Is it just me or are most of these dresses, and the way they are presented, hideous?

[MrsPeacockInTheLibrary]

I clicked onto this link and had the strong visceral wtf reaction that used to be the exclusive preserve of the MandS Per Una collection.

It would be good to get a sort of barometer for my taste ... am I really that out of it with what others like and are wearing? Plus the clumpy boots in nearly all the photos.

Is it just me?

www.johnlewis.com/browse/women/womens-dresses/_/N-flw

I quite like a lot of those. Lots look really comfortable but still stylish. Thank god we have moved on from block colour body con dresses.

I don’t think they are too bad if I’m honest. Don’t get me wrong, some of the dresses/clumpy boots combos are not great, but most of the dresses would be okay if worn with different footwear.

I don’t mind the midi dress with trainers look. I personally wouldn’t go for chunky trainers, but with some converse or something, I think they can look lovely.

Indeed. Tits out, ladies, and remember, only ever choose Flattering Garments and Nice Heels.

It is not an automatic extrapolation that a dislike of clumpy boots, in this particular context, must automatically go to 'Nice Heels' as the preferred choice. I could mention some of the awful sandals but as I scrolled down it just seemed to be a proliferation of that footwear, when it would have been nice to have more variety of flat footwear.

I quite fancy the ghost Luella one

It is all a bit samey but thats the look of the minute

Well personally, I'm just glad to see dresses that are neither mini nor maxi and have sleeves.

@Fairyliz

The shops are full of dresses like this but I’ve never seen anyone wearing one. Most women I know seem to live in jeans or leggings. I do wonder if anyone actually buys them.

The Times style column has featured loads of (much more expensive dresses) like that (including a French designer Séane) for most of lock-down. They seem to be quite popular from the comments

The navy seersucker version of this dress sold out within days.

www.and-daughter.com/collections/dresses/products/vivian-tiered-shirt-dress-in-blue-white-stripe

I like quite a few of the dresses in the OP's link. Any one of them is better than utterly tedious jeans.

Sézane

I’m still carrying post-baby belly and I’ve got tiny ankles so boots never hug my legs, so all told, I am seriously grateful to have come round to these trends. Was a slow burner, tho, and some of those prints are bleh. Can’t like everything. But like a PP said, just thank God it’s not more bodycon shit.

£65 for a shapeless, oversized sack. Madness.

@PhoebeSnow

They are all awful. I can’t stand the polyester baggy dresses like the infamous Zara dot one.

I love Zara on the whole but what was that obsession with that shapeless black and white spotty dress? I couldn’t understand it either.

I went to a branch of John Lewis two weeks ago, the first time I’ve ventured to the high street this year. It was very depressing; a lot of shops desperately trying to flog stuff from the summer. JL very quiet and not much available really. No one is buying this kind of thing - why would we, precarious jobs and nowhere to go socially. Not that many of us would by such dreary clothes in normal circumstances!

I resorted to sorting by popularity.

There was a Reiss floral dress that I liked, and a few more by Reiss.
Also a Warehouse belted denim dress, a Jolie Moi tea dress, a few Hobbs shirt dresses. A few by Monsoon.

Of the Little House on the Prairie dresses, I liked a Ghost floral midi dress.

I found the endless chintzy floral wrap dresses were sapping my will to live.

I hardly wear dresses anymore but I like a few of them

Not keen on anything tight or low cut so I like that looser, more modest styles are in fashion at the moment.

Hideous and frumpy (most of them anyway).

Stylist has had a bad day on that lot. The shoes consistently look terrible with the outfits.
Cheap fabrics, too.

Polyester just hangs badly, it always will.

I wore one or two of those as a teen, back in the 70s.

Some of those dresses are fine. I’m a fan of the clumpy boots, midi dress trend but I realise it’s not for everyone.

I actually think they look quite nice BUT it’s the 18 year old me in 1995 that is thinking that, not the 42 year old today. Back then when I was two stone lighter I loved that look of tea dress and DM boots. Now I would just look like a total frump.

They are all mostly awful, and frumpyish, I am over 70 and like glamorous clothes.

I like them. I spent my 80s youth wearing pencil skirts, mini skirts, stretchy tube dresses and skin tight trousers. Now I live in dresses like these, I love pattern not block colour so the florals are perfect. I've got two pairs of Carvela biker boots that I wear with them, trainers in the summer.

A stiletto heel to me looks outdated and unimaginative. There are so many amazing styles of trainer to choose from. Give me a floral smock over a little black dress any day. If it has a big bow at the neck, even better and worn under a denim jacket or black leather jacket. Think 1970s maternity dress with a twist. Fashion evolves, that's why you see these dresses everywhere.

Umm. I really like most of them! I have always been ashamed of my body ( no reason - in fact have always been really slim, just a 'thing' I have) and still wear clothes like this in my 50s..

In fact - I have the Joules Riviera one !

They are clearly so ugly my WiFi decided that it would be an offence to view them 😂

I love this style. The tiered ones I prefer for summer but on the whole, a loose, comfortable dress with longer sleeves and pockets, that you can just throw on without fannying about trying to find separates that go together, is perfect for my close-to-retirement lifestyle!

at that &Daughters one at £395 though!

Polyester just hangs badly, it always will.

Most dresses in this style are a mix of fibres and usually contain some viscose, which will give them weight and drape. I’d be surprised if any of them are 100% polyester.

Having said that, I have a Ghost dress that I inherited from my stylish DM - it’s fine pleated 100% polyester and it hangs beautifully.