Do I look frumpy in this dress? (with photos! )

[Wigeon]

Trying to find a nice patterned dress for office-based work. This dress (Boden via eBay) looked lovely in the catalogue picture, but worried the neckline isn't flattering, makes my boobs look odd, fit makes me look fatter than I am (8-10 on top and 10-11 on bum/hips), DH thinks the pattern is aging / dowdy (I'm 35).

Honest views required please!

I think it's your ample bosom that is making some outfits look frumpy. My mum has a huge bosom - 32F - and she can't do round necks- always V or scoop. In the last 'sausage' pic you look top heavy but not in a good way. It might just be the angle of the pic- hard to tell.

The green one is awful- shoulder look too big, sleeves look too long for your arms and it's just bleugh...

Have you thought about a scooped neck shift with a cardigan?

Jigsaw

Jigsaw

www.jigsaw-online.com/products/iris-print-silk-dress-10000Jigsaw

Please please get something more modern and fresh. You are killing your figure with dated, frumpy, dull clothes. Try something lighter in colour and fabric. I'm off to have a look at some styles for you.

Any of these float your boat?

And this.

And this.

what about stores like Oasis, H&M, Warehouse etc- even Top Shop and New Look?
You should still be buying from places like that rather than middle-aged stores!

NO to skater dresses. Never looks serious enough at work.

Whistles maybe worth a look for a slightly more youthful look but there is no harm in dressing in a structured and expensive way when you're young - dress for the job you want, not the job you've got and all that.

I think it's perfectly possible to find good work pieces from Topshop etc but at this point OP is working out her style and the safest way is to stick to very good quality, stylish shops then you can't go too far wrong iyswim.

To be honest I think some of the dresses you've shown us are probably fine but just need nude tights, decent black suede courts(you need heels for this look I'm afraid) and a simple necklace to set them off. You are standing fairly rigidly for the photos (understandably!) but with movement and seeing your face on top, personality would be more apparent. You're definitely on the right lines now

I think without knowing your job it is impossible to say. An 'office job' could be anything from tea girl , a school admin/ secretary person, to a PA for a CEO , to being a chief accountant or a solicitor. Different levels of formality are required.

They're not really skater dresses though. The ones Kelly Brook favours are skater dresses. I do take your point though about them potentially being not quite right for work, depending on the role, as pinkfrocks says.

Oooher I've got that burgundy People Tree dress and I thought it looked really nice on me. Agree it's not doing anything for you. I'm worried now....

Does the purple/ black Hobbs dress (post at 9 Feb, 19.18) count as a skater dress, because the skirt is fuller and not straight / structured? And therefore not smart enough for work?

pinkfrocks - I have posted a little bit about my role - middle management, central government civil service, about to start new job managing team of 10, need to make an impact!

Can u link it again? On app and it's a pain to scroll back.

Purple Hobbs

I like that :)
Not sure if the black tights overpower it though- nude might work better.

Too old for you and doesn't do anything for your slim figure.

I agree with comments about dressing younger and lowering the neckline.

I am a good 15 years older than you in a managerial position and would not wear that Hobbs dress in a million years. I need a lower neckline like you because of a big chest. I don't suit high necks or scoop necks, a v-neck is best. I can wear a higher neck only if it is very tight fitting (not then really suitable for work.)

I think you are being very conservative and you don't need to be with your figure.

It looks good to me! I always feel like more of a girl than a woman if I wear a fuller skirt - if you're projecting a management thing then don't wear it on your first day, but I think it's fine.

Do you know what though Wigeon, this thread shows that nobody really agrees what is best, so take everyone's advice and opinion on board but in the end, it's how you feel in your outfit that really matters

Is there anything wrong with trousers? I wonder if you are discounting those? I would have thought smart black or navy trousers with a smart top and perhaps a jacket were de rigeur for your role. You can do better then Next polyester style, but both Jigsaw and Hobbs ( and LK Bennett) do a smart work-uniform range most of the time.

If you HAVE to wear a dress and look managerial, then I'd stick to plain colours like navy, grey or dark plum, possibly black, and forget patterns and florals.

I think you need some help with your basic body shape and the styles that suit you- THEN move onto colours and fabrics.

I am petite but slightly hourglass shaped (32D bust , 35 hips) and know that the best shape for me is a fitted shift that shows my waist, and some skater styles that are fitted but don't have too many flounces. I'm short, so they make me look hippy, dumpy and frumpy.

I think you would suit a draped or cowl neck, or a V neck, nothing too high or your bust takes over if it's tight fitting, and something that shows you have waist. For work you don't want anything clingy or you'll look like a slapper.

This neckline is quite high and I think you'd need it shortening but maybe something like this

www.lkbennett.com/Clothing/Dresses/Marina-Fitted-Dress/p/DRMARINAPOLYESTERMIXBlueDark%20Navy?nv=

OP please please post a pic of your new trousers with the stripy top tucked in.

Also I would like to see you in a shirt.

The block colours are NOT right for you, desist at once.

Hobbs

Ballroom - oh yes, I do realise there is no such thing as The Right Thing To Wear, and there's been quite a bit of disagreement on this thread, so I am certainly taking it all in, and then deciding what to do myself.

pinkfrocks - no, certainly not discounting trousers - I do wear them frequently to work, but just started this thread because I'd decided I'd like another work dress and I was finding it hard to find one with sleeves, and that was work-appropriate! That LK Bennett you linked to is very similar to one I've already got, which I do look good in - there's a pic up thread (looks beige but is actually grey). I tried on the Luann dress you've also linked to, on a trip to Hobbs yesterday - pic upthread (taken in changing room so lighting bad and hard to see the dress) - the fit was ok but the colour just looked dull dull dull on me, so I put it straight back on the rack....

rooty - I will, I will, it's just that my personal photographer (er, DH) is out tonight so I can't make him take YET MORE photos of me standing near the toaster...

Also realised I can't spell burgUndy! Apologies fellow pedants!

I am going to an awayday tomorrow being held my new directorate (haven't yet started the new job but been invited to the awayday), where I will meet everyone from my new team to all the Big Bosses in one go - need to make GREAT first impression - what to wear?!!!

I like those M&S dresses Trucking has posted - not sure they'd suit you though.

That green People Tree dress and the burgundy one are all kinds of shocking. The colours are really bad on you. Have you thought of getting your colours done, to work out what suits you? I've liked you best in navy so far, I think. On the evidence of these photos, I'd say steer clear of autumnal colours.

The stripy top combo is great on you - love the necklace with it, and the pointy shoes. I wonder if a nice mint coloured pointy shoe would look good with that - some kind of colour anyway. I like the idea of winkle-picker flats with it, but I know you have a bunion, so that's out...

I also think you look good in the two Hobbs changing room pictures you posted. The dresses are quite old for you, but they do project a management vibe.

I don't think that last purple dress is a good colour on you.

Ha it hadn't even occurred to me to wonder who was taking the photos. I obviously assume you are some sort of queen, with staff, like I am