Posh party outfit - where to look apart from Monsoon, Debenhams, Coast, Hobbs, Next, Principles, Phase 8 etc etc

[KristinaM]

Title says it all really..........I don't dress up much but now have an invitation to a posh party at Christmas. Have been browsing all the usual sites tonight and find them pretty similar

Is there nothing different out there? Its all black prom dresses! I guess I mean in a boho type way, rather than ASOS cutting edge fashion way. Not that i dont like it - I'm just too old and fat to wear it

I don't want to look middle aged ( even though I am ). All the women will be 50 and wearing black dresses with black or silver evening sandles and thin black or nude tights and diamonte or diamond jewellery AND I DON'T WANT TO LOOK LIKE THAT

[Kristina throws herself on the floor sobbing]

how much is your budget?

All Saints? link this with funky shoe boots

Karen Millen? link I love this for xmas but can't really justify it, buy it on my behalf!

French connection? link link

oh im loving the fc dresses!
you could also try cruise or matches depending on budget of course

oh you are right , these ARE different

love the Fc bex dress but too high in the neck for my large norks

barbie - budget is high street rather than designer. prob under 200 as i won't wear it again very often

Have you had a look at the Monsoon Fusion range?

I saw this one in store today and it's ever so pretty though maybe not posh enough for a really posh do.

This one is lovely too and you could wear a short cardigan with it if you're self concious about your arms (I know I am!).

If you really do feel too "fat" to wear the current trends then what about a black wrap dress and some bold jewellery and a gorgeous pair of heels?

Although this one isn't actually a wrap dress it has the same tummy skimming benefits but goes in under the boobs which is most peoples slimmest part.

This one is great and so is this. You'd get so much wear out of them and the blue colour is gorgeous.

I saw these in New Look today (Size 5 all gone or I'd have bought a pair). They would certainly brighten up a black outfit and at only £20.00 it doesn't matter if you only get a couple of wears out of them. The purple is really gorgeous too. It's a shame they don't come in a jewel green though.

try twentyeighttwelve or graham and spencer...both have nice ones for less than 2oo xxx

Oops, just seen your "don't want to wear black" post. The Bravissimo dresses come in more colours than black though

also try velvet
twenty8twelve

Oh my God!

I LOVE the French Connection Bex dress LaDiDaDi. I think that's going to be my Christmas Day dress .

I'm not totally against black, if i coudl wear it in a less boring predictable way. maybe the solution is to wear a back dress but with soem funky accessories, like bright opaque tights and great shoes?????

I have good legs so can show them off as long as norks are covered

nice colour

bold print

this would look lovely dressed up with chunky silver accessories and shoes

I want this

link

link

LO at teh " ideal girl" at graham and spencer - its under "philosophy"

tee hee

I'm not iconoclastic, does that mean I cn't buy their clothes?

barbie - when i google " velvet" i get lesbian dating??????

ladida - i woudl never normally look at net a porter as i thought it was all mega £££££££. you have opened my eyes

ha ha you can find the collection at matches

Thanks KM; the only thing is that the sizing can be a bit random, flitting between US, UK, Europe etc and then in sale section sometimes only 1 size is left.

Ah ha. I didn't realise graham and spencer were behind velvet. Interesting.

www.mywardrobe.com or .uk not sure.
Dianne Von Furstenberg (or however you spell it) www.dvf.co.uk I think?

thanks all, i am googling away madly

dh watching old james bond film

how sad we are...........pre kids we would have been out (or staying in ) having fun

Thanks for all these suggestions. i have reluctantly concluded that i will need to step away from the PC and venture into a RL shop. I HATE shopping. But cant really go to posh party in jeans and t shirt

Will you let us know what you buy KristinaM?

I'm Christmas party dress shopping vicariously through you as I haven't got a party to go to.