Help - I just can't 'do' dresses....

[Mo2]

Fact is, I've always been a trouser sort of girl - right from being little.

I simply just don't 'get' the dress thing... how do you 'do' them? (seriously!)
Basically the problems I have with dresses are:

• can never find the right shoes - I don't like really high heels (but can manage 1-2 inches) (also have fairly unattractive lumpy feet, so dont like exposing them in really flimsy strappy shoes/sandals..)
• always feel cold in a dress, then what do you put on top, without looking like a) you're going to a wedding i.e. a jacket, or b) a bag lady (big jumper)
• what about tights/stockings? That's such a faff. Or I have to have silky smooth brown legs (not yet sadly...)
• no pockets for kids stuff, and feel would end up being exposed when lugging DS2 around - straps slipping/ bras showing etc etc (Bras - there's another thing - what sort, how not to have unsighly straps etc)

DH is always really complimentary on the odd occasions I do wear a dress (twice last year - I can remember!) and actually I WOULD like to get into a habit of buying and wearing them more... but how?
It's not really even a weight shape thing either - I'm a fairly acceptable slim(ish) size 12 & 5ft 6".

Have just been out shopping and there are so many lovely dresses for summer out there, but I just don't know where or how to start...

I secretly want to be like Carrie in sex in the City....

i do dresses and trousers together, stops the builders bum thing when your playing in the park etc. v v v occasionally i wear a dress on its own on hot hot summer days and would wear with flip flops. never wear dress on its own if i go out at night-just not comfortable in it and not good for dancing! look on ebay for satc style dresses-is loads of gorgeous stuff

I know what you mean, used to be a dresses/skirts girl but have gradually turned into a trousers person and get all awkward if I try to wear a dress now. Can do heels with trousers (boots) but can't walk properly in high-heeled shoes... seem to have lost the knack since pregnancy. Can only think I need more practice ? wore heels around the house for a day before I had to go to a wedding last weekend.
With tights, I only wear 'nearly black' but quite low denier so don't get the opaque look (I'm not exactly skinny). Hate skin tone tights but with summer dresses it's either that or wax/shave and fake tan.
As for bras, buy some pretty coloured ones, then it doesn't matter if the strap shows occasionally.
There are some really pretty cardigans (don't faint, not the sort your granny wore) around to wear with dresses - try Boden or Kew online if you can't see anything on the High Street.
And the lack of pockets is a real pain, you just have to stuff everything in the change bag as it is impossible to carry a bag, a change bag and a baby IMO.

There are such great 50's length skirts around you don't really need brown legs with them as they're longer & it's not so much part of the look, I reckon as long as your shins are well scrubbed & oiled a bit of winter leg's no great sin... Got to be COMFORTABLE in a skirt or dress, that's the best thing about 'em IMO. Oh I can't wait not to be pregnant any more and wear lovely things...

MO2, could you go to a personal shopper in one of the big stores and explain this to them? It sounds like just the kind of thing they could help with.

MO2, could you go to a personal shopper in one of the big stores and explain this to them? It sounds like just the kind of thing they could help with.

oops