Dresses like buses.
Oh it's always the way isn't it? You can't find a dress you like for love nor money and then when you don't need one, there they are - like the proverbial bus that never appears and then all of sudden, three in a row come stonking along.
Handily though, I am now able to share my new found plethora of dresses with you guys. I fear there may be more out there but i've stopped looking as I am utterly rubbish when it comes to any form of temptation. Seriously I have "Eve you were an amateur" tattooed on my behind.
The criteria for this selection of dresses was a frock I could wear on both a Christmas night out and for Christmas Day. Preferably one that didn't make me look like a hooker or like I'm making a court appearance. Fine line to cross sometimes, I appreciate. Especially as I have a thing for sparkles at Christmas time which can have me hovering on the edge of lady of the night.... Plus I don't want to spend a fortune. And so the following dresses are all under £100!
Here we go. I already have my Patrizia Pepe ruched dress which has served me well and is also a perfect day dress (not under £100 but moving on) and my Gok Wan bargain half peplum dress which hasn't made it to the pass yet..... (for reasons I'll go into another day - shoe issues. Yawn)
Therefore I really didn't "need" this Sparkle Midi Bodycon Dress from Topshop I have it in Navy in Tall which they don't seem to have online (they allegedly have it but the pic is a scarily short version....) This is it in teal. To be honest I would have preferred it in the teal but they only had the navy in tall.
I am also inspired by this look which I think will translate into a great dressed down look - a wide leather tan belt and camel ankle boots. Little camel blazer? I shall definitely be wearing it like this come January.
I've already worn it twice on Friday and Saturday nights - one with big bling diamante jewellery and one with my Indira navy and gold necklace from Stella & Dot which was just perfect. And the best bit? £40. Yup, just £40. I will say though there is no way I could have worn it and felt comfortable without my body hugger slimming slip from Sainsburys. Unless you are Kate Moss or 12, I would say Spanx could be a good idea.
Number two is a dress that a friend of mine wore out on Friday night and it's a fantastic little wardrobe staple. Monsoon - which isn't a place I tend to shop if I'm honest - I love their embellished jackets but I always manage to find something I prefer in Zara. Plus their dresses do not fit me. I'm just the wrong shape. However for the more petite of frame, I think they're great. Personally I think that the model in the first pic of the Lotus dress just looks too big for the dress - not meaning that it's her who's big - that the proportions of the dress don't work for her.
This is the Lotus Sequin dress with slip (here for the record is, in my opinion, an example of a great dress being ruined by hideous shoes) But the dress is honestly lovely. Looks much better in real life than it does in these pics. And not bad value at £65 I don't think. Very pretty ribbon detailing at the back of the neck.
They also have the Sienna Sequin dress in a burnished gold which is lovely and will last you for years. £79 which for a good quality sequin dress compared to other High Street retailers (FCUK I'm looking at you...) isn't bad value.
Or a black classic Ava sequin one for again, a very reasonable £85.
Staying with sequins, I've walked past this one a number of times and I think it's a really easy wear. Now for a bargainous £65, I would say it's definitely worth looking at.
The Blair embellished stripe dress from Phase Eight. This is in fact, a jersey tunic, so I think wouldn't be out of place as a day dress. Thicker tights, a chunkier ankle or wedge boot and leather jacket would make it perfect for a lunch out. (perhaps not the school run...)
Staying with Phase Eight, I have to throw this little gem in as I love it. I genuinely reckon people would think you had a DVF number on if you didn't tell them. I'm thinking it's the neckline and the print that makes it look so much expensive than it is. I am beyond tempted to order it, much as I have absolutely nowhere to wear it......But it's a great staple dress to have to drag out for those occasions you thought you'd never need a dress for but suddenly do (just me?). Perfect for work, dinner party, dressier lunch, Christening (OOH I've got my niece's in January, although I clearly now have a selection I could wear), definitely a Christmas day winner (at this rate, I'm going to be changing 4 times on Dec 25th. (I could always pretend I'm presenting the Oscars) Here's hoping it looks rank on me.
The Twiggy Print dress at now half price - £44.50 (love these shoes with it)
Finally a brocade number. I haven't delved into lace this year - maybe I could do a lace dress special? I've avoided it as there is so much around (like there aren't enough sequins? I talk no sense. Apologies) but this brocade dress from Zara, I think is a lovely option if you're looking for something dressier but don't want sparkle or lace.
Finishing with pics of me actually in the first dress. Worn two nights in a row (stinkarama alert) And what else I have been wearing in this freezing weather. No complaint will be uttered from my lips however as a) it's not raining and b) it's not snowing. Pure freezing I can live with. Knitwear I salute you.
