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

Any of these strike a chord?

Phase Eight? Or are you not old enough yet ? I am ...
Yes to John Lewis.
Boden always worth a look as has occasional gems.
Kaliko (also at JL).

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

^ this

I'm not adverse to backless, body con with sparkles and above my knees. Just not for work.

How about these? (Dependant on material) m.topshop.com/h5/product?productId=23001756
m.topshop.com/h5/product?productId=23467207#

I'm old enough. 40 this year.
I have a couple of phase eight dresses but for going out. I have 1 Dickens and Jones from last year. A dark green one being sold on eBay now. Tempted to buy another but it was one the short side.

I'm really after day dresses. Dropping off to school, shopping etc. Without flashing my underwear or it looking like I'm trying out for a page 3 job (34gg).

Even phase eight sometimes buggers up lengths and their sizing.

Although my fave work dress is from there - thick Jersey, 3/4 sleeves, just below my knees, high neck and grey.

Have you looked at Pepperberry? They are designed for the ample bosom. Also St Bustier if you are flush.

Phase eight is about the best, but sometimes great and sometimes borderline frumpy.

Phase 8 is good in winter but crap in summer, I find, because of the lack of sleeves. Don't they know we live in England? And many of us who need smart work dresses have (gasp!) air conditioned offices. Quite apart from the possible inappropriateness of bare shoulders / upper arms in some workplaces.

Winser London... but quite ££.

I want a dress as you describe in black, cotton but not jersey. I think I have been looking for it for 10 years now.

I won't hold my breath for these dresses then

John Rocha

There are quite a few Mantaray dresses on Debenhams with short sleeves...they look above the knee on the models but ones I have just sit below the knee, I am 5'5".

I know they get scoffed at on MN but I love them...just wish they were a better cut

Watching with interest.

Watched last years thread with interest too.

Here's a few that might work.

Info on that dress:

'The model in the video is 5ft 10 and wears a size 8'

Have a look at Damart.

I love Mantaray tunics and trousers. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to wear trousers and their dresses are a bit short.

www.hush-uk.com/m/womenswear/daywear/dresses_skirts/solana_dress_black.htm?gclid=CNur7LbZ5ssCFQkq0wod1YsLSA&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_content=Hush+Women%27s+Solana+Dress%2C+Size+XS%2C+Color+Black&utm_campaign=

Should be knee length on mere mortal
www.uniqlo.com/uk/store/goods/164537?r=7594197308021901892

m.bananarepublic.gap.co.uk/product.html?dn=bp000949935SP04-13649&dv=1&shopid=1&pdn=bc69883&outlet=false

m.bananarepublic.gap.co.uk/product.html?dn=bp000183943J014-15097&dv=1&shopid=1&pdn=bc69883&outlet=false

Check out Baukjen, Hobbs, phase eight. It's the casual stuff that's tricky. Maybe fat face and white stuff. Warehouse and oasis too occasionally

Joules?

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women%27s+designer+dresses/301,default,sc.html?redirectQuery=dress#www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women%27s+designer+dresses/301,default,sc.html?prefn1=brand&prefv1=L.K.%20Bennett&prefn2=Style&prefv2=Shift%20Dress&fix&spcl&ajaxsearchrefinement

Lk Bennett have a few longer sleeves.

I think some of the Joe Browns dresses would quite happily fit in with Per Una at M&S.
I prefer plain colous with little or no embellishment.
If I knew how I'd set up a company selling simple basic clothing in black, navy, white or sweatshirt grey. I think this was the premise behind The White Company but they have sort of lost their way a bit.
I'd use cotton, cotton jersey, linen, silk , silk satin and cashmere.
People can add their own colourful accessories.
A girl can dream

holly I'd be your first customer.

Agree, holly. White Company is for people of 6'4" with long silky hair and long silky children. The catalogue makes me howl with despair at how crap I am. Otoh I refuse to be shunted off to JD Williams... but if I wear simple beige clothes I look like Sandi Toksvig. She is no doubt a lovely person but not really my style icon.

I also find most dresses too long from neck to waist, resulting in a big bulge at the back. It seems that many shops just shorten a size 8, instead of making it smaller all over.

And the lack of room in sleeves! I don't have exceptionally large bingo wings, but I can't fit my arms in many sleeves - they are way too tight. And I hate that bodycon style. We are not all off to endless weddings and race meetings.

I keep browsing Joe Brown because the basic shape (including sleeves and length) is often just right, but the embellishment can be weird. Now I'll happily embrace my inner hippy, and quite like their general vibe. But on the shapes I want, the embellishment is always wrong. (Sod's law means it's always going to be like that, doesn't it?)