Decent dresses

[HermiioneSnape02]

Has anyone spotted any nice dresses anywhere?

I need sleeves, past or on my knee. Don't mind fabric. To wear with tights and converse or sandals. Size 16.

Many thanks x

I'll just place-mark here

Bump

Nettle
holly thanks x

Same here!

It's ridiculous how hard it is to buy a good dress now.

They are either all bodycon or all sleeveless or knee length. You have to do thorough Google searches to find what you're looking for.

I do not understand it and have thought the same for the past few years. the average woman is NOT a 25 year old 5ft 10 size 8 and I would like dresses to accommodate that fact please.

Having said that Joe Browns has a few, or EBay #slimpickings

Ive been on eBay but couldn't see anything and the sizing always seem iffy to me?

I'll take another look around....

I do not understand it and have thought the same for the past few years. the average woman is NOT a 25 year old 5ft 10 size 8 and I would like dresses to accommodate that fact please.

Ahhh but if they catetered for 5'10'' ladies then stuff would be knee length and not grazing my arse - even boden who I thought would do sensible length dresses if I bought long are too bloody short. I'm 5'8 and want a couple of dresses I can wear to work with bare legs, so they need to be to be respectable when I'm sat down.

I feel your pain.

Trying to find a couple of nice summery dresses with colour and not Jersey fabric is a nightmare!

I need size 18 with shoulders, décolletage and knees covered (5'9").

I'm seriously thinking of making my own!

Sleeves!! Where have all the blummin sleeves gone??!! Trying to buy a dress for an event and they are all body con or sleeveless. We don't all have Michelle Obama arms. Sorry that doesn't help you!

Thought it was just me. Oh well if anyone finds a good one please share.

I'm 5'11, size 12 and I find maybe one or two dresses a year that actually fit me properly ie. sit on or just below knee, waist isn't up round my tits, isn't bodycon, has some semblance of sleevage and is suitable for smart/casual work attire (ie. not neon coloured or sparkly ).

Honestly think the fashion industry is missing a trick these days by seemingly mostly catering to waif like teenagers.

oh, and Boden used to be my saviour Glittery. They always had a few decent, simple knee or below length dresses each season. Now everything is 'above nee' ie. mid thigh. They dont even look good on the models!

*knee

I love this one from Joe Browns

That is nice Scarlett. I am looking for something with short sleeves or 3/4 preferably.

dress

I like this one. But it doesn't have my size left ..

this one

navy

I'm looking for these too. I'm always cold and so need sleeves (ideally 3/4, I have short arms) and a length suitable for work (admittedly short legs makes this easier). I'm 5'4" and a size 10, so a very mainstream size and I still can't find them.

I am picky about showing absolutely no décolletage at work, so they usually have to be a bit stretchy to properly encase the norks.

I've scoured the local shops, and nothing at all. Only things with sleeves are evening dressy / lacey.

I remember a very very similar thread last year ( and probably a few years before that too)

We had an animated discussion about 20 something year old buyers selecting what they'd wear and then sizing up and whether it was the economies of manufacture. Short dresses with no sleeves take less fabric, skill and time to make so cost less to produce.

Frocks I've found with sleeves and enough length have been in East, Dickins and Jones ( in House of Fraser) and Seasalt.
For 'dressing up' , with an attendant price tag, Bombshell by Katya Wildman (20% vouchers around though) I bought one last year for some smart events. I felt elegant for not being exposed. The shocking effect at the sides are discreet and very clever. For those of us 'blessed' with substantial norks, along with upper arms and knees that should not be exposed, it was a Good Thing.

I like waist by tits (empire line) as it means I can hide my belly!

I have loads of Boden (c£15 from EBay) that I could wear in my last teaching job, but this one I have to be a lot more modest.

It seems like dress designers only have so much fabric to play with. If it's below the knee, it's strapless. If it is high-neck, pants are on show. If it appears modest from the front, it has a whole section of the back cut out.

I am not a prude but I have to follow my employer's dress code!

Not shocking but smocking! There's a word you don't often hear in these modern times!

Have you tried the John Lewis search engine? They're pretty good at letting you specify sleeves, length, neckline, sizes available etc. And if you don't specify size you can then go and look for whatever brand you find from other suppliers.

I'm seriously thinking of getting the sewing machine out too. I can't find anything under £120 quid that fits or flatters matronly bosom, apple-shaped belly, bingo wing upper arms

NB designers a tight sleeveless shift dress does not suit most of the population of the UK.