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Original poster

Handsome, hardworking dresses for the cooler weather.

131 replies

Vaguelyclassical · 18/10/2026 17:21

I'd love to diversify my cool weather wardrobe a little. I'm looking for dresses that hit mid calf or a bit lower but are not full length (this is non-negotiable); I'm a little busty so variations on v necks or bodices with buttons you can unbutton are best. Long sleeves or 3/4 length sleeves; these would be day dresses. Very very strongly prefer a gentle A line that isn't interrupted by a waist seam. Size 14, but tallish with the weight spread reasonably evenly. Autumn/winter weight, please. (I fantasize about the perfect needlecord dress.) Can't wear yellow/orange/brown/lime green/olive drab colours. Strong blues, teal, dark green, dark red, dark purple, and even black especially welcome!
And I'd love to pay less than £150 (per dress, that is!). (Not asking a lot, am I? 🙂) Suggestions?

OP posts:
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FlowerBin · 19/10/2026 11:22

BandyUrnham · 19/10/2026 10:13

@FlowerBin , You might love different adjectives but in this context words like handsome and delicious don't really help.

@Nosdacariad , I wasn't critiquing the OP's use of English. The English isn't perfect but it's pretty good.

We will have to agree to disagree on that.

Ifeeltheneedtheneedforcoffee · 19/10/2026 11:27

What about a dress from unfolded? That should meet your criteria but because they dont over produce it takes a while to arrive
Ive got a lovely cord dress from joanie in teal which would match what you need. You may find it on vinted or Ebay?

SabrinaBricklayer · 19/10/2026 11:29

Melancholyflower · 19/10/2026 08:09

I don't think her use of English has been critiqued, but the OP has used adjectives that would not usually be applied to dresses, so people may have been unsure of what the OP is actually looking for i.e. what makes a dress handsome?

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I’d have interpreted that as a not pretty (or cute) dress but it’s not an adjective I’ve ever heard for a dress.

Really like that first suggestion of the green dress.

BandyUrnham · 19/10/2026 11:33

FlowerBin · 19/10/2026 11:22

We will have to agree to disagree on that.

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I'm not agreeing to anything.

The choice of word has caused a distraction from the thread.

Tocsin · 19/10/2026 11:42

Handsome and hard wearing are what I look for myself. I shop at some but not all of these places:

Studio Nicholson
You Must Create
Eat Dust Clothing
Margaret Howell
Loulou de Saison
Justine Tabak
Colenimo
Plumo

Those are all over your budget (except at the end of the sales) so it would be worthwhile looking for them pre-owned.

I wouldn’t be interested in any High St option - you’re just not going to get the same combination of quality fabric and decent design. In the past I might have recommended Cos or Toast - but these days they fall down on both the qualities I’ve mentioned.

BandyUrnham · 19/10/2026 12:28

Given that my local high street has shops like Seasalt, Jigsaw, Mint Velvet, Fat Face etc it's quite possible to find something of decent quality. within budget.

The likes of Studio Nicholson are way over OP's suggested budget. Right idea though.

Might be worth having a look at: Poetry, Sahara, Me+Em, Baukjen, Wyse, Eribe, ....

OP posts:
Original poster
Vaguelyclassical · 19/10/2026 12:42

Nosdacariad · 19/10/2026 07:55

Hey OP I hope you find some delicious frocks. I got a few posts in and realised twice your perfect English had been critiqued. Interesting 😱

Busty here 😁 and I LOVE boden Anna dresses and their variants. Might not be warm enough for right now.

Edited

Thank you for supporting my diction!! I'm still in mourning for a bias cut long princess line Boden dress that did not reappear . . . . .they seem to be better on summer frocks than cool weather dresses.

OP posts:
Original poster
Vaguelyclassical · 19/10/2026 12:47

BindweedIsMyNemesis · 19/10/2026 08:19

I think I know what OP means - a 'handsome' dress in my mind is quite different to a 'pretty' dress. And as the weather cools down I'm also keen on handsome/hard working and warm. Sort of your 'good honest autumn dress with none of those pointless fripperies' vibe.

