Never wear dresses - beginners help!

[shopafrolic]

Hello - I'm 5ft 9 with fair skin and shortish dark hair, size 12-14 and am turning 40 this year. My DS is 1 so I am spending all my time running around after him and having given up work I need to reassess my wardrobe.
Have always been terrified of dresses. Everytime I wear one I get greeted with cries of "OMG - you've got legs!" and I get put off wearing them.
Am fine with smart dresses but have never cracked day to day casual. Can anyone recommend a daytime dress for spring that I could 'throw on'?
Have always hoped to rock a floral number with boots and a biker jacket but every time I try floral I cringe!
I tend to live in skinny jeans, converse, long tees etc. and buy a lot of my clothes from GAP and French Connection.
Any tips or ideas gratefully received!

can I suggest joe browns? try ditsy prints. for the floral. dnt got for big prints, too in ur face n people will be drawn to it more if u wish to "blend" the fact ur wearing a dress.
how about wearing leggings at first to "break u in?" and a denim jacket?

I don't usually touch Joules, but have seen this in RL and its a gorgeous print and hangs nicely-
www.joules.com/en-GB/Womens-Dress/Red/M_LUSCOMBE/ProductDetail.raction

and www.joebrowns.co.uk/pp+Womens-Dresses-Tunics+DR-L looks like it may have some possibles if you avoid the frills and naff fabric on there.

Oops x posted mjawch

I luffs the Luscombe, jelly been hanging my nose over that little number for a while...

Gosh Joe Browns has got more frilly, hasn't it. this might look pretty good though with an oversize patterned scarf.

OP, I added some suggestions on a similar thread here. Forgive me if you've already seen it.

You could try Joy and Oliver Bonas too.

Joe Browns is polyester city.

I know I'm probably dressing from the boots up but I bought these cute Hudson ankle boots and now need the dress to go with.
www.hudsonshoes.com/mirar-tan.html
Oh and then these fell into my bag!
www.hudsonshoes.com/tansy-red.html
I am determined to get my legs out this spring / summer.
WIll definitely check out Anthropologie when I am next in town (sounds as though DH needs to be on DS duty that day!)
I like the Mango dresses Herewego particularly the first one.

Clure finally managed to look at your links and they are spot on - especially the skater dress from Oasis - but I can't do polyester it makes me horribly sweaty

Those COS dresses are so depressing! i'd feel like an extra on Cell Block H in most of them

Some nice styles on the Hudson site, shopafrolic I've never been that compelled to buy into the brogue trend (I'm not remotely feminine or delicate enough to pull that look off IMO) but these are right up my street.

I know ViviPru pricey but I don't think they'll date. The brogues are nice. I'd love to wear some but I have size 8 feet so will look like a man I fear! Couldn't find ladies Hudsons in the shops round here (Hertfordshire) - just mens! Hence the online habit!

I wonder how I'd style them for spring though once tights season is over - I'd feel a total tit in ankle socks and knee-highs would render DP incapable of speech he'd be laughing so hard

Like this ViviPru
www.wowfootwear.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/brogues-blog.jpg
Granted some of them are 12 years old.................

Barefoot though? Hmm... And I also have the most unpleasant ankles in the shire. I'm not sure they're for me

This isn't helping me much - I am too bloody fussy.

Oasis - too polyester-y;
Cos - too sack cloth and ashes shaped: I'm an hour glass and I need structure;
Joe Browns - looks cheap and teenagey to me;
Phase Eight - mostly too long for me and not seen anything I like in there for ages;
DPs - poor quality and a poor fit on me.

I am doomed.

Remus not there yet are we?!
Anthropologie recommendations are the closest I've seen so far. I am 40 this year but don't understand why I am destined for Phase Eight and Viyella shopping for the rest of my life!!
I'm going to take a look at the French Connection SS12 collection and see if there's anything there.

As if fate I got an email from French Connection last night saying all Sale dresses £45 or less.
What do people think of this as an option?
www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Sale/719ZV/Chica+Jersey+Dress.htm
They're all here............
www.frenchconnection.com/category/Woman+Collections+Sale/Sale.htm?f_category_code=WOMAN_COLLECTION_SALE_DRESSES&pgsz=10000

Yep that's definitely the nicest. The way they've styled those day dresses with desert boots is making me thing the Clarks Yarra is the way to go, spring shoe wise.... What colour though???? Aargh!!!!!

I love love dresses - totally solves all dressing dilemmas because you can just throw them on in the morning and go and dress them up/down depending on what you are doing. I recommend figuring out what dresses are best for your shape (I have broad shoulders so always wear a dress with a scoop neck or v-neck - and always put a belt on!) - then you instantly know what dresses will look fabulous on you - then it doesn't really matter what brand/price you are paying as you can be confident it will also look amazing. It also helps when discount shopping.

vivipru, I LOVE the Joy website, have you ordered from them before? Just wondering what the sizing comes up like and what the quality is like.

Yes, Clure, a top. It was a tiny bit on the small side, but in fairness, I am a tiny bit on the large side but quality was good for the price.

cheers! I really love those cute dresses and a bit spoiled for choice!