Help - what the hell is 'evening dress' exactly?

[Substandard]

Hope you sophisticated ladies can help me. Have been invited to a 'Mayor's reception' because of dp's job. Dress code is evening dress.

Please stop me making an arse of myself and tell me what sort of things are appropriate to wear.

Am about 5'8", enormous boobs, have failed spectacularly to lose any baby weight (baby now two so that excuse wearing very thin) so am a 16 threatening to go up a size. Very lumpy with huge rolls around my stomach area.

Totally lost my confidence and really don't know to dress the new me, plus there isn't often a dress code for playing monsters in the garden.

Would love to wow dp if at all poss, so HELP!!!! (please)

QA that's a nice dress but I wouldn't buy it (I am 32Gbtw) as I couldn't wear a bra.

This is (sadly) a major issue in evening wear - so much is strapless or string straps, such lovely clothes I can't wear and I am thinking the OP ditto.

Ah substandard just seen yr post.

Evening dress for a man is bizarre - dothey mean black tie or not? If they do, why not say black tie? If not then he will look daft in a DJ if everyone else is in a suit

Well it should say lounge suit or black tie, but as it has not said either, DH said he would go for a smart suit.

I know what you mean Clary, I always wear some sort of shrug/cardigan type top so it is not something I think about much tbh.

Loved that Coast dress you linked to btw.

Yes I am loving the Coast dress too.

Over budget tho OP, sorry!

This is fatal btw, I have a ball in May and must wear the frock I already have!

I agree with QA's DH, if it doesn't actually say black tie then I would say wear a very sharp lounge suit.

I'm with you Clary - no bra possibility means I am unlikely to try it. T

he weird thing is thinner straps seem to make me look not as big up top but obv causes difficulties on the support front.

Thick straps that go into a V neck often make me look huge because there seems to be an unfeasible amount of material to cover my modesty. FOr that reason ruffles etc make me nervous too - so much material, will I look even bigger?

What about covering my lumps and bumps - will this underwear perform magic? QA - those Gok pants look fierce (not in a Tyra way). I like them!

Will something less drapey and more structured, dress-wise, prevent guests from noticing the spare tyres?

Don't want much, do I!

Thanks for the man info - will inform him the DJ can go back in the wardrobe.

I think the underwear is good because although it doesn't make you look smaller, it does remove the lumps and bumps which imo, is less attractive iyswim. A size 16 in a dress that is well fitted and with a smooth silhouette, is much better than a 12 with bumps everywhere, especially with a dress.

It also means you can sit down in a dress a
and still look good

Another Simply be one that is a bit plain, but with the right underwear and some decent jewelery could fit the bill?

here

To the last 4 cocktails I have worn

A maxi dress - dress down the length with flat shoes and 1 statement piece of jewellery
A chiffon knee length spaghetti strap dress
A fitted knee length navy with large white polka dots shift with interesting fabric fold over the stomach
A square necked tea-length, full skirts printed dress with a sash (that was slightly garden-partyish)

You can get away with almost anything at these things.

Evening dress for your DH is black suit, white dress shirt with cufflinks and traditionally a bow tie, cummerbund also traditional.

Am off to play netball - a feeble attempt to fight the flab. Thank you , thank you, thank you. Will look back in tomorrow. Who am I kidding? Will prob take a peek when I get back tonight.

This is my failsafe dress code website.