I'm back! Dinner in a private club, week before Xmas ...

[NotQuiteCockney]

Private dinner club, with DH's boss and his wife.

I'm pretty butch, pear-shaped, size 12/14. What sort of thing am I looking for? Hoping to just raid the closet for an outfit ...

NQC - I'm sooo over dresses and skirts and other impractical things, so I'd wear black or grey trousers and a colourful or (discreetly) sparkly long-sleeved top. Heels.
Lots of make-up
and def.not an alcohol-nose.

What have you got already that you think would be good? What do you mean by butch, broad shoulders? If so then wide strapped top or halter neck , a A line skirt that skims over the hips could be flattering. I think that trousers and sparkly top would look good too, as you'll be sitting down to drinks food etc I think a really good top half and shoes.

Things I have that fit that might work:

• long satiny black skirt
• weird black next top with cutouts
• clingy red and black and white top
• cowl neck tops (black, dark turquoise, brown)
• halter neck dress (knee-length cotton, with embroidery)
• halter neck dress (knee-length satin, with gems)
• black flarey trousers
• sequinned vest top type thing
• green chinesey sort of jacket
• silk dress with lovely flarey skirt with stars on it (ok, I lie, this is too big, must get it fixed ...)

By butch, I mean, I don't really wear makeup, I don't really 'do' my hair (although this year, at least I have some). Also wide shoulders, not that much norkage, big hips and butt, decent legs.

Oh, and yes, I realise it will be a situation in which it is easy to drink too much and make an ass of myself. Will be careful.

You've great stuff in your wardrobe and you're a natural beauty, if you don't bother with make up, you fit that category for me. Your halterneck dresses sound like they might be nice as they have a bit of embellishment on them. The satiny black skirt would work with the next top or the cowl neck tops if they are made of a fabric that sits well the satin, ie not too heavy. Sequinned top and flarey trousers, sounds great too. The Jacket could look great with the trousers and a strappy top? You've got a whole shop to choose from!

Yeah, I should be ok, shouldn't I. Ha, I needed to look businessy yesterday, and really had to scrummage to find something, but this should be ok.

I'll get more details from DH about his boss, age, how conservative, yadda yadda.

lol @ not much norkage - great expression!