What's going on with dresses: thin, unlined, unflattering

[tulips27]

I've been buying some dresses online recently and I'm so disappointed in the quality of what's been arriving. I don't normally wear dresses except for weddings etc. so I must have been out of touch, but 9/10 of what I've bought is so unflattering. There's never any lining and they're a touch see-though if you hold them to the light so you'd need a good friend to tell you if they're even decent. Or there's cheap, clingy fabric that highlights hip dips or bellies, I feel many (obvs not all) women would have to wear some kind of sturdy/control underwear under them. Just one of the dresses I bought was from Jigsaw and that's the exception; it has a lining and I could wear it as-is. All the others seem unfinished, you have to buy something else to wear under them. Not sure what I expect anyone to say but it's just disappointing 😅

Or maybe I've just got old and can't wear dresses anymore? Could be another way of looking at it. 🤔

Can I ask where you are buying the dresses from?

Totally agree OP. I went to John Lewis at the weekend (so lots of different concessions) and I was really shocked how poor the quality was. Cheap materials and As you say no lining. I saw a nice maxi dress (And Others). Black and floral print, but so thin. You would have to wear a Pettit coat underneath because you would see everything if the light was behind you.

the problem is people want cheap clothes. They aren’t prepared to pay the costs needed for good fabrics and to survive the department have to do the same. Yes they are better quality then some stores (which are known for being cheap), but they know they can’t charge say £150/£200 for a dress. So they charge a £100 and skimp on type of material and linings.

As we age cheaper fabrics are the worst as less forgiving. I hate shopping but always buy clothes in shops as need to get a feel for the fabric. It’s high risk buying online.

Totally agree, the quality is shocking. I'd love to be able to afford to to invest in key quality pieces rather than stuff I know is going to fall apart/shrink in the wash.

Another reason why I hate Internet shopping. Like to see the texture of fabric, and know for certain if it's see through or not. Quality is so poor these days, and it's getting more and more difficult to find what you're looking for. Our high street only has one chain name now. That was a good one back in the day, now they've declined in standard too. Quite depressing.

I got a couple in the sale from Finery, one by Cutie, second-hand Jigsaw (Ebay), second-hand Finery (Ebay) and Nobody's Child.

End stage capitalism. This is what happens. It’s all about profit margins for the shareholders.

I mean, some of these are lighter dresses meant for summer, but who wants to wear control underwear in hot weather? 😕

Costs in the supply chain are rising (have risen) and we don't want to pay more/much more is what's happening now.

Over the past 10-15 years at least, as clothing companies are bought and managed by funds, profit becomes more way important than quality, to the point that quality should be sacrificed for increased profit.

And finally, populations are increasing. The amount of natural fibres are relatively finite. Artificial fibres need to step in. This is where there is an intersection with the above point.

Yes, people stop buying, or go second hand, or swap with a friend, or just wear last years.

Too old for a dress? How is that even possible?

Most Nobody's Child dresses are meant to be light, floaty summer type dresses.
I'm big on fabric quality and I think they're well made.
Perhaps it's the type of dresses you're buying?