Help again - party dress

[niccig]

You're all giving such great advice for my birthday money. I want to get a dress I can wear to fancy restaurant or a Christmas party. I don't own a LBD or anything I could be all fancy in. It doesn't have to be black.

My problem is that I'm pear-shaped with nearly a size difference (depending on style, I can wear a 6 or an 8), and many things I like won't work on me eg. sheath dress (though I have lost weight, so maybe with spanx, the right sheath could work?) or short dress as I don't have good legs. Then I find something I think is pretty and read the comments to find someone in their 60's is wearing it to their child's wedding as mother of the bride. I'm 40, I don't want to look too old, nor do I want too look young. I don't mind some skin showing for some sexiness (do want to feel good in it), but I'm not comfortable with va va voom everyone look at me either. I'd say my best attribute are shoulders and boobs, and need to hide the legs.

Sigh, maybe I'm asking for 2 much in 1 dress (kind of look my boot saga...).

Budget up to $200.


This caught my eye as I like lace and the style generally works well on me as I can fit it for smaller top half - and it's on sale... http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/isaac-mizrahi-new-york-surplice-fit-flare-dress/3518283?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=966&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-6_5_B


This is nice too but is the bow too young for me... http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/alex-evenings-lace-fit-flare-dress-regular-petite/3552590?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=980&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_3_B

This style typically works well on me, but is chiffon too bridesmaidy? http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/donna-morgan-jessie-twist-silk-chiffon-dress/3481393?origin=related-3481393-0-1-2-2-RR&PageCategoryId=PP
Thanks.

[athompson]

This one is lovely:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/tadashi-shoji-lace-inset-jersey-fit-flare-dress/3472035?origin=related-3472035-0-3-1-4-RR&PageCategoryId=PP

[barkley1]

I love the first one you linked; love the second one, too and I bet you could replace the bow with a satin belt instead.

I think a one-shoulder dress would show off your best features. I'm not sure if this is a sheath or not, but I personally would like the rouching bc it would accentuate my waist and hide my pooch :)

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/eliza-j-beaded-one-shoulder-satin-dress/3349397?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=854&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_1_D

[niccig]

I never thought of a one shoulder dress. I do like that one and the rouching would help with my problem areas. I've always like this one too, but don't know if I could pull it off and not sure of the color to get. Maybe I should try it and just see http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ivy-blu-ruched-stretch-satin-sheath-dress/3096694?origin=related-3096694-0-3-1-4-RR&PageCategoryId=PP

I think I'm doing the same thing again, wanting one dress to fill all my needs. But sometimes I do want a bit more va va voom for just DH and me and other times I do want something not so va va voom like the tadashi dress athompson posted - the fit and flare dresses work well for me.

ETA. I saw this, it would work as empire line and that suits me, it's lace that I like, but it's strapless and I refuse to wear a strapless bra. http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/bcbgmaxazria-lace-dress-strapless?ID=916459&CategoryID=21683&LinkType=#fn=DRESS_OCCASION%3DParty%26spp%3D59%26p pp%3D96%26sp%3D1%26rid%3D61%26spc%3D960

Why can't there be a cocktail dress that isn't either super short or a sheath or make me feel too old or too young!

[niccig]

I just saw this one
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/maggy-london-surplice-dress/3616401?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=1182&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_3_A

reminds me of the Lane Bryant lace dress in the other thread. It could be for times want pretty dress but not too sexy.

[SnuggleBuggles]

That last one is really pretty.

Don't be afraid to try on a sheath, especially if it has some waist definition. I'm also a 6 or 8 in dresses and find they are very flattering. I have a Tahari from TJ Maxx that looks great.

My only qualm with lace is my fear of it snagging on something. I love the look but I almost ruined a top just trying it on!

[pastrygirl]

I love that last one, too.

It's a sheath… but I'm smaller on top than bottom and just tried this one on and it was gorgeous: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/donna-morgan-print-scuba-knit-sheath-dress/3620264?origin=wishlist

I didn't buy it because I have nothing to wear it to. It's too sexy for church and I don't have any events coming up in the foreseeable future.

[barkley1]

I love that last one, too.

It's a sheath… but I'm smaller on top than bottom and just tried this one on and it was gorgeous: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/donna-morgan-print-scuba-knit-sheath-dress/3620264?origin=wishlist

I didn't buy it because I have nothing to wear it to. It's too sexy for church and I don't have any events coming up in the foreseeable future.

Oh wow, that is gorgeous! I would totally wear it to church....it's not short or revealing, so ok by my church's norm. All are different, though. Classic, too....you could wear it for years!

[barkley1]

I love that last one, too.

It's a sheath… but I'm smaller on top than bottom and just tried this one on and it was gorgeous: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/donna-morgan-print-scuba-knit-sheath-dress/3620264?origin=wishlist

I didn't buy it because I have nothing to wear it to. It's too sexy for church and I don't have any events coming up in the foreseeable future.

Oh wow, that is gorgeous! I would totally wear it to church....it's not short or revealing, so ok by my church's norm. All are different, though. Classic, too....you could wear it for years!

[crl]

I like the last one in the original post. It is pretty and simple enough to work for a wide variety of events. It seems classic to me so I think it will not look dated in a couple of years.

Catherine

[niccig]

Update. So I haven't pulled the trigger on any party dresses yet. I looked at rent the dress and this is just gorgeous, and I'll never ever be able to buy something like this. So, if DH's christmas party is dressy, I'm getting this for the night.

http://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/badgleymischka_dresses/fifthavenueshowstopperdress

[SnuggleBuggles]

Update. So I haven't pulled the trigger on any party dresses yet. I looked at rent the dress and this is just gorgeous, and I'll never ever be able to buy something like this. So, if DH's christmas party is dressy, I'm getting this for the night.

http://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/badgleymischka_dresses/fifthavenueshowstopperdress

That's so pretty and fun!

[niccig]

That's so pretty and fun!

That's what I thought. I would never ever buy something like this as I wouldn't wear it enough. But for one night, I want to be super glamorous without spending $495!!! It also comes in black and navy.

I'll still think about some of the other more simpler dresses for other less formal occasions. But the Gemma wrap dress should work for some of those too. I'm just not out at super fancy events enough.