Jumper Dresses - yay or nay?

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I'm 5'5" and a 14 top - 12 bottom half with no waist to speak of.

I fancy the idea of a sweater dress to wear with boots and thick tights (rather than leggings and tunic look)

A couple in Primark were nice but a thick , chunky open weave (so I'd need a skin colour slip which is fine) But at the hormonal hot flush age, not so good.

Any finer knit ones? Textured but lighter than the heavy Primark ones.

Or are they just not a good idea?

I've bought a charcoal grey one from the White Company. I have worn it once and was much too hot. But this unseasonable weather was the
Problem....

I tried this M&S one on & really liked it.

Next have some finer knit ones in at the moment.

I live in my fine knit one. I have a chunkier one which is just too hot for indoors. I much prefer my fine knit one but it is on its last legs, sob.

Not sure about wool ones actually as they tend to stick and drag ime. Try some jersey or cotton ones, much easier to wear.

Whistles and Toast have some stunning ones! Whistles are cashmere (Elena and Sara...very flattering) and Toast's are mostly lambswool (search the knitwear option, not dresses)... They are fabulous but £££! Sometimes John Lewis does a promo and there is 20% off Whistles. John Lewis has the Elena dress (I have the bottle green...it's TDF!) but they don't have the Sara dress yet. JL never have promos on Toast and they don't carry it all anyway.
Here are the Elena and Sara:
www.whistles.co.uk/search?performSearch=true&productsPerPage=60&keywords=elena#product=903000060737
www.whistles.co.uk/search?performSearch=true&productsPerPage=60&keywords=sara#product=903000060972

Here is the Toast page:
www.toast.co.uk/category/knitwear/knitwear.htm?utm_expid=77490557-8.rC_hSe0uSdiA4l6XEXUqgw.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.toast.co.uk%2F

Monsoon has some decent, not badly priced, knitted dresses (click option 'knitted dresses' but here are a few I like :)

This one is pretty for Christmas parties :):

uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.6/4331200152

uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.6/4330868351

I think this one would draw the eye right to the top and right to the bottom so your middle would not be so obvious (if you are conscious of not having much of a waist)
uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.6/4330830152

A bit dearer but so pretty..and doubles as a cardigan!
uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.2/4331134251

Zara:

Lightweight:

www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/dresses/zip-back-dress-c269185p1427564.html

Nice £90 Jack Wills' grey one with cute pockets:
www.jackwills.com/en-gb/product/borrowby-dress-10000219702

River Island (£40) One in link is black but go to swatches at the bottom...the silver grey one is really pretty!
www.jackwills.com/en-gb/product/borrowby-dress-10000219702

Oh well, hope that helps :)

Oh, and cashmere and merino tend to keep you cool when you get too hot and warm when you get cold... Save lambswool for the coldest of days. I posted some above that are a mix of wool and cotton (not too hot and wash okay).

Ooh, this nice Toast one is merino wool...very pretty in teal!

www.toast.co.uk/product/knitwear/C1AZH/SILK+TRIM+KNIT+DRESS.htm?categoryref=%2fcategory.aspx%3fcategoryid%3dknitwear%26seoterm%3dknitwear%26utm_expid%3d77490557-8.rC_hSe0uSdiA4l6XEXUqgw.0%26utm_referrer%3dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.toast.co.uk%252F&pcat=knitwear&adimage=&clr=C1AZH_teal&utm_expid=77490557-8.rC_hSe0uSdiA4l6XEXUqgw.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.toast.co.uk%2Fcategory%2Fknitwear%2Fknitwear.htm

Great dresses Leo, I have the whistles Elena - love it but it feels too special for everyday. I have the super soft slouch dress for every day but the other options were lovely too, they just didn't suit me as much. I find cotton jersey bags a bit around the bum and stick to wool now.

www.celticandco.co.uk/ladies/knitwear/dresses-1845/super-soft-slouch-dress/

www.celticandco.co.uk/ladies/knitwear/dresses-1845/werrington-zip-back-dress/

www.celticandco.co.uk/ladies/knitwear/dresses-1845/darley-pocket-dress/

OOOoOOh, I love the super soft slouch dress!! Is it itchy? Would you say the sizing was small, large or true? :)

I still love wool jumper dresses not sure whether they are still 'in' or not though, this www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0213-9973-1049K00&productvarid=0213-9973-1049K00-BLACK%20MULTI-12&refpage=promotions/sale-highlights is on my wish list.

I love them. Easy to wear with tights and nice boots. I have a couple from next this season and they are a good price too.

Snow Why did you show me that site?! Now I have to buy this (and wait 6 weeks for it!)
www.celticandco.co.uk/ladies/knitwear/ladies-cardigans-1278/v-neck-cable-cardi/

leo I wore the slouchy jumper on Friday, no vest or t shirt and there wasn't a hint of itch.

I have a monsoon one from this season (but none of the above links) and it is very flattering to my size 14 apple. It's cut with a lovely curve in the waist + hips and sits really nicely on me. Jersey dresses I find clingier and less forgiving, even if they are thick and ruched.

leo Have you seen this cocoon cardigan....it's gorgeous!

I am exact same size and height as you and they all make me look like a bag of spuds but I do like them

I live in my Uniqlo ones on my days off (home with ds that is, not off as in on holiday). I love the look of jumperdress and opaque tights for the autumn and it is so perfect for running around after toddlers.
I am sure it is nay for some fashionistas out there, but for me they are the perfect mix between style and comfort.

Snow THAT is gorgeous! Have you seen it IRL? The description says navy but it looks more like a dark steely blue to me....really pretty! I fear at 5ft3 it would be too long.... My legs would even stumpier! Beautiful if you are about 5ft8, I should imagine... There are loads of gorgeous things on that site but I wonder if they look as good in the flesh. I am always in love with how Toast things, for example, look on their site, only to be majorly disappointed when they arrive...they are always much duller, even murky-looking!
I think I'm definitely going to get the pretty aran cardy! :) It's pretty gorgeous - plus the price is good - and I've been after a traditional looking one for ages! I think I might have thrown caution to the wind and ordered the cocoon one you linked me to if it had been 65cm in length or less...probably just as well it's too long
Are you going to order it? :)

Sorry for the typos!

Check out TK Maxx. There was another thread about jumper dresses and someone linked. I bought 2 and am really happy:

www.tkmaxx.com/search?q=jumper+dresses&categories=shop

leo I have received it this morning and it's so lovely, great quality, will definitely be warm and it's a good colour too! Look especially good from the side and back - disclaimer I am 5ft 8in....

I love Aran, but I don't suit masses of cream near my face....I love the jumpers with jeans and chunky boots, great clothes for a summer's day in Donegal

If you have little self control, a wardrobe full of clothes but a weakness for all things soft and autumnal, the code CCD13 gives you 15% off

I bought the first one on that link cardamomginger. I haven't worn it yet as it has been too warm.

I have been browsing on the Fat Face website and seen some nice dresses on there as well.

Snow, I am jealous of your extra 5 inches!
Fififolle, you enabler, you!! Thanks so much (do you have any idea when it's valid till?) :)