop.do?cID=673&pID=4401

and finally:

www.tedbaker.com/shop.do?cID=673&pID=3768

Really like that Anu dress at Ted B, webchick, and the shoes they suggest with it. Right, Ted Baker also on list for trying on foray.

Ooh - I just had a thought - Ghost sale on now. Any of those take your fancy?

yes it looked good on hanger. I am quite pale skinned so would need to put on a bit of fake tan to carry off the colour - might look a bit washed out otherwise.

happy shopping !!

I looked at the dress in Phase 8 and it is not up to much tbh

Love the third ted baker dress in silver.
I used ot wear Ghost when I was a lot younger - think it is a bit shapeless now and out of date. shame as I had some fabuous stuff when I was skinny malinki with no saggy bits adn could carry it off

Webchick - I tried the Ted Baker dress on at the weekend - it is really pretty, lovely print, and fitted perfectly, except, weirdly, the hem fell just above my knees, rather than on my knees. It's odd because dresses like that usually hit right on my knees and look quite a good length. Maybe they are making dresses shorter for the "young" or maybe [distressing thought just occurred] my knees are migrating down my legs.

There's a new Ghost boutique opened near me that I thought I may pop into. Wonder when the other places are going to go on Sale. Do I dare leave it until they are? Don't want to end up buying a neon yellow crop top just because I ran out of time and it was half price at Whistles.

Shame about the Phase 8 dress, Beety, I have a boutique crawl planned for later this week, so I will pop in and see what's there anyway.