What stylish dress to impress options suit a curvy mid-forties figure?

[TheEasterBunny3]

Help! Ive been invited to a friends big birthday bash & I have no idea what to wear.

Its in June and the dress code is 'dress to impress' and the birthday girl will be ultra glam as will her close friends & family. Im in my mid 40's & most of the guests are aged 35 - 40 & very stylish - I dont want to look like an old frump in comparison.

Im a size 16-18 with very large hips not in proportion to the rest of me. I'd like a dress & prefer a-line style as they look better than clingy dresses on my hips & stomach. Im happy to show cleavage & my arms but don't suit high neck tops (I feel they make me look matronly & frumpy).

Ideally the dress would be midi length but would be happy with longer but no mini dresses.

I prefer plain colours to patterns and suit dark colours (black being my favourite).

Any ideas of what I could buy that suits my body shape but also is more stylish than frumpy. Budget up to £150. Its likely some very old school 'friends' will be there who I havent seen in about 10 years & Id like to look my best in front of them too!

Thank you

I have this dress I’m older than you but curvy and I think it’s fab. I did sew up the cleavage a bit just so I felt more comfortable at your age it should be fab.

Here
sorry I’ll try again!

How about a glam 50s style prom dress with either halter neck or off the shoulder? Something like one of these? https://www.collectiflondon.com/products/gillian-50s-black-occasion-dress?variant=49642832822618&srsltid=AfmBOorvzgCzYbmH1FNFDznVnc33KYdseFhNWbZqzv717YAXf6Jdu0R1BOg

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4490907942/red-polka-dot-halter-dress-vintage-a?ref=elp_anchor_listing&pro=1&frs=1

Day or night, @TheEasterBunny3?

Something like this?

https://sisterjane.com/collections/dresses/products/painterly-polka-chiffon-midi-dress?edit=one

If you usually wear dark colours simply wearing something lighter would be an ‘impressive’ thing. This dress is only half your budget - but if you buy the 18 you may want to get the top altered to fit:

https://www.topshop.com/gb/product/topshop-v-neck-low-armhole-clean-maxi-dress-with-deep-hem-in-mango/209582615#ctaref-52787&colourWayId-209582620

@Perfidiaevening party.

Thanks for the ideas, I'm really liking the 50s style dresses & never thought of that before.

would this be of interest? The Claudia style dress is what I thought of when I read your post. You said back was your favourite, however they have several other plain colours as well

@TheEasterBunny3 - what height are you? And what's your colouring? Happy to wear something with heels - or prefer low or flat shoes/sandals?

Do you want the dress to be enough, before you consider accessories - or is something lovely but lower-key, dressed up with great jewellery, ok? Do you want something that will be versatile enough to wear again? Or happy to go all out on something that you might not wear very often afterwards?

If you prefer plain (black), what other dark colours do you like/suit? Crimson or burgundy/green/purple/pink/blue?

@OneBusyFinch- thats lovely too. So many different styles of dresses I would have never thought of before.

So you say that lots of the female guests are a decade younger than you & very stylish - plus there'll be some old school friends. If you want to look stylish in a current way, personally speaking I would avoid 50s-style dresses.

That's not to say they aren't nice (I own & love several late 50s/early 60s originals, as well as lots of clothing & accessories from other eras). But fashion constantly plunders from different sources - & I would say that, right now, it is not one of the eras that is influencing current styles. So I think you might look like you're going to a swing revival evening ... of course, if you just want something that flatters you & you love, then all of that is irrelevant. I just thought I'd mention it!

I had thought of some of the Tallulah & Hope dresses - though they don't have many left in their sale. As this is a wrap style, I think it would sit quite easily at the waist & hips - but it may not flare out enough for your liking?

https://tallulahandhope.com/products/hannah-wrap-dress-royal-satin-crepe-jet-embroidered

I quite like the Sister Jane one posted by @Perfidia , & the floor-length yellow one is lovely! But not remotely dark in colour ...!!

@EleanorMc67 - all help great fully accepted!

Im 5 ft 7. Happy to wear heels & wear a Plainish dress but go for statement shoes, jewelery etc.

Im light to fair skin (but always use tanning drops!), have naturally mousey hair but its been balayage forever ever - very dark at the top & gradually gets lighter to the ends. Hair is shoulder length & happy to wear it up or down depending on the dress.

This Stine Goya one is self-patterned, & would look good with dramatic earrings & footwear?

https://uk.stinegoya.com/products/3-4-volume-sleeves-midi-dress-dress-anemone-jacquard

Really like this one but it's not in the sale - yet! Nor is it accessorised up in the photos - but it's a lustrous navy fabric & would look great dressed up.

https://uk.stinegoya.com/products/puff-sleeve-detail-long-dress-dress-midnight-navy

This is in budget. Maybe though you're a puff sleeve/sleeve detail hater - there are many on MN it seems! I like sleeve details if the rest of the dress is plain.

https://uk.stinegoya.com/products/puff-sleeve-long-dress-dress-ditzy-floral

This is the most striking one though. Over budget - but ... their sale starts in June, I believe ...!!

https://uk.stinegoya.com/products/puff-sleeve-long-dress-dotted-black

This is gorgeous

https://tallulahandhope.com/collections/skirts/products/linda-skirt-royal-satin-crepe-jet-blacK

Ha - I was just about to suggest their separates! There's also this dress. 16 but no 18 though.

https://tallulahandhope.com/products/june-dress-royal-satin-crepe-jet-black-embroidered

What a shame the jacket is sold out ... It looks like a great ensemble for the OP's shape - & wearable separately afterwards too.

I’m seriously considering the skirt 🥰

Go for it! (I should be discouraging you really, like the no buying thread I follow - but it is lovely ...!)

This is satin-backed crepe - & if the cut is good it could look really elegant.

https://www.thewhitecompany.com/uk/Scarf-Detail-Batwing-Dress/p/A18225

This is silk, although it may be too high in the chest for you. 16/18 currently out of stock, but if you like it it's worth signing up to see if it comes back in.

https://www.whistles.com/product/organza-silk-puff-sleeve-dress-36997.html

This is quite flared-looking at the bottom, but may be too clingy - hard to tell from photos only. My friend has wide hips compared to her top half, & suits this style.

https://www.wyselondon.com/products/casey-lace-trim-dress-midnight