Christmas party dress recommendations

I am going to a dressy party tomorrow night and I’m wearing black satin jeans and a grey chiffon top trimmed with sequins. Silver bag and shoes. The whole outfit cost under £100. I hate spending money on clothes I won’t get a wear out of

Have a look at Brand Alley. They sell brands like Phase 8/and Hobbs, French Connection and designer stuff too, at reduced prices. I don’t think they’re current season, but if I can get a Phase 8 dress for £35-£45 I’m happy.

Several people have mentioned the difficulty of going to the loo in a jump suit. Surely some jumpsuits have a fastening underneath so that you don't have to take the whole thing off? Had a problems with my ski suit the only time I went skiing.
Who invents such fiendish suits?

Thank you petra 14.45 and janeainsworth 14.54 it rather lush isn't it? You are both quite right I should have a party. The dress is still a bit out of my price range on a cost per wear basis though. It's the kind of dress in which I would hope and expect to be noticed so I couldn't really wear it very often. A well cut pair of narrow black velvet trousers with a lovely top is probably much more practical. I may have a look at Brand Alley, thank you Parklife1 16.44.

hey juno, why wouldn't you want to be noticed.
If you can carry it off hon, why not? Be proud.

I would look a total twit in it though.
But then we all know on some level what suits us eh
all best
painting

I’m looking for a decent maternity party dress. I never get invites to Christmas parties and typically this year I have. I’ll be 20+ weeks by then so no longer able to hide under loose tops etc. All the maternity dresses I’ve seen look horrible or unflattering for my busty short stature.

I am fortunate that I can make my own “occasion “ outfits, I have made jumpsuits and find those with a side zip the easiest to negotiate for a party evening. I usually make a new outfit for NYEve when we have a local party but This year I’m wearing an outfit I made to wear to a evening wedding party- black lace over a navy underdress with rouleaux buttons all down the back.

Years ago I made a dress for Xmas parties made of red velvet.
Can't remember the pattern exactly, but it had a sweetheart neckline. Like this but long sleeves and just below knee length:
duckduckgo.com/?q=swwetheart+neckline&t=ffab&atb=v1-1&ia=images&iax=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fsep.yimg.com%2Fay%2Fyhst-11893124941750%2Fshort-sleeve-caprice-sweetheart-neckline-dress-12.png

I remember when I was in my 20's and jumpsuits (they were called catsuits back then) were fashionable I made myself one to wear to a posh evening do with the firm I worked for. It had a long zip right down the front and when I went to the loo the zip broke. Thankfully it was AFTER I'd spent a penny but I couldn't do it back up so had to wear my coat all night to preserve my modesty! Never again.

Hi paintingthetownred. I didn't mean I wouldn't want to be noticed, I quite like it especially if I have made a bit of an effort. I meant because of the style of the dress and the colour I would be noticed and that might mean that people would remember it if I wore it more than a couple of times. I think it would suit me but what looks great online modelled by a beautiful 20 something young woman might not have quite the same impact on an ok on a good day 60 something woman! I am quite a confident dresser though and generally know what suits me.

What on earth is a Christmas party dress? I don't think I've been to a Christmas party since I left school eleventy million years ago. I obviously lead a very sheltered life.

Merry weather. Have you checked out my seasalt party dress link? Non a maternity dress as such but they have all kind of different sizes.

Thought it might look super swish on a pregnant lady.

might be wrong but you could always send it back...

painting

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I have a pair of velvet narrow trousers and love them, don't care if they ever go out of fashion I will still wear them. I am going to make another to to with them and shall pop into John Lewis on Monday to look at patterns and material. Mind you so far I haven't a party to go to. But you never know.

Are you getting painting?

juno and petra appear to be two different posters.

Paintingthetownred
not being rude
I know exactly what your inferring so I suggest you get your facts straight.
For a start get the other posters name correct: it's JUNO.

I had a look at the Bombshell website and indeed many of the dresses are lovely and just the style I go for but rarely ever see. I couldn’t afford these prices though. I can’t understand why high street retailers don’t produce cheaper but similar looking dresses. I personally dislike Seasalt because I hate anything with gathering in the waist. Occasionally I buy a dress from Phase 8.

I can assure you painting that I am not masquerading as petra. I find it very odd that you should think I am.

Juno
So is she inferring that I'm you or your me.
Either way, I don't like it.

I've no idea petra, it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable to tell you the truth.

Juno
I doubt that this poster will believe what we say so I will ask HQ to inform her.

I've just worked out what it is, sorry.
If there is a very short post, i.e. a line - to me it actually looks as if someone is posting under someone else's heading. Must be the colours of the lines.
Sorry again, no cross intention. Just the way it appears on the screen.
painting

Thank you for explaining that painting, of course I understand now. I haven't been a member of GN very long but I have noticed that some posters (clearly not you) post things purely to provoke an argument which was why I felt uncomfortable.

Glammagran I agree Bombshell prices are on the high side but they do have excellent sales at least twice a year when the prices have at least 50% off, if not more. I also buy from Dolly & Dotty whose prices are right at the other end of the price spectrum, with full price cotton dresses at around £35 or a ridiculous £15- £20 when they have their sales!

Love the multi-coloured version of the velvet dress - looks more useful than a fussy party dress (for those of us who don't go to lots of parties!)