I think I've found my school run dress - Seasalt Cornwall

[BellaBearisWideAwake]

What do you think of:

the red one

and

the dotty one ?

[BellaBearisWideAwake]

soaccidentprone - yes to the people tree dress, thank you

the link to the generic dress shape didn't work but I will investigate

twirlyagogo - you may or may not be correct about shape but I won't wear the straight ones, so not much point buying them, I hate the way they look! I realise I might be wrong and they in fact look amazing on me, but I don't think so, so I can't relax wearing them. And re the sleeves, yes you CAN wear a cardigan, however the reason I look out for dresses with sleeves is the ease of throwing on and not having to add anything else.

The price is surely down to them being made in the UK?

[soaccidentprone]

this?

[noddyholder]

The shape is very dated

[VioletGoesVintage]

OK, I am going to hold my hand up and admit to owning the red Seasalt dress. And I really like it!

It was a present - Seasalt wasn't really on my radar - but I'm impressed by the quality of the workmanship and the material. And the fact that it's cotton with a cotton lining.

I'm wearing it right now with bare legs (yay! sun!), dark denim wedges and, I admit, a fitted cropped blue cardy. I had a denim jacket on earlier when I went out, which works very well with it.

Is it frumpy IMO? Dunno, and don't really care. It just about covers my knees - I'm 5'10" and pretty skinny. The flared skirt balances my broad shoulders so....win win, I think.

[twirlyagogo]

And this is the shape that works for my/our height/size I think - it's just a plain navy one, but the neck and length and fitted skirt part just look a bit less bleurgh I think (I'm no style goddess though):

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Kaliko+Cowl+knot+dress/184479915,default,pd.html

[soaccidentprone]

is this the shape you are looking for?

[twirlyagogo]

This is OK, despite being called 'ditsy' -

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Dickins+Jones+Ladies+Ditsy+Floral+Print+Dress/177357356,default,pd.html

[soaccidentprone]

so something like this?

[twirlyagogo]

I think that v neck or scoop neck is absolutely right, as is fitted on top, but would really avoid flared skirt. You can wear sleeveless with little cardi too - and agree with poster (Helly maybe?) who said that midi is better. If you have short legs, above or on knee isn't a good look (speaks from experience not nastiness).

[soaccidentprone]

Below the knee, just, but not mid calf?

[twirlyagogo]

I think I'm similar to you OP - 5ft 4, size 14, short legs, but really, straight dresses are your friend. They make the lumpy bits look more contained - those ones that kick out at the bum, A line, floaty from waist, whatever, they are HIDEOUS. I can't buy Boden any more, because even when they pretend otherwise in the pics, you get a frock and it has been A-lined completely.

Those Sea Salt ones are indeed frumpy - and they are shockingly expensive for what they are.

I'm watching this with interest though

[soaccidentprone]

So v neck, short sleeve, fitted bodice and a line or flared skirt?

Preferably just above the knee and patterned?

[BellaBearisWideAwake]

thanks, but no. neckline too high (I suit a v-neck), I would look all boobs! and I don't count those as sleeves.

[soaccidentprone]

is this more what you are looking for?

[mewkins]

I think the length is the problem. On the knee would be a pretty summer dress, those ones quite a bit below look a bit odd with both flats and heels. I know as I have a great plains dress that length which never looks rihht. Must re-hem it a few inches shorter.

Ps. Seasalt stuff is good quality - esp the breton tops

[apatchylass]

Jamie Olive Oil - that's lovely.

Agree with Helly Melly about the elegance of the length. Not frumpy at all.

[bella65]

Having looked at the Seasalt website, I'd say there are several much nicer dresses there if you really want one.

The Morvoren dress looks nicer but needs 6 inches chopping off it.

[Bunbaker]

I must be very frumpy because I have a dress similar to the first one. It is black with a small pattern and I bought it from Next last year. It stops just above my knees. I am tall and slim BTW and when I wore it recently everyone commented on how smart I looked.

[JamieOliveOil]

I've just ordered this dress from Next. It's really flattering for my figure which, sadly, is rather short and round!

[PasswordProtected]

I think both dresses are lovely and very adaptable. Really do not get all the frumpy comments. Not everyone wants to go round looking scruffy, do they?
Also liked that the dresses were not made in China.

[hellymelly]

I never wear stuff above the knee, and on-the-knee just makes legs look fatter. I don't think a midi length is frumpy per se at all. Most of my lovely vintage dresses are mid calf and not at all frumpy. I'm bored of seeing that slightly mini length now, I think its starting to look dated, and think super short is cuter if you are young or have fab pins and midi length is much more elegant.

[piratecat]

i used to live in mine too, and have tried to find another one (unsuccessfully) the past year or so. I must look again, as i think there may be more about now.

[BellaBearisWideAwake]

*denim

denima sounds like a baby name thread

[BellaBearisWideAwake]

denima jacket searching thread

[BellaBearisWideAwake]

wow, I used to live in my denim jacket as a teenager, that could be something .... off to start a new thread!