"Party" dress recommendations

I am thinking I'd like to boost my dress wardrobe by adding one or more "party"/going out dresses. I don't go out that often and get all dressed up, but when I do I always feel like I have nothing to wear as most of my dresses fall into the casual camp.

I have one fallback LBD that I wore to the races recently and love. I'd like to get one or 2 more "dressy" dresses in colours perhaps - purple or blue or green or red. I'd prefer sleevess dresses, just above the knee, that aren't too "flowy" or girly. It would have to work for my apple shape as well i.e. no trying to show-off a non-existant waist!

I have been looking at this dress on nordstrom for a while. Has anyone ever seen/tried it on/can comment about the fabric?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3029876

It's pretty similar to my black dress (minus the pockets, boo!).....perhaps too similar??

Other dresses I've seen on nordstrom that I like but don't really love everything about are:

- http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3122669 - like the colours & pattern, don't really like the beadwork though
- http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3128355 - like the colour &n shape, material seems a bit too "flowy"/grecian though for my taste

Otherwise do you have any other frock suggestions? I have looked in-stores here in Australia, and not really seen anything there that caught my eye either.

xx tam

15 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

The purple dress is beautiful but really similar to your current LBD. Between the other two, I really like the brocade dress.

mamaKate

Another vote for the brocade dress! Though I admit that in my own closet, I have many dresses all with very similar styles - when I find something that works for me, I stick with it!

Sorry that I have not tried on any of these, but I do a lot of shopping at Nordstrom and I find the Maggy London dresses to fit well. I usually wear an 8, sometimes a 10 for "fancy" designers, and in the Maggy London brand the 8 is right.

Cheers, enjoy!!!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

You don't strike me as a Grecian gal so I'm also going with brocade. But the first purple frock with the pockets gets a big thumbs up too.

MsMary

I love the first purple one. I don't think the similar style to the LBD is a problem because, well, an LBD is an LBD and a lovely purple dress is something else entirely!

Kyle

Tam, I think any of these styles would be stunning on you, and agree that the flowy option seems less "you." I tend to like the strapless brocade, but, again, think you would look amazing in either of the first two. Gorgeous colors and styles.

Katiepea

I'm voting for either of the first two! I've just gone and had an online search in Aus and I can certainly see what you mean about a lack of variety out there! Another site you may like to look at is the ASOS site (UK, but shipping from 5pound) There are a huge amount of dresses on there - some are a little risque (eeek - that is putting it quite politely(!)), but there seem to be some which are really quite nice and different "unushool" even. Here you go:

http://www.asos.com/Women/Dres.....38;sort=-1

Good luck and let us know what you decide!

yublocka

Thanks for the input everyone!

Bella I am also worried it might be too similar. Or that its different enough that is doesn't quite work. I guess there is only one way to find out.

Kate I know what you mean about similar styles working. Thanks for the sizing tips too!!

Thanks for confirming my anti-grecianness Angie! I don't think I'm a shiny, beaded gal either though.

MaryK I hear you. I am getting tempted just to give this dress a go just to see if its an option. Of course now that I've said that it'll probably sell out in my size

Kyle thanks for the advice. As one of the more "dressy" gals here the advice from you is very helpful!!

KP yes there just isn't much out there at the moment that grabs me. I did make a point of checking boxing day sales and just didn't see anything!! That ASOS site looks interesting - thanks for posting the link! I'll have to check out their return policy for international orders. They sure have lots of dresses - I'll look in more detail tomorrow!

Laura

Tam, good luck - it seems like you have some great ideas already. Let us know if you find anything interesting on ASOS.

Maya

I love the bubble dress. I'm hesitant to say either of the strapless options are a good idea, because I feel strapless garments are best tried on in person. They require a very precise fit. But as I said--I do love that bubble dress!

medusa

I'm also a big fan of the bubble dress. Personally it seems the most "Tam" to me of the 3 you posted.

chewyspaghetti

I love that purple dress for you.

Jonesy

Ditto on the purple bubble dress, but I'm not a big fan of strapless in general, so I'm biased :).

More bubble votes. Well it's sitting in my nordstrom shopping cart. I am just *praying* for the Karen Kane dress to come back in stock then I wouldn't hesitate to order. Maybe I should just give up and admit that's not going to happen.

Wow Asos has great international shipping rates, doesn't it? KP I see what you mean about some of the dresses being revealing though! It's frustrating that they don't list dress lengths though. All the models are the same height as me, but wear 3 dress sizes smaller. I wonder how much extra length that would give me?

These 2 dresses caught my eye:

- http://www.asos.com/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1396351 - not very bra friendly though, and has the potential to look awful once on a non-model!!

- http://www.asos.com/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1395621 - not so much a "party" dress (except in the dead of winter). I do love it though - animal prin AND pockets!!!

Theresa

Another vote for the purple dress!

I think it would look stunning on you with your colouring, and be very flattering.

Can't wait to see what you do end up with though! I am in total agreeance on the limited availability of nice dresses here though - I'm always drawn to dressy dresses when I'm browsing and unless you want to wear a nude flowy thing there really isn't much...

Steph

Tam, I admit I don't know what your current LBD looks like, but I really love the first dress you posted. I actually like all three, but the first was by far my favorite.

Also, for a party/going out dress, do you have an idea of the level of fanciness that you'll want? The latter two dresses are on the dressier side and I feel they wouldn't be nearly as versatile as the first one. I get invited to events that are dressy but where a shiny fabric would feel a little overdressed, and the first dress would work perfectly. (The same could be said for a strapless neckline.) I think the first dress would be appropriate for a larger range of events and could be a real go-to dress when you're in doubt.

Theresa where do you look for nice dresses here? I tried Myer, DJs, Cue, Veronika Maine, Country Road.....just didn't see anything really!!!

Steph you make some very good points. I always prefer to be under, rather than over dressed as I am casual by nature. I agree with you about the purple dress being more versatile in that respect!!!

Tam the only place we have that sells nice party-ish dresses is Forever New... so even though I never buy anything there I always go in for a look LOL

And they are all the very dressy, frou frou, nude coloured ones.

OK I can picture the exact dresses you mean Theresa. Not my cup of tea at all!!

Tam, I am chuckling at your love of pockets - I feel exactly the same way, I am a total sucker for a dress with pockets. There have been times when I pretty much bought dresses just for the pockets

Huge vote here for the animal print Whistles dress. You can definitely dress that up for a party (unless it's formal, of course).

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