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Original poster

Can any of you Stylish folk help my Mum find a special outfit please?

34 replies

TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 08/05/2011 15:54

She's going to the Chelsea Flower Show in 3 weeks and she and her sister are making a weekend of it, she wants a nice dress for the show....

She's only 5.1 and a size 14...she's 62....she has an even figure...neither top nor bottom heavy.

now it gets difficult...she wants her dress to be below the kneee....she wants no cleavage on show and in her words "a little sleeve would be nice but I'm not holding out much hope"

She hates clingy clothes...so no pencil type dresses....

She hates BIG prints but loves medium to small ones....colour wise she likes natural peaches, creams, sandy and blue. She doesn't want Navy, grey or black.

Phew.

I think that's it....and her budget is £100.00 and she likes to look fashionable but appropriate.

I've tried...I'm useless! Grin

OP posts:
tethersend · 08/05/2011 16:16

At 5'1" knee length dresses will fall below the knee...

Pink- too clingy?

Lace print

Here?

Bit over budget but lovely

Am I way off?

Original poster
TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 08/05/2011 17:08

Ooh thanks Tethers just looking now.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 08/05/2011 17:10

Had a look...the pink is too clingy...she wont wear anything stretchy...the lace print is not working....the black & white flowered one is too black and the over budget one is not worikng either....but thanks for trying!

OP posts:
tethersend · 08/05/2011 17:25

I've not given up yet Wink

I like constructive feedback.

How much of a sleeve does she want? Are v necks out completely?

tethersend · 08/05/2011 17:31

Beaded but has v neck

Spotty

B&W print

cabbageroses · 08/05/2011 17:48

Have a look at Fenn Wright Manson website petites.
Also- Kew online.
Jigsaw online.

also possibly phase 8.

If i can do linkies i will try!

tethersend · 08/05/2011 17:52

red

spotted again

shirt dress

wrap

MadameCastafiore · 08/05/2011 17:53

Her specs sound like most of Boden's dresses!

cabbageroses · 08/05/2011 17:55

www.fennwrightmanson.com/mailorder/product.php?xProd=4187&xSec=401

This is lovely but she'd need a short cardi or jacket.

Also yes- look at Boden limitd edition range- mostly sleeveless mind you.

Original poster
TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 08/05/2011 18:09

SO far only Tethers red one and Cabbages tulip one are close to what she#d wear...she wont' do black and white or "dull"...she lkes paler..spring type colours....I am going to show her the tulip one but the red one Tethers found is lovely but too red....

She's a fussy bugger and for some reason has taken against Boden!

OP posts:
Original poster
TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 08/05/2011 18:11

She also thinks spots are "too young" Hmm

OP posts:
tethersend · 08/05/2011 18:12

Which red one? The M&S or the wrap? The wrap also comes in sand.

Are v necks ok then? Have seen lots but discounted them due to v neck/possible cleavage issue.

Original poster
TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 08/05/2011 18:15

She won't do plain red Tethers....no V necks either.

She's the impossible woman....

OP posts:
Original poster
TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 08/05/2011 18:16

Oh and the M&S one has fussy sleeves...the wrap is too wrappy Grin

Its not normal to be this fussy!

OP posts:
tethersend · 08/05/2011 18:22

Right, over budget...

too large a print?

pink print

blue print

green print

cabbageroses · 08/05/2011 18:23

TBH pastels can be very ageing on an older woman. Much smarter are neutrals.

You might also like to look at Coast and LK Bennet.

cabbageroses · 08/05/2011 18:26

www.lkbennett.com/clothing/dresses/DRLIA887SILKSATIN

personally not my taste but she might like it.

tethersend · 08/05/2011 18:32

That lk bennett one is lovely, cabbage...

Original poster
TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 08/05/2011 18:32

BUgger...I can't get those links to work Tethers....

I agree about the pastel cabbages....try telling her that! She'd look lovely in a plain dress...salmon or blue....

I am trying to get her to experiement....she goes for soft looking pastel prints too much!

OP posts:
Original poster
TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 08/05/2011 18:33

She wouldn't go for the LKBennet one Cabbages....too modern a print...to graphic.

OP posts:
tethersend · 08/05/2011 18:40

The links were all to Gray and Osbourne- maybe get her to have a browse? The dresses I linked were:

Eugen Klein Short Sleeve Panelled Dress
Eugen Klein Button Through Chiffon Dress
Anise Notch Neck Dress
Eugen Klein Two In One Dress

Original poster
TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 08/05/2011 18:48

Ooh thanks very much...am on my way!

OP posts:
cabbageroses · 08/05/2011 19:38

You know what- if you live near a big dept store such as John Lewis, I'd suggest you encourage her to book an appt with a stylist.

reasons why? She seems to have far too fixed ideas about what suits her.

I know that when we get older we often do know what suits us BUT at the same time we can get into a fashion rut.

I am only 6 years younger than your mum and although I look very young for my age- so i am told- I think her attitude to clothes sounds ageing and would not be seen dead in what you say she likes.

She sounds more like my mum who is 84!

Don't mean to offend, but she is limitng herself hugely.

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