please help me find a 40th dress!

[blackfriars]

I would love some help finding a great 40th dress - maybe some pointers towards brands I don’t know of. have seen these threads find amazing things before and am very time poor so am crossing my fingers maybe the geniuses on this board can help me!

My 40th is coming up in August and i’m doing an evenings drinks event in London - the vibe won’t be formal at all (it’s a bar in south london - hiring a space with an outside and inside bit but nothing fancy) but I’d like to wear a ‘party dress’. I’m a size 12, 5’7, don’t love my upper arms so not strapless or bardot but could maybe do sleeveless or strappy. open to mini, midi, maxi. I basically live in weekend activewear or work shift dresses so am completely lost on where to look for something like this but i used (pre covid and babies) to love a going out outfit and would love to relive this for my milestone bday. Maybe some glitter?! Budget - happy to spend up to £300ish for something great. thanks in advance!

Op what is your skin tone (light/ medium/ dark and cool or warm)
what hair colour do you have ?

funnily enough i had that isabel marant one screenshotted! i think that would be a good shape for me and i like the sleeves. def no jumpsuit/trousers. other links i saved:

https://www.mytheresa.com/gb/en/women/norma-kamali-floral-applique-belted-tulle-minidress-black-p01058619

i LOVE this valentino but not in my size:

https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/valentino-garavani/dresses/mini-dresses/fluted-metallic-jacquard-mini-dress/1647597335081119

maybe too much arm

https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/isabel-marant/dresses/mini-dresses/belila-embellished-padded-cotton-mini-dress/1647597346449761

i’m (very) pale with mousy hair and golden-y blonde highlights. did try to find pics of me but unsurprisingly i have 100000 photos of my kids, 100000 photos of doorknobs my kids have taken and precisely 0 of me since i got the highlights

I’d suggest looking at Nadine Merabi for a party dress at that price point.

Also cleanse your social media of fashion influencers who aren’t your size / body shape or similar age and follow people who are - total game changer for fashion inspiration and finding what to wear!

“Jesschamilton” on instagram did a reel of NYE party dresses from this brand and they all looked stunning.. I wore one of the mini dresses for my own 40th!

Never Fully Dressed have gorgeous dresses and separates coords, lots with sleeves too https://www.neverfullydressed.com/collections/newness-2/?sort=new_in%7Edesc

I absolutely LOVE the Norma Kamali black tulle one - order it while it's still in your size!!! It's gorgeous, quirky enough to be different to the usual LBD yet classic enough to wear loads again.

I'm pale with strawberry blonde hair, & if I'm going all black, I make sure I wear loads of black mascara & a light smoky taupe eyeshadow - & a strong orange-red lipstick. Gold jewellery & it warms everything up so that I don't look washed out.

The Valentino one is lovely - but probably best it's not on your size as it's £500+ over your budget!! 😁

These?

Annoyingly they don't have the skirt on the website.

I love this dress, in all 3 colours.

www.homeofhai.com/product/elisabeth-dress-in-black

And this whole outfit

I'm the same size and height as you and got a silver little mistress dress with a front knot for my birthday. It's cheap and cheerful but very flattering

I'm following for ideas for my 40th in a few months!

Have you tried Club L London OP ? Someone recommended it to me i had always steered away from it as I thought it was too young for me but they have some very classy dresses for all ages and quite reasonable for all shapes sizes and whatever colour you are looking for, iv had a few dresses for therr and always been impressed with the quality. One is very similar to a Roland mouret one I already have and I saw yesterday they are doing a similar range to nadine merabi now. If money is no object look at nadine merabi also. I've had a couple of dresses for special occasions but I'm an 8 and have to size up in NM to a 10. CLUB l London is true to size hope this helps x

Thanks for all the pointers to nadine merabi - def think there’s some potentials there.

love this but not sure my sad empty purse boobs are up to the challenge:

https://www.nadinemerabi.com/products/sloane-black-dress

these two also lovely but i wish they were a few inches longer:

https://www.nadinemerabi.com/products/lana-monochrome-dress

and same for this

https://www.nadinemerabi.com/products/evie-silver-dress

going to checks out club l london…

**Millen

You may find something similar or. Copy of nadine merabi on club L London, also have a look on Karen Miller. Its not what it used to be of course since boo hoo took it over however if you go through the whole site I sometimes find a hidden gem and there is also continual discounts and sales going on xx

I had my 40th dress made bespoke but the company closed so I can't recommend them sadly.

