advice needed 9 June 2022 at 6:59PM edited 9 June 2022 at 7:51PM in Health & beauty MoneySaving 11 replies 458 views

harrys_nan

I'm lucky enough to be going on a cruise from Banff to Alaska. 
This is a one-off holiday.
I have never dressed up since putting on weight and live in jeans/ trousers. We want to do the fine dining at least twice and I haven't a clue what to wear up. I have been looking at dresses but am struggling to find knee-length ones.  I cannot wear heels owing to mobility problems.
I'm a size 16 and apple shape and 76. Has anyone any suggestions?

otb666

https://www.mywardrobehq.com/new-in
https://www.hirestreetuk.com/product/M&S-Linen-Viscose-Ruched-Sleeve-Blazer-&-Trousers

you can hire/rent clothes its what i will be doing if i need special clothes 

Spoonie_Turtle

No affiliation, just an extremely satisfied customer:
Not sure how moneysaving it is but I want to mention Carolina Dress Room, the sleeveless full circle dresses are the most dressy/elegant but a fair few patterns on the other styles are classy as well.  (They also do geeky and horror prints so don't be put off if a Google search doesn't immediately produce more neutral results!)

Their website tends only to show the most recent prints and styles, they don't carry back stock.  Unfortunately the best place to buy is in their Facebook group which doesn't suit everyone, but there are ones available on the usual sites as well. 
[A word of caution, most people size down for CDR brand dresses because they are very generous, so 12-14 full circle would easily fit a size 16 person.]

They also did Miss Society and Hepburn dresses (more true to size) which were more formal but they are out of production so harder to find.

If you did decide to buy a couple and weren't sure you'd wear them again, they have very good resale value.

gwynlas

You do not have to wear a dress, you could wear trousers with dressy tops that you are more likely to wear again.

harrys_nan

Spoonie_Turtle said:

No affiliation, just an extremely satisfied customer:
Not sure how moneysaving it is but I want to mention Carolina Dress Room, the sleeveless full circle dresses are the most dressy/elegant but a fair few patterns on the other styles are classy as well.  (They also do geeky and horror prints so don't be put off if a Google search doesn't immediately produce more neutral results!)

Their website tends only to show the most recent prints and styles, they don't carry back stock.  Unfortunately the best place to buy is in their Facebook group which doesn't suit everyone, but there are ones available on the usual sites as well. 
[A word of caution, most people size down for CDR brand dresses because they are very generous, so 12-14 full circle would easily fit a size 16 person.]

They also did Miss Society and Hepburn dresses (more true to size) which were more formal but they are out of production so harder to find.

If you did decide to buy a couple and weren't sure you'd wear them again, they have very good resale value.

These are beautiful but I wouldn’t have the confidence to wear them. Thank you anyway 

Emmia

Normally it's a case of subtracting 4 from the UK size to get to the US/Canadian size. 

Have you looked at Roman for dresses?

This could be dressed up and down, but they've got loads of options 

https://www.roman.co.uk/gathered-skirt-maxi-dress-14065080

Spoonie_Turtle

harrys_nan said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

No affiliation, just an extremely satisfied customer:
Not sure how moneysaving it is but I want to mention Carolina Dress Room, the sleeveless full circle dresses are the most dressy/elegant but a fair few patterns on the other styles are classy as well.  (They also do geeky and horror prints so don't be put off if a Google search doesn't immediately produce more neutral results!)

Their website tends only to show the most recent prints and styles, they don't carry back stock.  Unfortunately the best place to buy is in their Facebook group which doesn't suit everyone, but there are ones available on the usual sites as well. 
[A word of caution, most people size down for CDR brand dresses because they are very generous, so 12-14 full circle would easily fit a size 16 person.]

They also did Miss Society and Hepburn dresses (more true to size) which were more formal but they are out of production so harder to find.

If you did decide to buy a couple and weren't sure you'd wear them again, they have very good resale value.

These are beautiful but I wouldn’t have the confidence to wear them. Thank you anyway 

That's a shame, but you're definitely not alone.  If you are on Facebook, joining the group might help - there are ladies of all shapes, sizes and ages on there and many have had similar feelings.

[But I'm really not trying to push these dresses at all, just genuinely wanting to spread the joy and comfortable clothes!]

Grumpy_chap

harrys_nan said:

I'm lucky enough to be going on a cruise from Banff to Alaska. 

That's an absolutely wonderful cruise - similar to the one my wife and I did for our Honeymoon.  You will absolutely love it.

As for the dressing up for the fine dining experiences on board, have you considered arranging a personal stylist session at John Lewis?  They might be more attuned to sense on budgets and providing items that you can dress up for the occasion or mix with other wardrobe pieces you likely have any way for less special occasions. 

We've never used the John Lewis personal stylist service but did once use the styling service at M&S which I think they have now stopped. For the M&S styling service, the lady hose some fairly plain items but then also some coordinated costume jewellery that made it all look so much more than it was.

Emmia

Grumpy_chap said:

harrys_nan said:

I'm lucky enough to be going on a cruise from Banff to Alaska. 

That's an absolutely wonderful cruise - similar to the one my wife and I did for our Honeymoon.  You will absolutely love it.

As for the dressing up for the fine dining experiences on board, have you considered arranging a personal stylist session at John Lewis?  They might be more attuned to sense on budgets and providing items that you can dress up for the occasion or mix with other wardrobe pieces you likely have any way for less special occasions. 

We've never used the John Lewis personal stylist service but did once use the styling service at M&S which I think they have now stopped. For the M&S styling service, the lady hose some fairly plain items but then also some coordinated costume jewellery that made it all look so much more than it was.

I've used the JL personal styling service, at the Oxford Street Branch, and I'd recommend it.

Floss

I've used them in Liverpool and my ex-husband used their Trafford Centre branch.

Longwalker

Im a bit younger but have the same body shape as yourself and like you live in jeans etc

Im really short as well at just over the 5ft mark so look like a ball on legs

My go to for occasions are Palazzo trousers, a vest top and a kimono . Dress up or down, a wee pair of wedges to give a bit of height, some bling around the neck and on the ears.

For big occasions I tend to go for a big statement neckless - eyes are directed at that - not the belly,

Kimonos are all different lengths, Im not talking about replacement dressing gowns, more like edge to edge jackets in lovely flowing materials with not so ridged hemlines