A dress to wear to court

[ProtectiveMother]

A long sleeved, knee length dress please ladies to go with navy low heeled court shoes. I am quite tall so if you know of specific tall brands, even better!

Not too expensive. I'd like to spend £50 or under. Floral pattern ok or... plain... what colours look good with navy shoes?

I don't think it should be too fashionable as I need to look responsible iyswim. It's a family court case and I am the person who is telling the truth so it should look honourable and smart. Not too mumsy though as I hate that look and want to wear it again.

A shirt dress possibly?

Thanks!!!!!! I want to feel comfortable and look my best as my future is going to be decided for me :-(

[LightasaBreeze]

Have you got a Longtallsally store near you or maybe have a look on Next tall and order to store. Unfortunately all tail clothes are always online.

www.longtallsally.com/stores

Depends really how long you have got until the court appearance.

Hopefully you will get something today anyway

[Somethingyesterday]

Just one more.

This is closer to what you described - though black not navy.

[ProtectiveMother]

Thanks to both of you for those ideas. I LOVE the black shift dress. Well the twist to the tale is that I talked to a shop assistant who said that the only colour I can conceivably wear with navy shoes and tights is berry colour.

This is not what I had planned! However berry suits me very well so if anyone sees a berry shirt dress...

OOtherwise, I am ordering a pair of black suede court shoes on Monday. Now the heel is higher (6cm) than my sturdy & sensible navy ones but I was thinking that it might allow me to choose a better dress/outfit in a better colour than the maroon/navy mix which is maybe too colourful.

I found a Tall Blazer today in topshop and bought it as it looked smart. So now, if I'm scrapping the navy idea, I think a grey / black shift dress may be the way forward. Or indeed any colour of smart dress to wear with black shoes, tights and blazer.

[ProtectiveMother]

I was going to tell you which blazer I bought but it's not on the website. It has long sleeves (nice and long on me-yay!) It's kind of dressy. Longer at the front / sides than at the back iyswim. I say kind of dressy but it's actually really dressy.

[ProtectiveMother]

I did see a dress in H&M today. Grey panel at top & black at bottom. Belt in the middle. Could be perfect. Wish Id bought it to try on with the jacket!

[LightasaBreeze]

This from Boden, They do a longer length size

www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Dresses/Day-Dresses/WH537/Womens-Printed-Shift-Dress.html?m=3

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Please try and relax over your outfit.Keep it smart and simple,avoid anything 'very dressy' as a choice.You want to look respectable and be able to relax.What you don't want is to look uncomfortable and fake/trying too hard/like a fashion statement.

[MTBMummy]

I wear this with navy shoes and tights and had a few compliments

Pancil Dress

But I have also just bought this, which I love Midi Dress

I'm 5'9/5'10 and both are just over the knee

[Somethingyesterday]

The thing is TripTrap the OP isn't really going to be able to relax either before or during the court hearing. It might be better for her to spend a little time distracting herself with clothes shopping. Once she is satisfied that her outfit is sorted out she will probably then be able to concentrate on all the other stuff.

OP It sounds as if you've had a successful day.

[ProtectiveMother]

What is the fit of the pencil dress/ shirt dress like please? The 12 may be tight on my hips as I think I'm a 40 inch hips? Is there a split at the back? Thanks!

[ProtectiveMother]

Actually I'm doing good work on non-clothes-related court prep this week. The clothes part is the hard part!

However! I have just taken a look in the mirror and I'm wearing a cotton black cardigan with lace detail and a black dressy modest skirt by wallis. Possibly if I paired these with my navy tights / sensible shoes or black tights new black taller heels I might get away with that?

[ProtectiveMother]

I actually just flung these on and didnt think of them as an actual option!!!

[LightasaBreeze]

Actually the skirt and cardigan sounds fine, probably not with black tights though - might look a bit, well, black.

You might be better off going down the skirt/blouse/cardigan route anyway, much easier if your tall as you don't need to worry about waistlines being in the right place and easier to get the right length.

Would the skirt go with your new blazer, or maybe get a skirt that goes with the blazer.

[MissHC]

YY to Phase Eight. I'm tall and pear shaped and find their dresses suit me really well generally.

Other suggestions around your budget:

dress 1
dress 2
dress 3
dress 4
dress 5
dress 6
dress 7
dress 8

(and all Debenhams dresses, knee or mid lenght, long sleeves, sorted by price: here)


Phase Eight have got some on sale:
this one although I would really get rid of the ribbon and replace with statement belt
more colourful
very simple

[ProtectiveMother]

Breeze the skirt doesn't go with my new blazer. In fact Im tempted to bring my new blazer back- it's not going to go with very much! But no I'll keep it prob to fling over my dress at an upcoming wedding. And it will look fantastic w jeans and my new heels!

Ok I'll try these black things on with my sensible shoes...

[ProtectiveMother]

Miss HC- good work!!!!!

I LOVE dress number 7.

[ProtectiveMother]

Well I tried it all on and it looks sensible. Not too black with the navy tights and shoes. Dressy enough. I have a navy Urban Outfitters short wool coat that pulls it together that I could wear there. And then take off. It's true that my hair and make up will be perfect so maybe good if I don't look like I'm going to a wedding (and there would be a risk of that if I were to wear one of those sexy tight dresses or my higher heels...)

[fortyplus]

op how tall are you? I'm 5'9" and have jackets from Boden, Laura Ashley, Next etc. Laura Ashley isn't an obvious choice I know but occasionally they have a good plain tailored jacket in the sale because everyone goes in there looking for mumsy florals

[ProtectiveMother]

Hi forty plus. My jacket is fine. It's a good buy. However I'm still no closer to finding my outfit. Talked to a reliably fashion-conscious friend tonight who assured me that my navy shoes and navy tights are the way forward and that I need to find a mid-grey or charcoal dress with sleeves to go with these and then I'm home and dry. Apparantly berry will do with navy too. So now, dear amazing dress-finders pplease do go forth and help me to ffind a mid-grey or charcoal (or poss berry) dress that's smart and sensible that I can be comfortable in! :-)

[ProtectiveMother]

Oh good a barrister. What should I wear baby barrister?

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

I've had one with skintight white trousers,stripper shoes and tight,low cut white crop top before.Really not helpful given what was being said about her.Even better,she arrived over an hour late blaming a 'very heavy period'....

[ProtectiveMother]

Haha!

Yes I have seen a good few in the waiting room tis true. Men in tracksuits and tattoos, women with orange faces, tracksuits, tattoos and... em... high heels.

I don't really fit in! But hey, my ex is only dragging me through court to continue to control me!

The last time I was present in court room for a review, the judge that day (a different one) only saw my waist up and I was wearing a smart dark 3/4 sleeves green shirt buttoned up to my neck -from Gap. I could tell I made a very good impression on him so that's why I think a shirt on top is the way to go ..

[RadioSilence]

This one has short sleeves so is not exactly what you were after but is really flattering and very cheap.

www.matalan.co.uk/womens/shop-by-category/dresses/s2531435/fit-and-flare-dress