To think a normal length cotton dress with sleeves is in fact the Holy Grail

[Orangeanddemons]

Because I can't find one anywhere, apart from Boden which I don't like.

I'm tall, so knee length is short on me. I work in a school, I neither want maxi or above knee level. I want just below knee or above ankle. These don't exist.

If they do they are ponte hideousness. Who buys all these polyester mini dresses?

this is lurvey and classic, has a very flattering neckline and draps lovely. I also have this one Looks nice with navy or true red little cardi.

shit, drapes not draps

Meandmyspoon I'm wearing that dress right now! It's from 3/4 years ago. I love Cath Kidston dresses. I wear the Samantha Sung ones at work as they are more formal and Cath Kidston for non-work.

How about this dress? I have it in blue drill cotton. It can be worn without the belt, I ordered one a size smaller so it's slightly more fitted if I do wear the belt. Although I'm short - I share the long waisted thing. It's not cheap but it is very durable, not prone to creasing and washes well. Choice of prints.

Cath Kidston dresses are often viscose rather than cotton. Esp the tea dresses.

I used to like an online company (originally a catalogue company ... showing my age!) called Penny Plain. But my google search shows they no longer exist and the company that took them over is too old, even for me!

I have Cath Kidston dresses in viscose, cotton and silk.

If the OP is willing to consider other materials it will broaden the selection.

I have the Edina Ronay navy hook and eye print dress in silk and love it to bits.

www.edinaronay.com/dresses.html

I used to like Penny Plain. They had a shop in Newcastle.

Love those dresses Caitlin17, but not too keen on the price for school! Do they have sales?

BikeRunSki I liked Penny plain too. They used to do really nice cotton voile blouses and dresses. I've worn mine to death in heatwaves. Sadly the firm went badly downhill in quality in the last few years after financial problems and have now gone bust.

TheGruffalo I've only discovered that range. There is a stockist in Edinburgh but I will sign up direct on the site in case there are sales.

Re Penny Plain there used to be a similar brand called Racing Green which went the same way. I had a couple of dresses from them which were exactly what the OP is looking for.

Gosh, I've just remembered that I lived in Laura Ashley cotton dresses in the late '80s and early '90s. They were perfect, but I suspect I would find them too floral and twee at my age now. I loved the styles, so maybe if they had them in plain, geometrics or non-twee-florals I'd be happy now.

I remember Racing Green too. They were similar to Biden, but less "fun".

Does anyone remember Wealth of Nations? I think jury were the same parent company as Penny Plain. They sourced authentic "workwear/traditional dress as normal clothes" from around the world - stuff like Breton tops, duffle coats, Chinese silk dresses, twill work trousers etc. Had some great stuff.

Has anyone bought anything from People Tree? It is one of the few I'm tempted with.

I have. It's all lovely and so soft.

Thank you, was the quality and customer service OK?

Sorry, what I mean by quality was did it wash OK?

I have two people tree dresses which are lovely and wash well. The lengths vary, but it usually says on the site.

I am 6ft and they are just on the knee. It us trial anx error as two other dresses I ordered were tiny.

But they usually offer free returns.

I have a Cath Kidston dress in real silk, lovely

Brilliant, thanks for that. I will look more closely tonight and decide what to order.

TheGruffalo I used to wear Laura Ashley too in late 80's but agree the fabrics would probably look awful now. Sorry I didn't see you were the first to mention Penny Plain btw. Why does hardly anyone make loose longer dresses these days? Body con and fitted shifts are all very well but not very comfy or practical. Even the dresses that say fit and flare are fitted to the waist as oppose to having a waist tie that does up at the back so you can pull them in that way. Empire line, a back tie and a flare out, pref on the knee or below - that is my holy grail! And in a cool non- sweaty material. With short sleeves.

I remember Wealth of Nations too - it was lovely (though not very 'me' so I never actually bought anything...)

Wealth of Nations was lovely when it first started, it had Toast like shirts, and I bought a little fitted 40's style hungarian jacket (Later I saw pics of Paula Yates in the same one). But then they seemed to be in trouble, sold the name to a bigger company and the clothes got very boring and frumpy, sort of like Kaleidoscope is now, and then it disappeared altogether.

I tried on one or two Laura Ashley dresses last year (not the shape you're after though) and the fit was horrific. Lovely patterns, but the waist was very high and because they had a bit of an underskirt they made me look absolutely huge. It went out like a triangle from the bottom of my ribcage, like a child's drawing!

Lovely dresses on this thread, think I might save up for a Poppy England one for summer work days.