Help me with Smart Casual for a prize-giving thing...

[BessieBoots]

I have no style. No direction, clothes-wise. I adore jeans, and they are the best thing for my shape, therfore I wear them all the time- occasionally maxi skirts. Am a bit of a hippy.

Next week, I have to go to a prize-giving ceremony (work thing), and I'll be in front of lots of people, possibly photos being taken etc. I don't want to dress up too much (it's not expected), but don't want to be in jeans. I'm going shopping tomorrow, but really want to know the kind of thing I should be looking for- I'm stumped on this one.

I'm 5"11, size 14-16, pretty much in proportion except for my big wobbly belly. Please help, oh stylish ones!

Desperate bump!

Pleeeease....

Right then, I'm wearing a shellsuit because you lot won't help me...

may be it's too late but how about smth like this www.hobbs.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1015&pageNumber=2 or www.hobbs.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1128&pageNumber=2

Right, put that polyester Nike ensemble away. I'll help you if you haven't already left for the shops.

Dorothy Perkins produce a tall range so I had a look and there's this dress. I thought the tiered skirt was a small nod to your hippy tendensies and the loose fit hides tummy wobbles. If you don't like your arms on show then you could add a little shrug or cropped cardi.

If you're usually in jeans then you might be more comfortable in trousers. DP has these. Personally I really like the linen trousers and would probably wear something like this loose long top with them to cover the tum. However, linen creases very quickly so if you're going to be sitting down lots before the ceremony and photos then linen probably isn't a good idea. Have a look at the trousers though and maybe choose a pair in the same cut as your favourite jeans then you can wear the tops you already have with them.

If there's nothing there you like then is there a colour you particularly like, what's the budget and which shops are you likely to be going to?

Paribus Those are fab but a bit too posh for the occasion.

Amandoh That DP Maxi is lovely! I'm going shopping tomorrow instead, so I'll have a look for it. D'you think Icould get away with a maxi dress, being size 16?

Colours- I like greens, oranges, anything autumnal, but anything really except pink really.

Budget- As little as poss.

Glad you liked the dress! Is your DP quite a large branch? It's just that my local one is quite small and doesn't stock the tall range so you may have to find a large branch if you want to try that one on.

I wouldn't write off a whole style of dress (maxi) due to clothes size. What suits one person may not suit another irrespective of size so try it on and see what you think.

If you want to do down the top and trousers route then these Next tops (camis) come in green and orange and dip at the front which is great for disguising a tummy and could be worn with these loose trousers which are a denim colour.

Oh no, it isn't a big branch at all! No way will it stock tall. Still, I might go a bit further just to get it... So thanks Amandoh

As for the camis from Next... Well. They are lovely! Do you do this professionally?

I have 2 maxi dresses but I think their cut makes me look as if I'm covering a pregnancy bump iykwim. Which I am, only that pregnancy was eight months ago now...