work dresses

[HazleNutt]

Help - I love to wear dresses for work but it's so hard to find anything appropriate. My office dress code is business casual and this year I also have to spend a lot of time at our headquarters where the dress code is business (suits and ties etc). I want something that would be appropriate without a jacket or blazer or without wearing an extra layer underneath.

And here is my first problem - most dresses are sleeveless. I need sleeves. I have the LK Bennett Davina for example, which is a great dress, but the sleeves are just too short.

I'm also 32FF. This rules out many dresses, most because I can't squeeze my top part in. or if I can, the cut is either unflatteringly high or too low with my cleavage on display, which is again not appropriate. (ps don't recommend Pepperberry, have tried, all too low cut and also too short)

Any ideas? Budget-wise I can be quite flexible.

This is proper gorgeous.

mobile.reissonline.com/shop/womens/dresses/sophia/indigo/

Or this

mobile.reissonline.com/shop/womens/dresses/carlie/oil_blue/

A bit less formal

www.whistles.co.uk/fcp/categorylist/dept/shop?resetFilters=true%23ID=id_903000057739_dresses&category=dresses

www.whistles.co.uk/fcp/categorylist/dept/shop?resetFilters=true%23ID=id_903000057792_dresses&category=dresses

sorry Whistles just takes me to home page.

I have actually been eyeing those Reiss dresses but wondering if they are not too low cut? (abroad, so no shops around and postage and returns expensive) Have you tried either?

Sorry I was going to suggest LK Bennett, but you're right, mostly cap sleeves, (btw if you're thinking of getting shot of your Davina then I'd be happy to give it a good home).

How about Mary Portas at House of Fraser?

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Mary+Portas+Aurora+dress/161760698,default,pd.html

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Mary+Portas+Antonio+dress/153902016,default,pd.html

There's plenty of others on the website.

Sorry, linking from my phone. In Whistles the Viper, Ruby and Sara all look lovely and not too low cut.

I haven't tried the Reiss ones (on mat leave at the moment so have no need for smart wear!) but they both look like they have a panel which would cover up too much norkage. I have big boobs and tend to like a tiny bit of cleavage anyway, otherwise i end looking a bit matronly .

I'd go to a big Hobbs if you can. I'm a 34F chest and find that their dresses easily accommodate boobs. Bewes
Lori
Jessica

Banana Republic: Gemma and Sophia (not great in terms of sleeves though).

This marks and spencer's one? Or This?

Oh, you're abroad so no to going to Hobbs. Still worth trying maybe if they ship to wherever you are. I find that their sizes are normal to generous, especially in dresses.

Also if you are big of nork you may find that some school run type jersey dresses (more casual than LK Bennett/Hobbs style) would fit round the bust and still work in a business environment if you smarten them up with fab shoes.

M&S

block colour

Thank you all, some very interesting suggestions. I have a Hobbs work dress, agree that they are a bit more generous as boobs are concerned.

Mary Portas looks nice but haven't tried before, how's their sizing?

Coast

patterned Coast

Phase Eight

Im a 30F so share your pain.I got a navy long sleeved heavy jersey dress from COS a few weeks ago. Im not sure if its its on their website here as they all look the same. You really need to try them on. I think it was £69

I also got a l/s dark purple one in the great plains sale for £16 and a roksana iilinic one in debenahms sale for £53

This blogger thats not my age runs a regular feature on dresses with sleeves but they are often very ££££

Mary portas sizing runs v big BTW

Thanks, so a size down?

And yes, there indeed is a very fine (neck)line for us between looking matronly and like you have your boobs around your bellybutton and looking like a porn star with all your male colleagues addressing your boobs instead of you. Sigh..

Waswondering, if you don't have LKB Davina yet then I would really recommend it, gorgeous and the neckline is just right (not cheap, mind).

I have similar problems and just bought this dress. It is surprisingly flattering and looks good with a coloured jacket or on its own.

Have you looked at Pepperberry's new stuff?

This doesn't look too low. There is also a photo on Facebook of one of their staff in it looking gorgeous and it covers her knees.

This one has a modest neckline and is slightly longer length according to the reviews. There is more coming out on MArch 26th, may be worth a look then.

Sorry just read you need sleeves, scrap my first link.

Dolly the navy dress might be an option, was waiting for reviews as well and photos on their facebook page to see what it would look like on me - I'm size 12 so look nothing like those models.

waswondering I know, I'm 22 and a little bit of me dies when I go into M&S clothes shops and see them full of little old ladies, but I just repeat "machine wash and tumble dry" and then carry on browsing. Saves a fortune in dry cleaning... I'm fed up of finding lovely things and then realising that I'll have to pay £10 every few times I wear them just for the pleasure of being able to have them clean again.

This dress from Hobbs is amazing, but showing as out of stock at the moment- keep an eye though, it has come back in stock a couple of times or may be available in store.

Asos

Asos again

Zalando

thanks tethers - ha, the second is an obvious copy of the LKB Davina.