I think some of suggestions so far have been a little mumsy (the brown one isn't celebratory to me despite the sequins).

My first thought was Rosa Bloom. Big impact sequins. Really special. I've wanted something from there for years but it's too expensive and I've not had a big enough event. This jumpsuit has wide legs so will be easier on the belly situation you mentioned, it's not got tiny straps so you can still wear a proper bra with it. Big main character energy. Very I'm-here-to-party coded:
ORPHEA - SEQUIN JUMPSUIT – Rosa Bloom

I should stop there as that's the obvious option for me and I don't know why you'd look elsewhere! haha.

Your budget also had me thinking of Karen Millen but honestly, not very inspired there.

You could hire something from Hurr or By Rotation - it's a great way to get something REALLY special at a price that won't break the bank and you don't feel bad about not wearing again. Orrrr go for a stunning statement trouser suit or co-ord.

Never Fully Dressed is my go to for occasion dresses:
Star Fawn Sophie Dress, Multi-wear Detachable Scarf - Never Fully Dressed

I really love this dress I found on ASOS (and was very surprised to see it's from New Look!) but I could never wear it with my boobs: New Look jacquard lace strappy midi dress in green | ASOS
This one's at the top of your budget, with some massive sequins. Would be a terrible neckline on me but a real show stopper:
ARRANGE disc sequin halter trapeze maxi dress in lilac | ASOS
How short would you go? This one's mini, a bit skimpy for me (although you can wear a bra with it) but you're tall so maybe it's a goer:
River Island sequin embellished mini dress in pink | ASOS

Other bigger budget brands I'd have a look at for a special occassion would be: Nobody's Child, Lavish Alice, Lace & Beads.

But the winner is obviously the Rosa Bloom jumpsuit.

This is the jumpsuit I'm banging on about: ORPHEA - SEQUIN JUMPSUIT – Rosa Bloom

(reposting as no link image appeared in my longer reply! the image below's a different colour from the one in the link)

I bought this for my 50th birthday
https://www.flannels.com/never-fully-dressed-womens-lyla-mini-dress-651281?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=22206814024&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&cq_con=&cq_med=pla&cq_pos=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22196645169&gclid=CjwKCAjwmdLSBhANEiwAkREMNx0MSv9jOLYTn6epy1PXKmynl-HleCJDcISx4TNLCbDZzxxwkRM9bBoC-GUQAvD_BwE#colcode=65128105
But ended up wearing this one
https://www.neverfullydressed.com/products/green-mini-dress-with-cream-lace?srsltid=AfmBOoqoA_kc308EHb7TGc79JLDZyJivpWGPORgpo17BJHQ5ezd7r6Pl
Gunna wear the first one for my London night out !! The sizing is pretty true to size so go with your normal size ! If I in between go for bigger size there isn't any stretch

I just wore the green one on Saturday the never fully dressed one for my 50th so many people complementary about this dress I never get compliments lol 😁!!!

Also I am size 10 / 12 and 5ft 7 the size 12 fits lovely in both dresses. X

I tried this for my 50th as I had loved it for ages, alas it didn't suit me as it bunched a bit around the middle but it is lovely. I ended up with this one. I'm about your height and size.

Sorry to be that person posting an over budget dress but my friend wore this recently to a wedding and looked out of this world.

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/gilda-floral-maxi-dress-000862900.html#pos=11

https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/saloni/dresses/midi-dresses/tabitha-crystal-embellished-metallic-velvet-midi-dress/46376663163015099

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/product/sir/clothing/midi-dresses/fresca-gathered-draped-silk-crepe-de-chine-maxi-dress/46376663162888706

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/product/self-portrait/clothing/midi-dresses/cutout-fil-coupe-midi-dress/46376663162915016