I love Look 2. So chic!

Look 3 is my second favorite (love the neckline and sleeve length), though I might get the hem shortened to the knee?

Look 1 is my least favorite - but I think it's really just the hemline. Shorten it, and it will also be perfect. It would also look great with a wide patent belt...

So maybe a couple of dollars for taking up the hems, and you are all set for cocktail hour?

So, how often do you go for cocktails? Is this a frequent occurance for your husbands work, or with friends? How often you go would certainly play a factor in whether or not to invest in a new dress. That said...

My initial reaction was that dress 1 seemed a bit dated. Perhaps Shiny's reccommendations would help, but even the sleeves seem uninspiring. I'd personally pass it on.

Dresses 2 and 3 look very nice on you, and I vote to keep. Dress 3 seems that it would be an especially versatile canvas for different flavors of accessories. (Shiny's right, that it wouldn't hurt to pull the hem up a couple of inches.)
I think you're set too- spend your $$ on accessories instead.

I love #2 it's definitely you, i think the others are missing something. Possibly need shortening, possible a bit dated? x

RJ, I thought wardrobe frustrations had driven you to drink. You would'nt be the first though :)

I like #2 and #3. #1 would be lovely for a tea-party.

I like #2 best!

Wooohooo, Julie! Nice to see cocktail wear on the forum! You’ve made me want to put on all my cocktail frocks too.

#2 is KILLER.

I’d shorten #3 and keep #1 for more avant-garde occasions. Try it with your new vintage looking belt.

They are all very pretty Julie. I really like the #1 and #2, and I think that the third one should be shortened a bit.

Thank you Ladies, you are fantastic.

Queenie, I used to have the occasion to wear this type of look on a fairly regular basis, but with the kids came take away and DVD night in it's place which I love just as much. I work in finance three days a week so I usually have a couple of invites at this time of year which require a step up from my smart casual clothes.

Shiny and Angie, I will try different belts on the first dress to see how they look. Angie you have such a memory for everyone's accessories, how do you do it? The bottom of the dress is elasticated so I may be able to play about with the length without alteration.

Outfit 2, was purchased for Las Vegas, I wore it at the roulette wheel and felt fab, I'm so happy this one is a keeper.

Outfit 3 is probably ten years old. I must have looked very mature wearing it at 22, I will take the dress to be hemmed.

I recommend doing this to anyone, it was a fun way to spend a Monday night.

Elpgal, I will be having a tea party in a couple of weeks!

I remember pictures, but have a bad memory for numbers. Julie, can I come to your tea party too? I LOVE tea parties! Was #2 bought on your honey moon? You look absolutely stunning in that frock :0)

I bought the dress for my honeymoon, we went to Vegas to live out the Rat Pack era fantasy, we had to ignore the people in gear and shorts at restaurants in the evenings but it all added to the fun.

I'm having the tea party for the kids, they will be eating fairy cakes, and cucumber sandwiches while sitting under a bubble machine with their friends. It's also an excuse to buy cream cakes for my (adult) friends. I will brew some Earl Grey in your honour Angie!

I agree with the gals.. nº 2 is fabulous! Nº3 is too long!

Now that Angie mentions it, Number 1 does have an avant-garde feel to it!

I might be completely off about this, but you might try taking it up a notch and playing it up ... i.e., push the bubble hem up - maybe even put a stiff slip underneath it (like a tutu?) - so it poofs out more dramatically? Playing up the skirt so it's more voluminous would balance out the top and create a dramatic, over-the-top hourglass effect with your tiny waist cinched in the middle. Can you picture this?

You have such great stature, you could totally pull something like that off (more drama, more runway effect)...

For number 3, I recently culled out a formal dress that had a similar length hemline... it was also about 10 years old. I think that was just the style back then!

What a great idea to go through your party dresses at this time of year. Why wait till the last minute to scramble for something to wear! You look amazing in all of these dresses.

Thanks for the suggestion Shiny, I will play around with the proportions a little to see how it works.

San, it was so much fun wearing party wear on a wet Monday evening in October. I recommend it to everyone.

I like no'1 & no'2 best, maybe the lenght of no'1 needs to be altered but I like the overall style. I am thinking what I would have in this catergory and I am pretty sure the answer is nothing at all! I will have a look and see when I get over the work wear dilema!