and i still dont have one - the ma and s one whilst prefect was to tight on bust in a 12
the Times today
"Want to be a Hamptons heroine? It's a cinch
Nicola Copping
The dress is in. But if looking like Sandra Dee or an extra in Pride and Prejudice is anathema to you, never fear: the summer dress need not be a cloyingly feminine confection. Utilitarian, boyish, casual and smart at the same time, the shirt dress is devoid of frills, fancy fretwork and fuss, scoring 10/10 on the versatility scale. It can be spruced up for a glamorous night out or toned down for the day job.
Take your cue from Stella McCartney and Donna Karan and wear an outsized shirt dress. You should look as if you’ve just woken up, pulled on your other half’s shirt and flung on a belt to retain a modicum of womanliness. Alternatively, imagine how they would do it Stateside, à la Ralph Lauren, and adopt a preppy, tailored Hamptons-heroine look, floating from kite-flying on the beach to sipping fruit punch on the veranda with a couple of shirt buttons coquettishly undone.
There’s one fast rule for shirt dresses: they must be cinched at the waist to avoid looking like a sack. Some come with belts or ties, some don’t, but it is important to create a softer silhouette. Use a belt to spice things up, but keep it in tune with the fabric’s weight: a neck-to-knee print might look too much like artists’ overalls unless you break it up with something more subtle at the waist.
Indulge in accessories. Take the Orla Kiely dress featured here: because of its slightly prim and matronly appearance, it could look too harsh if twinned with court shoes and a stiff bag. But a woven basket bag with sunflower detailing and a “fruity” pair of sandals — complete with bananas and pears — immediately lighten the tone.
A shirt dress is one of the most flattering and forgiving shapes. Pockets on the bust help to amplify smaller dimensions, while the A-line effect of the cinched waist draws attention away from pear shapes.
And for the evening? Undo a few buttons to reveal a camisole, sling on a gold chain necklace, slip on a pair of raffia wedges for height and definition, et voilà, off to the ball — well, OK, the summer garden party — you go. "