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!

Just read other messages, might be a bit tight yes sorry Small iPhone pic

Nope, still not liking the pink. And not convinced by blue dress, black tights and grey jacket either, sorry. What does the navy look like with a black jacket?

The first dress is dowdy. They Lindybop is the best of the bunch. Much less dowdy and work appropriate. I think you look a little too good in the Bauken dress, lol! But I am very conservative. You have a great figure, but those look more like party/going out dresses to me. Both dresses actually look a little off in the shoulders to be honest, but your gorgeous figure means no one would notice much anyway.

You seem to be tall and thin with broad-ish shoulders. Look at sheath dresses and anything with raglan sleeves. Dresses/skirts ending just at the top of the knee is probably your best length, hard to tell without full length pics. Full skirts won't do anything for you.

That's mho. I am very unfashionable. But I sew a lot, and am aware of pattern cutting and how things should fit.

Really Too? I thought the navy looked pretty conservative (in a good way). The Lindybop is anything but conservative!

I don't like the pink. The navy looks good with the jacket.

Here are examples of shapes that would be flattering and professional:

I would not wear it and I am over 60! Wish I had your fabulous figure

What about this one?. Pure Collection usually has at least a couple of good work dress options.

HoF have some lovely work appropriate dresses in their sale

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Dresses/S301,default,sc.html?cm_sp=SaleHub--Priority1--Link1

Remus - I don't in fact own a black jacket, as I look rather washed out in black...I quite liked the grey jacket / navy dress / black tights combo (although they were just the tights I happened to be wearing anyway). Maybe navy opaques? Or something else?

Thank you others for comments too - am going to have to feed some children now, but will be back!

Dickins and Jones in particular

I think the navy is the best so far, although I find the neckline ruching distracting. Do you have any more feminine shoes?

I don't think any of them fit you properly - they either gape or look a bit pulled.

I wouldn't wear unstructured jersey like this for work. I know many people do, and I have done, but I think it's the dress equivalent of a sweatshirt. The first dress (sorry! I know it's gone, but for comparison) with its structure and definition was infinitely more grown up.

The navy is gorgeous, keep it, but wear it out for dinner with flats, no tights, and big jewellery.

The jackets are fine but with the dresses you're then being cut in half twice, into three horizontal blocks (and black tights / navy jacket doesn't work). With your height and slim legs I'd be going to a slightly loose, box pleat trouser, silk top (print), and a jacket on top. Mid heel.

Okay -my two pence. The Lindy-bob one looks horrible. Sorry about recommending that. The material looks cheap and the cut is no good.

The other dresses are too exposing. You can see too much of your body -rather than an outline/suggestion of your shape because the material is rubbish. Also the neckline isn't working- it's making your norks look really low-slung.

Firstly I suggest a bra intervention as they don't look supported. You are lucky in that you have a top heavy figure but it needs clever dressing professionally.

I actually think wrap dresses might work really well on your frame if dresses are your need but I think you would pull off separates better like the Gillian Anderson look in the fall - that is tight pencil skirt and silk blouse.

Been following this thread for days! I agree a wrap dress may look good as it would add a bit of interest towards the middle of the body. The other thing is definitely try the bra intervention.

Finally since this is for work, have you considered shift dresses? You have a slim body so ideal for that kind of dress, maybe with a lower neckline if your boobs are naturally lower slung

I like the neckline - I think it emphasizes your lovely collarbones. Agree that the norks look low-slung but I've already said you need a better bra. I think that will solve the norks issue.

I don't think the dress is too exposing (partly because it shows very little flesh) but I take PPs' points about thinner jersey for work - generally it's true that lined dresses in thicker fabrics are better.

That said, I still think the navy looks very good and I would (and do) wear something like this for work. I would wear with charcoal tights, but I'm not fashionable.

this style but with lower neck

maybe bit dressy but this shape

Of the recent ones i agree the navy one seems to suit you the best

Thanks for further comments!

Kissy - yes, the material on the LindyBop did feel cheap, and it definitely didn't fit (could hardly pull it on) - it's already gone back in the post.

I am going to get myself to Bravissimo for a proper fitting! Although I think I am around a D or DD, so lower end of their range, but have seen them recommended on here loads.

Mowglik, yes I like those shapes. One issue is that its blimming cold at the moment and I've been trying to find a dress with sleeves (either three quarter or full length) - most dresses seem to have v short sleeves or sleeveless! I'm not sure I can cope with buying and coordinating a cardigan to go over the top - ideally I'd just like a dress with sleeves.

More dresses have arrived! (This is the thread which just keeps giving...)

Awful Kaliko. Looked so much nicer on the model. Hate the pattern on me! It's going back...

Here is the same dress on my mum! (Aged 70). Quite similar to things she sometimes wears. I actually liked it much better on her.

Kaliko in different colourway. Still yuk. Shape felt all bunchy round the stomach - seemed to be too much ruchy material.

I think you are going to get a surprise when you go to Bravissimo. I am a 32D and you are MUCH more well endowed than I am!

I like the Kaliko one on you far better than the Baukjen ones.

i like the kaliko one as well

Hunt down statisticallychallenged & her bra intervention threads.

I, being a well known S&B Queen, Wets self laughing think you should try things that are either tailored, or like the beige dress in a better colour and DvF.

You have a nice figure, make the most if it :)