French Connection produce the perfect party frock... Almost.

Himself's 30th birthday is coming up, and I was full sure that I had found the perfect party dress for the occassion.

This here is French Connection's "Samantha" frock. It's covered in sequins, which obviously thrills my magpie instincts, and its full back and long sleeves nicely offset the super short length, making it appropriate for dinner and drinks and dancing. They also mean that it's warmer than other sparkly offerings (ideal for wintertime bling), and can cover a multitude (pasty skin that I couldn't be arsed to tan, bingo wings that I can't be arsed to tone up).

Available in black or this midnight blue, I tried both colours on yesterday and the blue was only bleedin' gorgeous. If I do say so myself. 

However, those gorgeous sequins added inches and the draped wrap front of the dress was actually mega unflattering: even the most concave of stomach would look like they had a proper pot belly going on in this dress. You can kind of see in the picture below how the model's waist has been damn near completely oblitorated by the cut of the dress, and she's slinky out.

If I'm totally honest, it was way outside my budget anyway but that doesn't help much with the disappointment. Blub.