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!

You don't look fat in the slightest but if you hadn't of told your age I would of guess 60-70

Sorry the dress is awful

Not a good dress.

Ted Baker, Karen Millen and Hobbs should be better!

London can we have less of the ageist comments please?? :)
I'm late 50s and wouldn't be seen dead in that dress.

So sorry- that was for Homepride.

When you get the new one can you post another pic of you in it? I love a good before and after!

Really awful. No one would look good in it.

www.johnlewis.com/kaliko-printed-jersey-dress-multi-green/p1715315

Maybe?

www.johnlewis.com/kaliko-ponte-dress-teal/p1811256

The eBay seller is happy for me to return , so it is going straight back.

I have ordered this Lindy Bop wiggle dress and this Baukjen in both pink and French navy cos it's hard to tell what the colours actually come up like without seeing them. Thank you Tethers and Kissyboo - and thank you others - I have looked at every link but can't quite manage commenting on every single one.

Might well be tempted to buy another one too in case those don't work on me...

Think I might need a waist belt in a contrasting colour - the problem I've found with those is that even if you get an 8 or 10 size belt, there's always a longish flappy bit of the end of the belt if you are wearing it round your waist, as they never seem to have an integral belt hook - am I missing something when it comes to buying waist belts ?!

No I find that with belts too- it seems to be a new 'craze' which is stupid! Older belts used to have 2 slots for the excess belt - one fixed and one that slid around the belt. I reckon it's cost-cutting.

Kiki - I will! If I ever find a dress which looks good! Actually, my grey LK Bennet is fab - I might post me in that just as a morale boost!!

Pinkfrocks - the teal will look boxy on me I think, but I do like the first patterned one, the shape is really good I think, and like the colours, but is it dowdy and frumpy?! Am now doubting myself on pattern!

I actually like it. And agree that it is all about how you accessorise it. Floral prints and navy are very in.

Like everyome else. You have a lovely figure, it makes you look twice your age.

I really don't 'get' Boden. I am a size 12, occasionally size 14, but generally a decent 12. Boden (and Hush) makes me look revolting and pregnant and fat.

I think you'd have to try it on and see. I can't make my mind up by looking at it. I think with wrap over dresses the trick is to make sure you fill the bust area- so sizing down or whatever may work.
Patterns tend to look more casual but the issue with totally plain dresses in manmade fabrics is that any marks- eg a bit of grease or a spillage- are a bugger to remove and the dress is ruined.

I'm of frumpy age, and I would not wear that dress - it is truly horrid. I personally love Mint Velvet stuff

(Tried to post a link, but got a paragraph of symbols and nonsense). Sorry!

Do an internet search on them, it will pop up . . .

Right, off to a child's party but will spends the evening following up links!

Gosh it's ghastly, sorry OP.

It looks like something Amish.

Sorry op,but it looks like an old biddy dress. I could imagine Dot Cotton wearing it.

Avoid Boden like the plague. I really don't get their stuff,so much of it is doddery that I really don't get the appeal.

i loathe those lindy bob ones - you would look like you are in fancy dress

think the one in the pic is ok - just dull

Try Whistles. This style might be more flattering but not in stock in your size?

www.whistles.com/women/clothing/dresses/cooper-crepe-dress.html?dwvar_cooper-crepe-dress_color=Blue#start=1

Oh, and Whistles do bodycon dresses all the time. Some of teh patterns aren't always my think (bought one very reduced in a panic for a wedding last year) but they fit really well. Like this

www.whistles.com/women/sale/dresses/spot-print-bodycon-dress.html?dwvar_spot-print-bodycon-dress_color=Green%2FMulti#start=1

The dress is doing you no favours at all, I'm afraid. I must admit though, that I really dislike those Lindybop dresses, and I personally think the pink Baukjen one looks far too low-cut and clingy for work.

Jigsaw This has a similar print/colour to the one in your pic, but is a better, more fitted shape.

With your figure I would buy two plain fitted shifts then have fun with some accessories:

Wear them cone heal ankle boots
Coloured courts
Scarfs large cotton/small chiffons
Statement necklaces.

I don't get the Boden thing either. Frumpy, overpriced tat imo

I quite like it but its hard to tell if it suits you without seeing your face. I think it does risk being a touch dowdy.