Vivienne Westwood Anglomania

[Saurus72]

I keep looking at these dresses online, and I think they may suit me (size 14 hourglass). But are they worth the money - most seem to be made of viscose. Do they wash and wear well? In a bad light, they kind of look similar to Fenn Wright Manson dresses, but for much more money. I'm looking for a couple of dresses I can pull out for weekends/nice dinners etc, but are easy to wear. Hoping not to spend more than £250-ish each.

[Saurus72]

...anyone...?!

[Eastpoint]

The sizing is quite erratic in my experience, I'm an hourglass 39 (on 32 inch ribs) 28 40 & muscly. House of Fraser had some 50% off last year & I tried loads on. I ended up buying one which is a 10 (!?) & not my typical shape at all, cowl neck & slightly bias cut but it works. I think the v hourglass shapes can be a bit over the top if you are an hourglass. I can't fit in my Viv W size 12 gold label dress anymore, I need to be ½ stone lighter.

[AmberNectarine]

I have two. Very nice dresses but I've not worn either. I've had one for almost 3 years and the other for 6m. While I think they're lovely dresses I never put them on. I always feel too 'done' in them.

[OneLittleLady]

TWO Amber and you've never worn them?!?! I am for the poor unloved frocks

[getyourselfchecked]

I have a Viv dress which I bought in a sale for about £200. I love it! A bargain really as it can be worn at least three ways. It can be really dressy and also quite punky and casual. Don't care if it's posh, I am wearing it out on monday to an informal dinner. Wearing it makes me feel good and the drapey fabric hides a multitude of sins. Also have Viv shoes which have been used and abused and still look like new.

[Eatingmusselsfromashell]

I've recently bought this from Liberty using their £30 off code. The jersey is quite thin and clingy (spanx a must), but I love the colour. I'm a 14, and the L looks best.
Plan to wear with high heels and a purple and dark green tartan coat next autumn/winter. The colour is great , but not very spring/ summer like, so I suspect it won't get many outings until later in the year.

[cathyandclaire]

I have a couple and I love them and wear them lots but have to say I've only ever paid sale prices, they are quite £££ for jersey dresses

[MarshaBrady]

I rarely wore the one I had. But then I do think they are better for hourglass shapes.

I'd definitely worth looking for a discount of some kind.

[NinetyNinePercentTroll]

I find the sizing very weird in VW stuff. It looks like it should fit me and flatter my body shape (slender hourglass) but I find that it just doesn't work. If it fits my waist, there is no boob room whatsoever, ime. I'm a 30F with a 25in waist, so my proportions are not wildly curvy, so as to throw off the peg items off usually.

I have one dress from years ago that I like but isn't a perfect fit, but it's doable.

[NinetyNinePercentTroll]

Mine is the more structured VW stuff, not Jersey. Sorry, missed that you were talking jersey.

Tbh, I know they are done to death but I really like the Issa jersey dresses. They fit me very well and are much more flattering than VW's offerings. The weight of the fabric is great and the range of shapes, colours and plains/patterns is really good too. A bit dearer than the VW but can be picked up for a similar price on sites like the Outnet etc.

I also like the (again, ubiquitous) DVF jersey dresses, more casual than the Issa styles (more wearable as a day dress) and again in wide range of fabrics, style and whatnot. A bit cheaper than the VW too.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I like mine a lot (was £100 in the sale and has been worth it, but wouldn't have been worth the £195 original price). It's just a black one, just above knee length, with a cowl neck.

I've worn it everywhere - parties with high heels, pubs with a biker jacket and boots, on holiday with flip flops, to work with a blazer, out shopping with Converse etc, so cost per wear it's been good value. Unfortunately I think it's a bit big for me now - I've not lost weight so maybe it stretched!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I tried this on yesterday and it's quite a good copy of the VWs. It was too long for me, but if you're tall it might be worth a try? Size down. Obviously I have no idea how well it washes etc but for that price it might be worth a shot?

[Saurus72]

Ooh, thanks for the replies. What I'm hearing (with the exception of Remus' dress that has been worn everywhere - exactly the type of thing I'm looking for) is that they are maybe not the solution I'm looking for. Will definitely look out for the Issa dresses though, and maybe the Anglomania ones in the summer sale.

Remus - the HoF one you linked to is v similar to one I bought from Cos recently, which is definitely earning its keep. I'm wearing it as I type.

I have also heard Me+Em are decent, so will look at that website too.

Thanks

[AmberNectarine]

Mine just feel a bit formal (both eveningy styles which I don't really do (more of a leather skinnies/short skirt girl). I do gave a VW red label pencil skirt which I have worn loads though.

[AmberNectarine]

I have a few Me&Em which get worn a lot. My DVF went on eBay as it made me feel mumsy and my Issa hangs largely unworn in my wardrobe. I think slinky bodycon dresses are more my bag.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Link to Cos one? Sadly, most of the dresses and skirts in Cos are far too long for me though.

I've got a Red Label gathered skirt which I wear a lot to work and which I absolutely adore. Was another good sale find.

[MarshaBrady]

VW is often very good in the sales, worth waiting for.

[MarshaBrady]

(re order for good grammar)

[Saurus72]

Cos link: www.cosstores.com/gb/Shop/Women/Dresses/Gathered_waist_dress/46881-15078586.1#c-24479

This is a good weekend day dress for me because it's knee length (hate my legs), I can wash it and just hang it up to dry, no ironing needed, and is v comfy. I think it will work in Spring, Autumn and Winter, with varying weights/lengths of cardis/jackets. I want more dresses like this - a typical weekend often involves meeting friends in London for an exhibition, then dinner and drinks so I want things that are not really dressy and smart that I feel like I should be at work, but look good and mainly, so that once I've put it on, I don't have to think about it again.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Nice. I have a couple of similar White Company ones that work well too, except I always think they make my norks look too big!

[Saurus72]

To be honest, being 36dd, that part is unavoidable for me, and is really the least of my worries (fat knees being probably the thing that influences what I can buy more than anything else)!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

LOL. I actually like my legs, but hate my 32Es! They just seem to make everything look either slaggy, matronly or both simultaneously.

[NinetyNinePercentTroll]

Amber - I don't have the classic DVF wrap style, I have her jersey stuff in long sleeve shift shapes, so sort of body con without making me feel like a Little Mix reject.

[AmberNectarine]

Ah yes actually I have a DVF Bentley that I like which is stretchy bodycon.

[NinetyNinePercentTroll]

Yes, I like the Bentley.