Where to find an affordable full-length evening dress for a military event

[EveningDressSuggestionsPlease]

I have just had an invite to a military 'do' at the start of November. I need to find an evening dress (has to meet mess dress standards so must be full length, must cover the shoulders, can't be hugely low cut/ high split). I'm 55 5'10 size 16 (thanks unshiftable menopause weight) hour glass/ big bust (so no high necks) and suit jewel colours.

I've found a few options on vinted but I would like to buy somewhere physical or online with easy returns so I can try a few options to see which looks/feels best. Budget is as low as possible (so I'm guessing I will end up on vinted after all) but is there anywhere I should look for a dress or jumpsuit that fits the brief and won't break the bank? My confidence is at a low so I want something that makes me feel a special as it will be a big night for DH and I'd like to look presentable.

That's a lovely dress and would really suit the type of occasion

I would say Needle and Thread are perfect occassion wear! There are loads on Vinted, and the actual company do a try before you buy service. Good luck.

If you like a dress that is too low but otherwise acceptable why not do what the Regency ladies did and "tuck a lace". In other words tack a complementary piece of fabric (lace, embroidery, etc) into the inside to cover the gap and your cleavage. Simples.

No judgement here, I’m also a terrible (now ex) wife 😂, who just happens to live near a base!

As I updated earlier it's a bit of a joke among a few of us after some top brasses Mrs banged on about awful wives who neglect their husbands and fail to uproot themselves their kids every 5 minutes are only to discover that we were a group of such terrible creatures. We even have a couple of terrible husbands in the group now.

Buy Dark Green Twist Front Long Sleeve Satin Maxi Dress from the Next UK online shop
Buy Navy Blue Floral Pleated Mesh V-Neck Occasion Maxi Dress from the Next UK online shop

I think that your best bet would be to go to Monsoon and try some styles on and measure the fit across the bust pit to pit on the ones you like. Then look on ebay and VInted to see if you can find something similar - there are a number of styles they bring out year after year in different prints etc. Before you buy ask the seller to confirm the pit to pit measurements. Advantage is that Monsoon dresses esp the silk ones sell on quite well at prom season. You can also buy a bolero to cover up shoulders if the dress you like is strappy.

Shein

Don't buy from Club London,it's nasty Chinese tat that you,can't send back.

Is it? I was pretty sure they sold it in Next???

Ah, sorry - I misread and thought you said 5'1".

Yes, sorry I misread that as 5'1".

I second TK Maxx. They get new deliveries every week. I’d also add Lavish Alice (the sale prices are not too bad) and Omnes.

Can you find bigger sizes of the previous dresses that you loved on vinted?

Not sure if this is too booby but it’s one I’ve worn to award dos and it’s stunning. Also easy to do returns.

https://onelink.shein.com/48/5z7aabjtxkro?shc=2_Rpk0Sq5maeT

It's mostly cheap synthetic fast fashion that's made in China, Bangladesh etc. Being stocked by Next isn't exactly a guarantee of quality or ethics.

https://www.apartstyle.com/post/is-club-l-london-fast-fashion

I reckon the blue dress from Shein is beautiful. I am pretty sure that on S&B someone ages ago reckoned that a lot of places do orders from China to stock shops with prom dresses etc. If you look at most clothes labels the labels will show it is made in China and so on. There was a message ages ago that read Where would you be going if you visited the place where your clothes label indicated. Most messages were saying the same few countries which amazed me.

I wanted to add a recommendation for Phase Eight - they have an evening wear line with so much choice and I (a short size 18 with big boobs) have had great success from there. Dresses probably cost £300 but if you wear it and resell in November you will hit the Christmas party market so will do well.

And do get your bra measured properly and a good pair of Spanx - makes all the difference for me!

I hope you have a wonderful evening and enjoy the celebration of your husband's achievements, and best of luck in your new life!

Go somewhere like Roman and try on to see how the sizing works for you, then buy that make off eBay or Vinted.

I am big of boob and tend to go for ‘sacks’ like this ;-) and then wear sparkly shoes and earrings. But I know this may be too plain for many. But I dislike much ‘occasionwear’ that’s out there.

https://www.cos.com/en-gb/women/womenswear/dresses/mididresses/product/cape-shoulder-midi-dress-plum-1309666001

This. My DH is military so we have formal events a few times a year and I will be damned if I’m paying out each time! I know what brand and size I like now so I just buy off Vinted, got my Battle of Britain outfit (dress, shoes and bag) for £20! I’ve never known shoulders to need to be covered, most of us wear strappy/strapless. A lot wear slitted dresses as well even though I know that’s against orders.

That’s lovely. It whispers where most occasion wear shouts.

This is gorgeous!

I have the red one in navy and wore it when I was a size 14/16 for a formal black tie do in a conservative setting and felt it was a good choice. It’s long I’m 5ft8 and it’s ankle length.
I also wear Hobbs, Monsoon, Phase 8 and use Vinted.

My eldest DS is ex military and his GF at the time never had her shoulders covered. I also
looked at his photos from when he commissioned and his brother’s girlfriend had a one shoulder dress and lots of the other women had strappy dresses. I know the official line is shoulders covered etc but I don’t think it is enforced much these days. I think as long as coverage is decent (ie cut outs at the midriff would be a no no), most things are ok