OK I am reporting back my shopping expedition!!
You lot made me brave the small sizes of Zara I'll have you know:)
Anyway aside form being an XL in Zara (and I'm a size 14, so NOT that huge) I discovered the following.
A full skirt in any way shape or form = Mumsy. Sorry it just does, didn't seem to matter the length or how much clevage was on offer, full = my mother :)
The wrap around type of shirt dress was deeply unflattering as it seemed to always have a full skirt too.
The light colurs with stripes = nurse. As I thought, fine if you are young, but not great otherwise, also they look seethroughish.
Coddy's one with sequins = V V short - mid thigh and I am ony 5'3" Looked tarty/tacky
Dotty P's pink pattern one, v nice, but FAILED the gape test :) Lovely when standing still, if you move, crouch, sit, buttons go all over the placve and will pop off I am sure. OK for a standing wedding
Dotty P's trpical print dress looks like vomit in real life and didn't work on me, fit was OK ish, sleeve a bit tight (but I have FAT arms)
Debenhams seemed v sparse, loads on website, but I couldn't find them!
Next again, in catalogue, not in store.
Zara was pretty sucessful and made me realise the best style for us all (well provided you have norks!) a simple fitted dress, self belt with elbow length sleeves and a MAXIMUM a lineish skirt. ANy less means no sitting, any more = mumsy.
There was one I particularly liked, but it was linen or RAMIE (cheap linen) and although black was pretty lightweight. It would crease REALLY badly. It was v sexy though, but I just don't DO linen.
The one I bought was Dotty P, black with a faint pinstripe, a kind of placket at the front, oversized buttons and self belt. Knee length, but buttons mean a decent split at front, not too tight, so no gaping, but with buttons undone plenty of norks on show mean not too mumsy. I was wearing 4" heels at the time that might have helped. Can't show a pic as none on website.
HTH :)