What Do I Wear To This Event?

[randomkid]

We are so excited, but I'm also quite nervous! We knew we might be invited to this, but weren't sure. We received the invite today and I have no idea what to wear. If you know Marc McEwen, you may know he had a stroke and has written a book. Here is his website: http://www.markmcewen.com/

DH was one of his physical therapists and they developed a friendship. Marc has invited us as well as all the therapists who were involved in his recovery. The dress is casual elegance. If this were just a work party, I'd know what to wear. However, it is likely that there will be celebrities at this reception, which is cocktails and desserts - 8pm til midnight. He is friends with Garth Brooks and Bill Cosby wrote the forward to his book. I'll admit I'm a little freaked out that people like that could be there. It's May 31 and this is Florida, so it'll be quite warm by then.

How about a cute black dress?

http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/Products.aspx?GrpTyp=SIZ&ItemID=13848b5&RefPage=Products&StoreRegNo=&catalog_base=&firstpage=&CmCatId=EOB&cmOrigID=MF215-4083D&cmPosID=3

http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/Products.aspx?ItemID=13848bd&ItemTyp=G&GrpTyp=SIZ&ShowMenu=T&ShopBy=0&SearchString=jones+wear&RefPage=SearchDepartment.aspx&CmCatId=SearchResults&Search1Prod=True

I know these are from JCPenney, but I saw these and thought something like this might work. I'm very hard to fit as I am thin and tall, so I can't wear petites. I have small breasts, so it's hard to find stuff that fits well. Therefore, I have never enjoyed shopping and my experience in putting together outfits is not good.

Please...HELP ME!!

[MamaMolly]

I love, love, love the first dress, the sleeveless one. I think it is classic and elegant, and easily dressed up with some swanky jewelry. And I also love that it is from Penneys! When you can look hot and save a buck it is a win-win.

I'd wear screaming hot high heels and a really pretty bracelet and earrings. Add a clutch that holds lipstick and your cell...I'd go with something that compliments your shoes.

Have fun! Good things happen to good folks!

[SnuggleBuggles]

I don't know, I think that the 1st dress looks a bit too casual for some reason. The 2nd just doesn't have enough pizazz for the occasion. But, they are both really cute dresses that with the right accessories could totally work.

Here are some cool dresses from Blue Fly (I searched "dresses, evening, short" so you could change it to long if you prefer, showing 72/ page). Designer dresses often work well for tall, skinny women with smaller busts, right :):
http://bluefly.com/pages/browse/list.jsp?numPerPage=72&Nu=Product+ID&Ns=Popularity%7C0%7C%7CProduct+Code%7C1&N=1215&Ne=500000&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1215

I really like the 1st Tadashi in black and the Tadashi in saphirre on the 1st page of results. 2nd page, steel BCBGMaxAzria $199 is pretty. Page 3 "chocolate" Nicole Miller for $165. Page 4 Karanina, black, $149.99. Page 5 Kay Unger, cranberry, $159.99.

I seem to like all of the Tadashi ones. :)

Nordstrom cocktail dresses- the ones that jump out at me:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2989023/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=1
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2987394/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=2
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2970153/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=2
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2983925/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=3
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2971454/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=3
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2981399/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=3
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2962729/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=5
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2948037/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=5
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2932805/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=6
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2901141/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=6

I know that is a lot of Nordstrom choices but I really whittled it down from the 700 results. :)

HTH,
Beth

[Wife_and_mommy]

I really like the second one and think with the right accessories/shoes it'd be dressy enough.

Have fun!

[tylersmama]

Ooh, I really like the Tadashi dresses, too. And I love the second and fourth nordstrom dresses!

Another good place to look sometimes is JCrew, although I didn't see anything that really caught my eye today.
Here's a cute one I found at Ann Taylor...little black dress-ish, but a little different: http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=4094&Ne=19&pCategoryId=101&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_180&N=1200003+4294967253&Nty=1&categoryId=180&defaultColorNameFromCategory=Iridescent%20Espresso&defaultSizeTypeFromCategory=Misses#ATLtop

[gatorsmom]

0ooh, I love shopping for other people. fun fun. I think all these dresses would be good options. Of the Jcpenney's dresses I really like the second one better. I think it looks a little more sophisticated and serious. With some bold accessories, it would be perfect.

And of the Nordstrom's dresses, I don't know why but I really love the first one. I love the satin wrap around the waist and the off the shoulder thing.

Have fun!

