Help! What flattering outfit ideas work for a casual work Christmas do with my shape?

[CheetahsAreGreatMums]

I started a new job recently and have signed up for the Christmas lunch/evening entertainment.

I am hoping to have lost some weight by then, but I've been saying I will for the past 2 years so I'm not confident that'll happen.

I.m in my 40s, size 14 and top heavy with quite slim legs and zero bum. Biggest issue is my stomach and I would like to hide it as much as possible.

My chest is on the bigger side (38E) but my stomach is pretty much as far out as my chest, and I'd like something that could potentially give me a shape so I don't look like one big blob with stick legs!

It's more of a casual dress code so no sparkly dresses etc. Some people will wear Christmas jumpers, but I'd like to wear something slightly more dressy than that, but not be too over dressed - and distract from my stomach.

I know it's a while yet but It'll be the first time I'll meet people from different departments and I'd really like to make an effort.

I'm terrible with fashion so any help would be gratefully received!

One obvious suggestion is a skater / fit & flare style dress. You might need to try a few on to identify the ones that skim in the right places.

The main thing is to avoid anything tight!

I'm currently wearing long, swishy skirts with deep. fitted waistbands. These are listed as, variously, ruched waist, yoked, drop waist or pleated - you need pleats to be stitched down to about pelvis level. I pair them with long tops that more or less cover the waistband, aiming for a columnar effect. Drapey viscose tops generally work well, but could be anything as long as it's a suitable length and works out the same width as the skirt at the dropped waist.

Theoretically, dropped-waist skirts should also work for us with shorter and wider tops, but I've not found one yet that doesn't make me even more block-like in the middle.

I do wear wide-leg trousers with shorter tops that come just below waist level. Obvs you can wear them with longer tops, as well.

Or, if you want to flash your legs and still take advantage of the dropped waist trend, how about a ready-made solution like this?

https://www.next.co.uk/style/sv030984/g29809

Thanks so much