No nice occasion dresses :-(

What's your budget?

I'd spend up to £120 if it was perfect.

Maybe try Dorothy Perkins?

I've seen a few dresses there recently that would be lovely for a wedding guest in the sale!

Having had a quick squizz - you're right. There are a lot of dire dresses out there.

I found myself drawn to quite a few Kaliko dresses when I looked at the John Lewis site. You're similar to me except you're a couple of years younger.

I am going to get dinner but will have another look when I get back.

ETA: French Connection Sundown Border Fitted

Hobbs Twitchill Dress, Rosie Dress, Jessica Dress, Eva Dress

LK Bennett Safari Panel

If you can get an appointment, why don't you go and see a personal shopper in one of the big department stores, such as Debenhams? It's free, and if you're feeling uninspired then it seems a good idea - you can tell them what you've got in mind and they can go off and choose stuff for you. It's stress free shopping at its finest!

What style and colours are you looking for? Straps, sleeves, short/long, pastels, bright etc? So many options.

Other options are TKMaxx, quiz and if you are near London, fever have a sale on.

http://www.feverdesigns.co.uk/dresses

What sort of thing are you after? Short/long, straps/strapless, neutral/bright, tight/floaty, black tie/more casual? I'm on obsessive shopper, will do my best to help!

Monsoon have a wonderful sale at the moment! I got a lovely maxi dress for my brother's prize-giving day for less than half price.

Edit: Sorry - just realised you said you've already checked monsoon! Can you order online? There are sometimes some lovely finds on websites like boohoo.com. There's also Dorothy Perkins and some lovely occasion dresses in BHS.

Have a nice time at the wedding!

House of fraser website have literally thousands of different dresses and next day store delivery so if your not feeling walking the shops why not do a store delivery of a few and do some trying on and returns there and then?

Thanks for all your suggestions! I've had another look and still nothing has caught my eye.

I tend to go for things with a floaty skirt rather than bodycon/clingy dresses or stiff materials. I also quite fancy a maxi but something really light with it being in Italy. Neckline, not fussed, although I don't usually go for halter neck and prefer not to have a high neck line, it makes me feel restricted and actually makes my chest look huge (I'm a D cup but whenever I completely cover up my chest it seems to have the effect of making me look really top heavy for some reason).

I might just have a look round tomorrow and if I don't see anything, go back to looking online and as one of you suggested order a few and just choose the best and send the rest back. I don't think it helps that I was an 8/10 when I got married in April and have let myself go a bit since, so not feeling the most confident! I've never been the most body confident person and can be very indecisive, basically if I don't think it will look remotely good on me I won't even try it on, so if I'm having a meh day I can walk round loads of shops and never try anything. This is why I HATE shopping!

Also thanks Lala, there really are lots of dresses on the House of Fraser website, and I actually quite like this:

http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Jane+Norman+Rose+printed+maxi+dress/206199540,default,pd.html

I may order this if I don't see anything in the flesh tomorrow.

Thanks again :-)

Have you looked at oasis

http://www.oasis-stores.com/sale_dresses/dept/fcp-category/list?cm_re=SecMsg2-_-Category-_-saleDresses

Ok, so the result of my shopping trip was... No outfit, not even close. I did however get lots of generic holiday clothes so at least it wasn't a wasted trip. If anyone needs any summer clothes, I wanted to buy pretty much everything in new look and had to restrain myself! Primark also good, though I don't like shopping there much as I feel guilty that some child is being overworked somewhere in Asia.

Online shopping it is!

Could be worth checking out some of the department store bridesmaid dresses for a dressy floaty maxi. Like I know it says bridesmaid but I love this for a dress for a wedding guest as it's actually just a nice dress and without a bouquet doesn't need to be bridesmaidy at all http://m.bhs.co.uk/h5/product?productId=17884730#

Just an idea if you are stuck x

Damn. Well I love the jane norman one you posted. I'll get into shopping mode and post a few for you shortly...

New look are great this season aren't they? Just been on their website and found these:

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/ax-paris-cream-floral-print-strapless-maxi-dress_356920413

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/ax-paris-cream-floral-print-v-neck-maxi-dress_356916813

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/blue-ruched-maxi-bandeau-dress_338797640

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/blue-vanilla-turquoise-keyhole-front-floral-print-maxi-dress-_346066148

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/blue-ruffle-trim-maxi-side-split-dress-_306699840

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/ax-paris-cream-contrast-lace-panel-maxi-dress-_330134711

Other offerings

Warehouse:

http://www.warehouse.co.uk/bird-print-midi-dress/dresses/warehouse/fcp-product/02425299

http://www.warehouse.co.uk/placement-leaf-and-floral-maxi/dresses/warehouse/fcp-product/02399401

River island

http://www.riverisland.com/women/dresses/maxi-dresses/black-tile-print-waisted-maxi-dress-673265

http://www.riverisland.com/women/dresses/bodycon-dresses/light-pink-waisted-drape-dress-670209

http://www.riverisland.com/women/dresses/maxi-dresses/coral-drape-front-maxi-dress-670107

Topshop:

http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/dresses-442/maxi-dresses-3104718/one-shoulder-maxi-dress-by-love-4508824?bi=1&ps=200

http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/dresses-442/maxi-dresses-3104718/strappy-back-maxi-dress-by-goldie-4510345?bi=1&ps=200

http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/dresses-442/maxi-dresses-3104718/wrap-front-maxi-dress-by-oh-my-love-4503841?bi=1&ps=200

http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/dresses-442/maxi-dresses-3104718/wrap-front-maxi-dress-by-oh-my-love-4207895?bi=1&ps=200

http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/dresses-442/maxi-dresses-3104718/neon-town-pleated-maxi-dress-by-jovonna-4314618?bi=1&ps=200

I could do this all day. I'll stop now or you'll be too bombarded

Loving new look dresses at the moment. I've bought nearly all my dresses for honeymoon from there and just ordered the one above but in blue for a wedding in a couple of weeks. Now just to get a hen do dress from there!

Just an idea but how about a loose fitting jumpsuit, miss Selfridge have some gorgeous ones atm, some patterned and some plain, some in the sale so you'd have funds leftover for accessories! I think they're a pretty chic alternative to a maxi dress n if you get a looser floaty one it shouldnt be much hotter either...get a parasol and some funky sunglasses and you're well away!

http://m.missselfridge.com/h5/product?productId=19143886

http://m.missselfridge.com/h5/product?productId=18659915

Oh to be able to pull those off TT! IGBMN you'd look great in those

What about phase 8?

http://www.phase-eight.com/fcp/product/phase-eight/dresses/palm-print-maxi-dress/203067081

http://www.phase-eight.com/fcp/product/phase-eight/dresses/julia-floral-cowl-maxi-dress/203141000

http://www.phase-eight.com/fcp/product/phase-eight/dresses/bella-blouson-maxi-dress/203011706

http://www.phase-eight.com/fcp/product/phase-eight/dresses/iona-flare-dress/203079758

http://www.phase-eight.com/fcp/product/phase-eight/dresses/riviera-print-dress/203004000

Ooh, love the second and the last of the phase eight dresses.

Bliss balloons, good choice!