Is this dress too old for me?

[MyNameIsSuz]

I'm back to work in October and just starting to build up a work wardrobe again - I've been off for a year, before that I was in maternity clothes, and I just have nothing suitable for the office any more! My place ranges from smart-casual to very casual and trendy, but I prefer not to wear jeans and will usually wear dresses, with tights and boots in the winter and with flats in the summer.

I'm 29 and 5'2", and was wondering if I'd be able to get away with the petite version of this: www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Dresses/Petite-Dresses/WH530/Womens-Ruby-Dress.html. All the reviews are by people in their 40s 50s and 60s, I don't want to look old before my time, which I know sounds silly but some people dress incredibly young and fashionable and while I don't want to go down that route I don't want to look frumpy in comparison.

I've also just ordered this from Next: www.next.co.uk/x5246s1#867118x52 which I'm excited about and think will look good with thick black tights and boots this autumn.

So is the Boden one ok? I've never bought from them before. Any other suggestions also welcome :o)

I think the difference between those is that the Next one seems more structured and is definitely 'work clothes', whereas the Boden one is softer fabric and floral print which may give the impression of being more frumpy. I think you can only tell with Boden by trying on as shapes can be very different from expected.

A lot also depends on accessories and hair etc. On the whole I would say it does look a bit old, probably for the print more than anything - the same dress in a plain strong colour with bold accessories would look more youthful, or at least more modern.

I think the Boden one is for a much older lady than one of 29. Next one is nice.

Well they're apples and oranges aren't they . Love the Next one, may order that myself, the Boden would need to be tried on as could veer into dangerously meh territory.

The Next one is lovely. The Boden one looks to be a decent slinky shape up top but it tends to be their skirts that frumpify IME. Looking at the lengths the Boden is a full 10cm longer than the Next dress (in the 10P) so you might find that and the swirliness of the skirt swamps you a bit. I think at 5' 2" if you are after flirty printed teadress type things you are really well served by the high st at the moment.

Boden are doing free returns at the mo though and are generally quick about it.

I'm 44, but would feel old before my time in that Boden one - it's the print.

E.g. just glancing down the Oasis dresses (am loving Oasis at the moment):

Here is a basic printed wrap dress which I would put money on being more flattering than the Boden shape.

Another basic printed with slash neck.

Yet another basic printed with ruching. Love the colours, might have to get that!

This could be very elegant if you don't mind polyester.

Workwear but quite flirty, depends on your workplace!

Short sleeves, good transitioning-seasons dress.

The boden one is nicer in the grey - that ruby color screams middle aged to me. The next dress is lovely. I wouldn't worry too much about dressing young tbh, you are 29, not 49!

The Boden one looks frumpy even on the model! The Next one is great for work though.

Doh, sorry one of my links is wrong.

This is the flirty workwear one.

The oasis dress with the leopard print cuffs is lovely.

Actually, going back to the Boden one, you get a really good idea of what it looks like in the flesh if you scroll along the pictures to wear the model is wearing the purpley one against a grey background. And tis as I thought, nice enough up top but that skirt is a horror show.

Agree MadBusLady, Oasis are brilliant for dresses atm. OP tbh I would steer clear of all Boden dresses at 29 and 5'2", they're all frumpy IMO.

*where the model is wearing

The NEXT one is cooler. I'm not a fan of the first simply because I think it is a little frumpy. I really like the NEXT dress and the way you suggested wearing it would suit it. Choosing different coloured and textured wool tights in the Winter would extend its appeal too.

However it depends what you wear with it. A really cool pair of shoes or shoe boots and a good bag would ramp the dress up a little. But only a little. It is too old for you.

I think boden is a bit old for you. The next one was nice though.

The Boden one is to swirly for shorter ladies (I am one). You would certainly need to get the sewing machine out with that length. The next one is perfect.

Your 29 stay away from horrible frumpy boden!!

I like the grey Boden dress... I'm 24... and petite...

I have similar dresses. I think it depends on the person. I have a lot of, ahem, very honest friends, and no one thinks I look frumpy. In fact, they like my dresses! It works for me.

If you like something, if you feel good in it, then I think that's the main thing perhaps I'm not cut out for Style & Beauty. I think the Next dress looks cute but it's just not me and would do me no favours. If you like both and feel good in both, then I don't see why you can't wear both.

Well I think the Boden one is too frumpy for me and I am in my 50s!

Well, some of mine look like Boden dresses in the sense that they are wraps or tea-dresses with prints. It's the big floppy cuts Boden does that are the problem. They're not really the cute little dresses you might imagine if you'd never tried one on.

IMO the Boden one is too long and full skirted and not for a young person. Even I wouldn't wear it and am late 50s.

I'm 47 and the same height as you. I wouldn't buy the Boden one, it's much too long and swirly for us petite people.

The Next one is perfect.

I quite like the Boden one and would have worn it to work. Either with knee-boots and a long cardi in winter or flipflops in the summer (v. casual office). It depends how you style it.

However -£89 , they are having a laugh surely?

If it were long enough on me ( age 58) and a size 10, I'd go for the Next one.