To not want a dress with elastic round the middle.

[ineedsomeinspiration]

I'm going for afternoon tea tomorrow and as the weather is meant to be nice I thought I'd have a quick browse round town and maybe treat myself to a new dress.
My budget is limited but literally all the light cotton summer dresses in pretty fabrics have elastic acted waists. I look bloody awful in them. I know the shops follow fashion but this style seems to have been in for ages. Is it because they can't be bothered to put the effort I to make anything that takes any effort.
Needless to say I didn't find anything but I shall enjoy my tea. Anyone else feel like a sack of spuds in these dresses?

oooh I bloody hate those dresses. there is no point to them other than to make me feel fat and frumpy

I cant wear empire lines I look like imready to giv3 birth to a baby elephant

I saw a woman earlier wearing one and it looked nice . She still have plenty of choice in the sales. You need the perfectly proportioned hourglass figure. I don't have one, am straight up and down. Truly awful fashion.

Mantaray and Rocha John Rocha (both at Debenhams) have some nice ones in the sale at the mo with no elastic.

Link please so I know what I'm avoiding.

I'm just sick to the teeth of Viscose maxi dresses.

I'm 5'4" I look like I'm in badly researched period costume in a maxi dress, then I trip over it and fall on my face.

A long dress may be OK on the Majorcan sea front, but for a SAHM jumping in and out the car and bouncing about an extended house with steps in weird places it's just stupid.

I want a nice cool, Cotton, mid calf length dress before my poor Debenham's one falls apart like the East one did before it.

Oh my god I'm with you OP.

They are for the size 8 and under 20.

Saw a nice dress in All Saints. Teller dress. Loose and sultry. Had dc with me so cba trying it on but will go back in the week.

Boobs and empire line dresses don't mix

Tente couture...

tiggytape I am 5'8" and long in the body :-) I also have huge boobs and a slender waist in comparison (think 16/18 top and 12/14 bottom)

I love the elasticised waists as they stop me looking 8 months pregnant as I have to buy to fit my boobs

I'm with you op. the elastic always sits on biggest part of my ribcage not my waist making me look 6 months pregnant. horrible things.

They are indeed horrible. I'm not huge (size 10/12, height 5ft 5") and can I find a dress that fits and flatters?? Can I feck.
Why can't these designers actually design a dress that works???

I like the dresses from www.closet.co.uk

If the only thing wrong with a dress is the elastic, have a look inside, it may be possible to take the elastic out with an unpicker or small pair of scissors. I've done that with two dresses this year (tried them on and pulled out the elasticated bit to check the look)

I love shirred waists. I am a true hour glass equal hips and a waist 10 inches smaller. They look great on me.

Can someone please post a link to this sort of dress? I think it might suit ME! Tall, hourglass, but curvy.
However, not been shopping for me in three years so no idea what you are all talking about.

Argh! I love these dresses :/

If I try and wear something "floaty" I look like a pig wearing a tablecloth

Different strokes etc. Primark and New Look have some nice simple dresses atm, depending on your ethics. All rejected by me for lack of elastic...

www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?refinements=category~%5b226988%7c-12552%5d&searchTerm=Elasticated+waist&storeId=12552&productId=14704928&urlRequestType=Base&categoryId=&parent_categoryId=226988&langId=-1&productIdentifier=product&catalogId=33053
Not sure if this'll work from an iPad.

www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-203543/day-dresses-1979038/retro-floral-print-shirt-dress-2805890?refinements=Colour%7b1%7d~%5bblack%5d&bi=41&ps=20

www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/blue-bird-print-border-puff-sleeve-dress_306182240

Thanks for the link. I take it back - I would look RUBBISH in this and would feel like my primary school teachers from 1983ish

There were no nice dresses in the New Look where i live. Lots with elasticated waists and some very weird poofy catsuit things.
Seems to be a lot more nice stuff on line but I wore a lovely dress I brought last year that hadn't had an outing as the occasion I purchased it for was too cold.

Cinnamon that is a good idea re the elastic.

Posted before I saw the New Look one, which is much nicer. Still wouldn't suit me though. Drat. The maxi remains my fwend...

DD been in tears this weekend as she is 14 and a leggy 5ft7" and all dresses are too short for her and they look like she's wearing clothes 2 sizes too small. I felt so sorry for her ....Please shops take note NOT ALL TEENAGERS ARE 5FT3"!!!!!

I think the problem is it is actually seems to be trendy to have your bum cheeks hanging out.

I hate to say this but BHS has some nice dresses in! Mostly without elastic waists, boom!