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 don't see midi dresses going anywhere soon.

The styles are a mixed bag but it's John Lewis!

These dresses are in all the shops (well, online as I’m not shopping in person at the moment) usually styled with white trainers or black clumpy boots.

It’s a trend. I don’t think M&S are better or worse here.

It’s not my style personally.

I think it's the styling of the models as much as the dreary dresses. As my mum would say, half of them are standing as though they've shit themselves!

Majority of these prints are awful and would never look good on an average woman and her body shape. Some are good but the model is a bit meh. A few look lovely though.
Problem is it takes a lot of effort to extract the model out of these dress and imagine yourself in it. Don’t know why.

I quite like the longer ones but I am tall and they would hide my old saggy knees

I really like many of the dresses shown less the shorter ones but that slightly baggy cut is one I love and find flattering.

Perhaps dont look at Sahara website op if you don't like that style

The chopped off heads...

I think most of the dresses themselves are fine, though most of the prints aren't.

I loved the floral dress + DMs look in the 90s

Regretting clicking the link as now thanks to cookies all the ads on my phone are hideous clothes from JL 😂

Has anyone else ever noticed how bad the colour of clothes in a marketing photograph in comparison to the actual colour of said item of clothing in real life is ?

M&S is particularly bad at this imho.
In store there's a big photo / poster showing a product.
Said product on rack nearby and the colour (supposed to be same ) looks nothing like the colour in the photo.
Surely the marketing bods see this and rectify it ?
It's been going on for years.
It's not rocket science.

They're heavily trying to push the 'cottage core' aesthetic this autumn.. most of those dresses are vile tbh, but some could be saved with the right belt, cardi and shoes.... or even putting a model in a dress that actually fits them properly...

Looks like the dresses are wearing the models. I'm coming into my 40s and really struggling for stuff I like. I'm not fashionable or a fashionable shape (big thighs, slightly above average shoulders, 28KK boobs, waist reappearing after 2 babies) and never have been. Anything oversized looks frumpy on me, never been a fan of curtain/sofa prints (but do like dramatic florals now) and because of huge boobs really need some shape at the waist.

Couple of the cream Reiss dresses looked good, but cream is not practical for me!

I absolutely love it. I really wish this style had been around when I was working in an office up until 7 years ago, I am really tall and spent the whole time complaining about getting a work dress long enough to wear!

Women have literally always worn long skirts and dresses, now we don't HAVE to wear them thank god and have choice, but not having to flash your thighs at a meeting is GREAT!

Go and look at Batsheva OP if you really want to horrify yourself

I was looking at dresses the other day and have to say that I agree with you. I wasn't sure what I was actually looking for but having trawled the internet nothing leapt out at me as something I'd want to wear.

I get the aesthetic but I still dont like it. I saw a woman in town the other day wearing a black denim jacket, white trainers and a long, silver, pleated skirt. She looked like a Darlek.

I dont mind the colours (neutrals) and styles (pockets and long sleeves/hems) of most of it but the bagginess, frills, balloon sleeves, etc.. can sometimes veer too close towards clown territory.

I just wish Rees would do a casual line, as I love the sleek simplicity but its all too formal. I used to like HUSH but quality has dived and everything’s black.

There is something so freeing about wearing a big long loose dress. So comfy. And with trainers! Bliss.

I clicked on the link wondering if it was going to be about M&S's bright new polyester hope, Nobody's Child.

In all the long, long, long S&B threads about what people were begging M&S to stock, I don't remember 'more synthetic fabrics and puff sleeves, please.'

I don't massive like the big shapeless dress thing, as it's not really any good for small, shapeless women like me! In fact it doesn't look much good on anyone.

Do like the Alice Temperley leopard print shirt dress right at the start but sadly can't wear anything that shape due to not having a waist.

Bleurgh. I'm 5 ft nothing and have to wear mini dresses or I look like a hobbit. Ugly dresses!

This dress and pose is hilariously hideous.

I have disproportionately massive arms compared to the rest of me, so I'm loving the balloon sleeve trend though I agree some of the prints look garish and cheap. I'm buying dresses a size or two down and they're fitting my waist without cutting off the blood flow to my arms.

And the long loose ones are very very comfy

Imagine women wearing lose clothes they can move in and comfy practical shoes. What is the world coming to?

Shops are unlikely to stock stuff no one buys as they'd go out of business so someone has to be buying these.

Unless they stick these on their website to show how fashionable they are but actually stock very few.

I don't spend my days in an office nor do I commute on a bus or train, I need clothing warm enough for the central heating being off and comfy enough to walk in the rain. Most fashion isn't.

Lots of those dresses are lovely! The models are too slim, doing stupid poses and poor accessorising making some lovely dresses look shocking. Use those models for jeans, trousers etc they'll look amazing. In my opinion curvy, hourglass women are more comfortable and often look better in dresses.

Some look amazing, some look like stuff you'd see at a jumble sale in the 70's.