Does this dress suit me?

[Reastie]

Please be brutally honest. You've been really good at this in the past.

I've been coveting this dress for months but it's been out of stock. Finally spotted it back it stock so ordered but I'm actually not sure it suits me right. It is my size but feels ever so slightly possibly a tiny bit too tight around the bit where the pleats start IYKWIM (not insurmountable as I'm trying to lose a bit more weight).

The style feels a bit young girl ish (I'm old 32) and very different to my usual style, but that might just be because it's not like my usual dress choices. Would really value your opinion as to if the style suits me and whether to return it (I'm using some christmas money to buy it so could return and but something more suited at some point in the future with no bother).

It's not the shape of the dress it's the pattern, it's too twee.

I thnk its nice, its something my DD would wear (she is 23), she tends to wear her hair in some sort of retro updo and has tatoos - so it takes away from the material if you see what i mean. I think unless you are going to wear it with mad shoes, mad hair and mad make-up its not great tbh.

I did debate the skirt blob but I tend to find dresses more flattering/easier to wear than tops and skirts, and there's less to think about getting things to work together with a dress!

I like it with the grey tights but would ditch the bolero and get a grey cashmere or merino v-neck cardigan to go over it in winter. I'd say, if you like it, keep it, nothing like putting on a cheerful print in the morning to put a smile on your face. And the others are right, you have a lovely figure!

I like it! I'd wear it! It's quirky and bright and fits you well.

Rock it!

Aww I think it looks nice but then I've got no style myself…

I really like the garden bird print in the link that blobandsnail posted. feels a bit more grown up, a bit Mad Men!

It's £65! For that money you could get something much nicer

(the birds print one is nicer, more versatile, but I think you'd still have the same issue with the cut)

I think it's lovely and that you have the perfect figure for retro outfits like that. It's very 1950's...like something from Call the Midwife. I like it with the cardigan and tights too but only if it were a different pattern...something on a darker background would be more appropriate for a winter outfit. If you like that style, I bet MNers could help you find something similar?

Just looked at the CK website...the black or green birds would look much nicer with the cardi/tights combo.

I like it but I agree its not that flattering on your waist. I wear this style a lot-pretty much every day! Lady vintage do very similiar style dresses and they are cheaper and have a tie belt to define your waist. If your quick you might still get one in the sale too!

Ps-you are not too old at 32! I am nearly 40 and wear retro style-be confident.

I love this dress! I am 35 and would wear it. I think the grey tights aren't the right colour though and it could do with a thin belt round it to define your waist.

Very jealous!

OK, I should point out that the grey tights weren't necessarily meant to go with the outfit, I was wearing them anyway when trying on the dress rather than putting them especially with the dress IYWKIM.

Just been nosing on the lady vintage website someone linked to. Lovely stuff and am very tempted by a tea dress but a bit too puffy for me.

I actually loved the CK birds fabric on their web page but saw it in store and didn't like it in RL.

Reastie-they may have styled the tea dress with a petticoat underneath hence the "puffiness". I usually only wear petticoats with mine if I am going out. They look just as nice without them.

Reastie I keep wanting to wear this dress shape as well, it's a lot more youthful than a slinkier cut. But I put them on and think "But I look mad/like a balloon/8mo pregnant"

I can't decide whether it's genuinely because my waist is my best bit and I should show it off, or because I just can't adjust to how this cut is supposed to look.

Is it maybe that it is a touch high waisted? Their things sometimes are.

Have you tried NW3 at Hobbs (in the sale natch, they also have quirky prints and retro styles), Lady V of London too but very full in the skirt dept.

mad my waist definitely isn't my best bit!

Meryl off to nose at NW3. I don't usually even look at Hobbs as it's so £, but maybe sale....