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Original poster

Desperately seeking daytime summer dresses!

30 replies

CoffeeMum · 01/04/2011 18:45

I urgently need to find at least three dresses to wear this summer as I literally only have one summer dress at the moment. At this rate, I will have to wash it every night and dry it for the next morning!

I am 35, 5'6, size 14, 34E boobs. Dress can't be too short as i'm a SAHM, but i'd like it to be lowish at the front, as too-high necklines make boobs look huge. Fitted-ish is fine, would like it to skim the tummy. Practical, but pretty and not mumsy.

Normally, i'd head to Boden, and i've basically worn the same Boden summer dresses on rotation for about eight years now - but i cannot bear to wear them any longer! Boden stuff now seems to be garish patterns, viscose, poorer quality than it used to be, and frankly, bloody pricey.

High street stuff is going to make me look muttonish i fear.

Can anyone help me?!? Thanks, if you've got this far Grin

OP posts:
woopsidaisy · 01/04/2011 18:51

Well,I will be watching this with interest,Coffeemum.
I am holding out that these will fit the bill.
But have to agree that Boden stuff has gone crap,so not hopeful!
Can't seem to find anything else though...Sad

Original poster
CoffeeMum · 01/04/2011 19:01

woopsidaisy - that is very, very close to what i'm after, i like it and it's not stupidly pricey, my only concern is that smocked detail on the bust?

I'm thinking this dress, in either the blue or brown spot might be acceptable? Hope the link works, never done one before!

www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Dresses/Knee-Length-Dresses/WH246/Womens-Riviera-Dress.html

OP posts:
Original poster
CoffeeMum · 01/04/2011 19:03

I'll try again... Blush

www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Dresses/Knee-Length-Dresses/WH246/Womens-Riviera-Dress.html

OP posts:
moragbellingham · 01/04/2011 20:43

Joules?
Great Plains?

moragbellingham · 01/04/2011 20:49

fat face and the maxi one here
kew
I know some of them are veering towards mumsy but there is a fine line and hey, sometimes I cross it, sometimes I don't!

Original poster
CoffeeMum · 01/04/2011 21:31

Wow, thanks morag, good stuff there. Not sure about maxi dresses, they tend to swamp me a bit - my legs are my best bit, so i try to show them as a distraction! Not 100% sure about the print on the second Kew one, and the first one is well over budget, but apart from that, i really like them all - thank you!! Even if i try them on and they're not quite right, i hadn't even thought to look in these places, so you've given me lots of new inspiration. Don't think they're mumsy either - but then, i was looking at Warehouse, Oasis, Top Shop websites early and realised i am FIRMLY out of their demographic!

OP posts:
vesela · 02/04/2011 17:37

I have the Boden spring shift in the not-too-garish pomegranate ribbon weave pattern - lowish neckline, well cut in boob area, fitted-ish but tummy-skimming, good-quality cotton.

blossoming · 02/04/2011 17:40

I was just alerted to this this hush dress by haricotvert on another thread. And have shamelessly copied.

docket · 02/04/2011 19:30

vesela, I like the look of that dress but in the picture it looks a bit see through - is that the case?!

duckyfuzz · 02/04/2011 19:31

I got a couple from gap, good price nice cut will try to find

duckyfuzz · 02/04/2011 19:34

here

mislaidmrs · 02/04/2011 19:42

I think this is the one I tried on in JL today - and it was lovely. It doesn't appear to be on the Joules website. They had a range of sizes in Oxford Street - though seem to be out of stock in larger sizes on-line. If you are interested - look at the price!!! - I would imagine they will hunt around and get it sent in your size from another store.

this one

Clure · 02/04/2011 20:00

how about tea dresses?
bird print
spotty

KarenHL · 02/04/2011 20:03

I really shouldn't be posting (as I want them to have some stock left for me!), but Nomads Clothing (based in Cornwall) have some georgeous summer dresses this season. About the same price you'd pay on the high st, but fairtrade.

They have some lovely ones that would even be suitable for work (if smart/casual ok at your work), or a formal event like a wedding. Sizing is pretty reliable too.

Clure · 02/04/2011 22:23

KarenHL, have checked out the nomads site - totally gorgeous stuff, I can see a spend coming on!

greensheep · 03/04/2011 18:36

Have you considered eco or ethical brands? Companies like Seasalt and People Tree use organic cotton which is lovely and soft. You can find lots more brands on stylewithheart.com.

Original poster
CoffeeMum · 04/04/2011 10:27

Wow, thanks for lots more replies - didn't expect any more! Actually vesela that Boden shift looks okay - it's a bit lower at the front than i thought. Since my last post, i've actually ordered two dresses from Boden, three from Fat Face and one from Great Plains - i don't expect i'll like them all, or I hope i don't because i don't have the budget for six new dresses!! At any rate, i'm so relieved to have got my order in because there is already a 3-4 week wait for a couple of the items, eek!
blossoming, that Hush dress looks fab on that Siena Miller-alike in the pic, but i fear it would look like a sack on my size 14 figure!
Clure - i really love the look of those two tea dresses, but i suspect they're viscose or similar from the look of them? And they don't seem to want to tell me for sure, unless i've missed that on the website - but i really prefer cotton, or mainly cotton for summer. See, i'm a fussy bugger aren't it?! Blush
duckyfuzz - love the gap dress, but too high a neckline for me, bosom would look v.matronly in that!!
Off to check out the eco and ethical links now...thanks everybody, so helpful!! Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
CoffeeMum · 04/04/2011 10:31

KarenHL the nomads stuff is lovely!! Some of it is veering towards what i'd have worn ten years ago when i had the youth and figure, but there are a good few dresses that i'd happily order now. Thanks for the link!

OP posts:
Original poster
CoffeeMum · 04/04/2011 10:36

thanks greensheep - really like the stuff on both People Tree and Seasalt - nothing specific jumping out at me on the dress front this time, but it's def a website i'd come back to, i really like the general style of the clothes.

Really pleased to have some more places to look for clothes in general - you lot have enlightened me about so many new websites - thanks Smile

OP posts:
dottyaboutstripes · 04/04/2011 11:11

My summer dress purchase

I LOVE it!

Original poster
CoffeeMum · 04/04/2011 14:08

that is gorgeous dotty - very chic

OP posts:
fustyarse · 04/04/2011 14:44

low stock Joules bargain

I have it in grey,same dimensions as you, (I'm a bit shorter), love it

like the 'melon' colour,wondering whether to get it too

BikeRunSki · 04/04/2011 15:02

You might also like Mistral and Ness.

Original poster
CoffeeMum · 04/04/2011 18:00

BikeRunSki - thank you, yes i do - you've obviously got my taste sussed Grin Loving the dresses in Mistral - i know where i'll be going if my orders don't come up to scratch! Such a relief to have other places to go than the dreaded Boden. Not that i dislike Boden as such, but it's increasingly hit and miss, and I was starting to worry that Boden and White Stuff were the only things filling the gap between TopShop and Country Casuals.

fusty arse - yet another lovely dress - where had they all been hiding?! I bet it's gorgeous in grey

thanks all

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 04/04/2011 18:09

It is elusive that gap between Top Shop and Country Casuals isn't it. I am going increasingly off Boden, and it is getting increasingly too "smart" for me (maybe I am just gettinng scruffier). There are a few smaller, independent marques out there. Mistral sizing v good too. I find it spot on for my hefty thighs and generous boobs in a 14.