Friday
Black Leggings - American Apparel
Black knitted cowl neck dress - Cos
Grey knitted military coatigan - 3.1 Phillip Lim
Grey wrist warmers - Toast
Black patent moc croc boots - Gabor
Earrings - new from a friend
Black patent Tilly bag - Jaeger
And for Friday night - new dress! Mum's night out with school, second pic is so you can get a better idea of what it looks like in the light. (sorry C for having cropped you out - not entirely sure you'd want your face plastered on tinternet) It's properly navy.
Black opaque tights - Topshop
Black ankle boots - Zara
Navy sparkle midi dress - Topshop
Earrings - Forever 21
Cuff - Taylor Stephens
Tan De Manta clutch - Alexander McQueen
Saturday for a day spent visiting family
Wine jumper - Dorothy Perkins
Paint splattered skinnies - Zara
Wine and blush coatigan - Clements Ribeiro
Blush & Fuchsia Camel scarf - Virginia Johnston
Grey wrist warmers - Toast
Chestnut cross body bag - Campomaggi from Plumo
Sunglasses - Tom Ford
Bea suede wedge trainers - Ash
Saturday night for a dinner party - dress again this time with different jewellery. I actually think I prefer it with this necklace.
Black tights - M&S
Black ankle boots - Zara
Navy sparkle midi dress - Topshop
Indira necklace - Stella & Dot
Tan de manta clutch - Alexander McQueen
Sunday was spent with the family. I think I did get dressed. I certainly didn't get round to taking a photo!
Monday for the bracing chill.
Black longsleeved top - Baukjen
Charcoal cowl neck top - FCUK
Paint splattered skinnies - Zara
Black and camel skull scarf - Zara
Fur gilet - Taylor Stephens
Gold bee necklace - Alex Monroe
Tan leather cuff - Mulberry
Bea Wedge trainers - Ash
Chesnut cross body bag - Campomaggi from Plumo
Tuesday
White longline vest - Joseph
Silver jumper - Zara
Distressed biker jeans - By Malene Birger
Navy cable knit oversized cardigan - Nicole Farhi
Navy and black leopard print scarf - By Malene Birger
Black suede Ohio ankle boots - Pied a Terre
Sunglasses - Tom Ford
Gold bee necklace - Alex Monroe
Tan leather cuff - Mulberry
Wine wrist warmers - H&M
Fuchsia Roxanne tote - Mulberry
And that's all folks. Next time - if you don't fancy a full on sparkle dress - how about just a nod to Christmas with a sequin jumper.
Apart from jeans I tend to overlook Topshop as being too young (for my now 40something person) but by the look of these dresses it's due another venture into. Love your hair in that first outfit - very glam!
ReplyDeleteLovely assortment of sparkly dresses - the Topshop midi dress looks lovely on you and I now want it in purple!!
ReplyDeleteLiv x
ps I blogged about my favourite sparkly dresses too - http://twentiesfemalebristol.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/sparkly-christmas-party-dresses.html
Lovely outfits as always, the TS dress looks really good on you. sara x
ReplyDeleteIf YOU need Spanx to wear that dress, then there is quite simply no hope for the rest of us!! Absolutely love that Clements Ribeiro 'coatigan'. Scoured the TK Maxxs of Dublin, but no joy sadly! Great post and pics as always. Helen
ReplyDeleteKat, you look beautiful in the Topshop dress. I tried Primark shape wear but will stick to my trusty Spanx Power Pants. x
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Hooray - you've finally embraced The Legging! I'm such a devotee of them. You look great in them, too.
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ReplyDeleteI love the silver Zara top.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how a bodycon dress would work with a Christmas food baby.
I always buy myself a "Christmas Dress" (like I got when I was a kid). Generally it has to be "festive" and therefore unlikely to be worn the rest of the year.
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The topshop dress is stunning on you!
ReplyDeleteTHANKYOU KAT!!!
ReplyDeleteI have just received my Phase Eight parcel and now have my Christmas dress sorted - I got the "DVF" one and I love it! Especially as I ordered via topcashback.co.uk & so got 6% cashback on top of the sales price (a wopping £2.67 but every little helps)
Never normally look at Phase Eight so thankyou so much for posting the pictures :)
Hope you have a Happy Christmas
Hi Kat, love the TOpshop dress- question for you, how is the fabric? Is it very thin ? Or that nice thicker type which kind of holds things in? (Hoping!!) as I love it!
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