Precisely! Perhaps my deep acquaintance with Victorian novels is informing my word choice.

OP posts:
Original poster
Vaguelyclassical · 19/10/2026 12:51

I'm very grateful for the suggestions here, which I'm still working my way through. And highly amused that my word choice (um, I'm a native English speaker, or at least a native Midlands speaker) managed to derail my own thread.

OP posts:
justasking111 · 19/10/2026 12:53

I've worked in some very cold offices. A handsome dress or pinafore was well used at times. I'd layer up with a vest underneath the dress, cardigan on top, boots.

One office would drop to 14c. Because the head of department would have the windows open even if it was snowing. I think she must have had hormonal issues or thyroid.

In the end I mentioned it to our Union rep who made a visit and went to the big boss. The windows were closed an electric heater appeared.

Tocsin · 19/10/2026 12:56

I’m really struggling to understand the point of your response to my post, @BandyUrnham.

I’ve given my opinion on High St dress options. I’m not going to change it because you disagree.

And I very specifically said the brands I listed were above budget unless in the sales (some) or pre-owned. So, again, what is the point of saying Studio Nicholson is above budget - without the specific qualification I made?

🤷‍♀️

BandyUrnham · 19/10/2026 13:00

Tocsin · 19/10/2026 12:56

I’m really struggling to understand the point of your response to my post, @BandyUrnham.

I’ve given my opinion on High St dress options. I’m not going to change it because you disagree.

And I very specifically said the brands I listed were above budget unless in the sales (some) or pre-owned. So, again, what is the point of saying Studio Nicholson is above budget - without the specific qualification I made?

🤷‍♀️

Because it's not just slightly over budget. You mentioned sites where dresses are £795.

FlowerBin · 19/10/2026 13:06

BandyUrnham · 19/10/2026 11:33

I'm not agreeing to anything.

The choice of word has caused a distraction from the thread.

Edited
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You attitude would suit AIBU better!

Tocsin · 19/10/2026 13:10

You have misunderstood.

I did not say the OP should buy full price from current collections.

I said those were the sort of brands that might provide the necessary combination of fabric and design - so she should look for them pre-owned. By which most people would understand - previous collections, massively reduced in price.

Obviously we all carry on doing as we choose. The OP is free to browse pre-owned sites, or not, as she chooses. I am free to continue to buy frocks from wherever I like, from brands I like - never paying £750 for an everyday dress because I know how to pay less. Posters on S&B are free to raise entirely spurious objections that make no difference to anything.

BandyUrnham · 19/10/2026 13:15

I like helping people and am quite interested in a plain, serviceable dress that I could wear to different places such as the office, a day out, or to meet friends for a meal or drink. Maybe one I could wear with a t-shirt and woolly tights etc. or with sandals on warmish spring or early autumn days.
Silly me for even thinking of suggesting anything.
I'm done.

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 19/10/2026 13:18

The Factory dress from Merchant and Mills sounds suitable? Except…it’s a pattern, not a dress. Do you sew?

Handsome, hardworking dresses for the cooler weather.
cheezncrackers · 19/10/2026 13:20

I love the Masai dress in red, but they seem to have sold out 🙁

ETA: I tried a different browser and it hasn't! Yay!

Aggieforme · 19/10/2026 13:21

Lots of Toast on Vinted, or when they have a sale. Most would probably be a bit over your budget full price but clothes are made well and last years. They have some very handsome dresses in various colours. Though some may be a bit drab for your taste.

Original poster
Vaguelyclassical · 19/10/2026 13:31

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 19/10/2026 13:18

The Factory dress from Merchant and Mills sounds suitable? Except…it’s a pattern, not a dress. Do you sew?

I can move a hem or sew on a button & that is my limit!

OP posts:
Sillyme1 · 19/10/2026 18:58

I like the nobody’s child cord dress, but I have already ordered their denim shirt dress! Hopefully this will be hardworking! I can’t justify ordering anything else, but am tempted by the cord NC dress.