Denim shirt dress - epic style fail woes

[DollyPartonsBeard]

So (prompted by advice from S&B folks) I bought (what I thought was) a lovely Violeta by Mango blue denim shirt dress from eBay. Fits beautifully, and a bargainous fifteen quid.

Alas, expectation vs reality is a wide gap! I imagined effortless 70s chic but in all honesty I look like an extra from Prisoner Cell Block H! I've already ditched the black skinny rib poloneck which was giving off definite Wentworth vibes, and added a slim back belt to give a bit of waist definition. Anything else I can try? Currently wearing it with black opaques and knee-length chunky biker boots - may risk a biker jacket and big bright scarf later.

Sorry, no advice but just wanted to say that I have the exact same problem with a denim shirt dress I bought before Christmas. It looked so good. In my head.

I'm thinking the Spring is going to change everything and it'll all come together then when we don't have to worry about big coats etc

Thanks Kochicoo I'm glad it's not just me! When I tried to explain to DP she reminded me I'd had a Boden dress that was very similar a few years ago which I sold on Ebay because I could never get it to look as 'effortless' as I'd hoped!

Totally sympathise with the denim shirt dress woes. I love the idea of one, the effortlessness of pulling it on and just heading out, but every time I've tried one it makes me look very butch, which was not the look I was after. I think my shoulders are too broad and I am too busty for it to hang well. Have you tried a denim pinafore or denim shift dress instead? It might have a less prisoner-vibe (and possibly more of a toddler-vibe if you are me ).

I've got one in a Boden parcel, waiting for me to try it on.

I'm putting it off because I know it won't look as good as it does in my head.

I just want to enjoy the potential for a big longer.

I also failed with mine.
It fit lovely around my bust but slightly too large on the hips and thighs so never looked quite right.
I still eye them up in shops but have to walk away.

I think they look a lot better with brown boots and grey or navy tights, than they do with black - or with bare legs on warmer days.

I had to get rid of mine though, because I got too fat for it. Haven't found another that I like yet.

I have a couple. Can't fit into them right now, but when I could I would wear them with a skinny coloured or metallic belt, bright vest top underneath (I had a phase eight one that zipped up from the bottom and a m and s one that had a few poppers), navy tights and ankle boots. In spring or summer, I would wear them with heeled or flat sandals and a white vest top. Always with a brightly coloured big bag.

I was thrilled to find a new with tags Boden one in the charity shop.

First thing DH said when he saw me in it was "which room are you decorating?".

Shame, I love the idea!

Well, the Boden one was an unexpected success!

Lovely stretchy denim, and I got it in the longer length so the waist is in the right place and it ends just on my knee.

I tried it on with tan knee boots and got a nice Seventies vibe.

It was a bargain too!

Shirtdresses are tricky. The ones that look like shirts do not work for anyone.

I wouldn't be put off by the decorating comment. Men just don't 'get' some clothes. Dungarees and shirt dresses included.

I recently put a lovely one from Oliver Bonas to the Red Cross shop, brand new with tags on. Mine looked daft with tights, but because it had sleeves it wasn’t really a bare leg dress either - I only go bare-legged if it’s properly warm. (I do, however, have a pinafore which works fine, maybe because it’s thicker fabric, proper denim?)

I think my shoulders are too broad and I am too busty for it to hang well.

Hmm, I wonder if this is why my denim shirt dress doesn't work? I also have broad shoulders and big boobs. The one I have is from M&S, it has a nice stretch in the fabric, which makes it flattering ... but also makes me feel like I'm swaddled in heavy duty clingfilm, and I have to fight the urge to try and escape.

Every now and again I pull it out of the wardrobe to try on again. It's a nice dress but somehow on me it just doesn't work. It's comforting to see that I'm not the only one!

I have a quite a few shirt dresses including a denim one. Only really wear them in the summer with wedges. Would never wear with any kind of tights or boots.

tossdaly which Boden dress please?

I have a Jaeger chambray one from last year with patch pockets, really nice when I could get it on methinks it's heading to eBay soon as I'm failing to shift the weight

Had a look at the Boden sites and what they have listed as shirtdresses are what used to be called shirtwaisters. Those work. The ones that don't work very well are ones that are like long shirts esp. with a curved hem.

A shirtwaiser is a dress with a shirt-shaped bodice, and the shape is more like a dress or a fitted shirt attached to a skirt.

I think shirtwaisters are called shirtdresses these days.

The Mango Violeta is a shirtdress and I think it might just work on a teenage girl or a fashion model, but probably would not look good on a normal person.

this one, bejazzled

Thanks toss
Love me a bit of Boden

Denim dresses I had one in my 20s god knows why I looked styled by Armish

It's good to hear that others have had the same woes!

I did find that once I put a plaited black leather belt on it the overall effect was more flattering as it had a bit more shape. I kind of bloused it up a bit to avoid the full Trunchbull effect.

It's quite lightweight denim so might work in the summer, with lighter accessories (although I never wear brown, sadly - bad experience with school uniform has scarred me for life!)