Arghhh please help me with 'posh' clothes advice!

[janeite]

Can't say too much without outing myself but dd1 (14) and I are going to an 'event' soon which will require Dressing Up. Think cocktail dresses or modern prom-style, rather than ball gowns I think. The clothes also have to survive a train journey.

I have a black satin-ish skirt and a corset-type (but pretty and flattering, not tarty) that I think will do, although I could do with a top of some sort to go over it.

What on earth can dd wear though? She is tall - 5'7-8 and very, very slim but with quite broad shoulders. Light brown hair and green eyes. She would look great in a bin bag I imagine - which is about the budget we have!

Shops she buys things from: Gap, H and M, Topshop, Oasis, Warehouse. Shops she aspires to - Chloe, Westwood, Ted Baker, Coast.

Any ideas - as cheap as poss please!

Yes - we do. Anything you'd particularly rec? Especially in the sale!

I love this but does depend on skin tone which I can't quite tell from the pic and is a bit over budget.

This one is really pretty too. I am totally just lusting after dresses I could never wear because of my large norks!

Both shapes would be v good on her thanks. First one way too expensive though and the colour is wrong! She probably needs green, dark blue or black and white; possibly purple or bronze. Some lovely dresses though and it's not a shop I would have thought of, so we'll deffo have a look on Saturday.

Bedtime now! Thanks again for your help.

Message withdrawn

Zara usually has plenty of party dresses at low prices.

Thanks. Can't afford Phase 8 for a 14 year old and I don't think she'd be impressed tbh.

Will look in Zara.

Have just received the tickets and they say 'smart casual' which has scuppered things a bit. I think we will probably go for a more simple dress for dd and a new top for me instead.

This is lovely, but still a wee bit over the £50 budget. I am imagining a simple but sparkly-ish dress like that over footless tights with flat glads/other trendy sandal types for a 14 year old smart.casual.

Here is another similar dress, Warehouse £45.

Thank you. I like your thinking! We ended up with a sort of Grecian style grey silk dress from Oasis for a bargainous 15 squid. She's wearing it with black footless tights and silver gladiator sandals.

I bought a pencil skirt from French Connection and a silk blouse from Warehouse.

Thanks for all the help everybody.

what about boohoo.com?