[bubbaray]

Of the JCP dresses, I like the 1st one better -- the 2nd one seesm too daytime to me.

I would go black dress with either gold accessories or turquoise accessories. I heard that gold is the new metal to wear. I could be wrong, though.

Have a GREAT time. I loved Mark when he was on CBS in the morning.

[randomkid]

Thank you all for your help. Beth, thanks for taking so much time to pick out those dresses for me. You want to come with me when I go shopping? We do have two local malls that have stores like Nordstrom, so I guess I'll start shopping soon. You all have given me a better idea of what to look for.

Of course, FIL is coming Monday for 2 weeks and my parents leave town for over a month the same day he gets here. Working in shopping without taking DD is going to be a bit of a challenge, but will have to make it work somehow.

BTW, I hadn't looked at the website much before I posted. DH is in the book! We knew Marc was going to write about him, but his pic is in there, too. When you go to the website, there is a tab at the top that says "photos". There is a pic of Marc in therapy standing at a set of stairs. That's DH with him - pretty cool, huh?

[BeachBum]

I just wanted to encourage you to use the "personal shopper" free service at Nordies. Even if you don't set up a personal shopper appointment, do utilize the sales people. I like to scope out young, cute girls--especially in departments like BCBG they really can help you put together a look. :)
Don't be so down about your body! Tall and slim is how most of us want to look. Larger boobs aren't all they are cracked up to be...especially at this age. All the dresses are made for 20 yr old boobs not mine!
This is a really exciting event. You deserve to look fabulous and feel great!

[erosenst]

One other suggestion - Nordstrom's usually has free delivery, and provides a shipping label where you can return for $5. Have a couple sent to your house and you can shop from there!

Emily

[clc053103]

I think it's really special that you and DH got invited- DH made quite a difference in his recovery I'll bet!

I love the idea of a simple and elegant black dress with some fun shoes- like Gold- or even red! Very in right now!!

Have a great time and post a pic please!

[randomkid]

Been shopping online - what do you think of these?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2942268/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014177?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014177&P=1
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2954560/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014177?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014177&P=1
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2925913/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014177?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014177&P=1
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2968353/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014177?mediumthumbnail= Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014177&P=1

I think the first one would look best on me, but not sure if it's too casual looking. Opinions, please.

[psophia17]

I really like #1! #3 is good, too. The other two aren't my faves...

[mamica]

I haven't looked at the Nordstrom links from the other replies, but regarding the 2 JCP dresses in the op, I think you could pull off either one with the right accessories. If you are smaller-busted, though, I would caution against the halter dress (1st one)...could be tough to fill it out, unless you could use a wonderbra/padded bra.

[SnuggleBuggles]

I like yje Suzi Chin and Ann Klein of the ones you posted. They look right for the occasion. :)

Beth

[August Mom]

I like #1 and #4 of the Nordies links you posted, but not sure the halter will work in the chest.

FWIW, I know someone who owns the 2nd Nordies dress you linked (with the tiers of fabric) and she is short and large chested, so I'm not sure that style will work for you too.

ETA: Thin, small-chested women that I know seem to like to shop at J. Crew for occasions like this. I'm not sure if there's anything appropriate there at the moment, though.

[kijip]

How about this one:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2943290?refsid=216840&refcat=0%7e2376776%7e2374325%7e6003393%7e6003394&SourceID=&SlotID=2&origin=related

I also really liked the 1 shouldered one from the first response here.

[writermama]

No specifics on your dress, but as someone else who hates to shop and can never seem to find clothes that fit right (average height, broad shoulders, large chest), I've found some books that helped me with my shopping phobia. By showing what shapes work with different body types, they save me a lot of time trying things that won't work for me. My library had most of them but ymmv.

The Pocket Stylist
http://tinyurl.com/5qnqgg

What Not to Wear
http://tinyurl.com/5c3eth

What Not To Wear for Every Occasion
http://tinyurl.com/63l4qk

[mommyoftwo]

I haven't had a chance to look at the links but as someone who has the opposite problem (extremely large breasts but not a huge body) let me just say, alterations, alterations, alterations. They really aren't that expensive and if you really want to have a dress fit well, that's the way to go. Sometimes, you'll get lucky and find something that fits right off the rack but often it's best to just get a dress altered. So I would suggest go to Nordstroms and use one of their personal shoppers. Then if you find a dress that you really love but doesn't fit quite right, buy it and get it altered. And this is coming from someone who has no money to spend on clothes. Believe me, it's worth it.