Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Does this dress exist?

18 replies

OlennasWimple · 02/03/2019 23:27

I want a dress that I can wear to a church wedding in England in May but then also for work. It must be....

  • elbow or bracelet length sleeves that fit a larger than average upper arm
  • plain not patterned (a small pattern would be OK at a pinch)
  • midi length (I'm 5'5")
  • fuller skirt
  • boat neckline or a modest v neckline. Not a round neck
  • blue / navy / grey
  • up to £250
  • flattering to a non-existent waist

I'm struggling so far, but maybe I need to wait for the spring stuff to come into the shops properly?

OP posts:
Homefires · 03/03/2019 03:37

John Lewis have a few navy dresses that are classic enough to dress up for a wedding or wear to the office. Not sure West Sussex you need but here they are:

Finery electric blue - looks roomy in the arms, only goes up to an 18

Damsel in a dress, only in a 14 on John Lewis but may be available elsewhere

[[https://www.lkbennett.com/product/CDJUNOVISCOSEPOLYAMIDEBlueMidnight~Juno-Navy-Dress-Midnight
LK Bennett Juno - beautiful dress and 25% off]]

There are also a couple of navy Boden dresses with a small print but not sure if they're too casual for your office.

Parly · 03/03/2019 03:59

Go mess around and toy with designing your dream dress from scratch Smile

www.diydress.co.uk/

Once you're somewhere close to the ideal you can tweak and tailor it to suit or chat to them and see if they can help with whatever you want.

Very cheap, lot of different styles, fabrics, lengths and options too it's definitely a starting point.

speakfriendandenter · 03/03/2019 04:49

@Parly have you used this site? Some of the dresses look fab but there's no returns info and the site seems a bit like the dress that arrives may only vaguely resemble the photo, IYKWIM?

stopwining · 03/03/2019 05:25

www.asos.com/prd/10587813?acquisitionsource=pasteboard

My friend has this - super flattering style

BikeRunSki · 03/03/2019 06:08

This seems to fit the billif you don’t mind the sleeves (make sure you look at all the photos]]

BikeRunSki · 03/03/2019 06:10

or this

mamado · 03/03/2019 07:28

You need a bombshell dress - they are super flatttering, come in many colours and everyone will compliment you all day long!

Parly · 03/03/2019 07:29

@speakfriendandenter Not for myself but my sister in law got her wedding dress from there and my daughter designed and made her own dress for prom and another for some posh dinner.

I didn't care much for SIL's wedding dress which isn't a catty or bitchy remark I just didn't like the fabric and thought it felt cheap and flimsy but she loved it which is what counts.

As long as you take extra care over measurements, follow their guide to the letter and double check the finer details before placing the final order generally speaking they seem good.

Heard and read some poor reviews most were about sizes and measurements. You do need to give them all your specs and deets right down to the last which means having someone that knows their way around a tape measure and has some level of understanding in that area.

I'm useless but daughter has a dressmaker's mannequin, tape measures and makes her own stuff with a sewing machine and set of needles and thread.

Don't have any photos to upload at the min but she had one dress made that was stunning and cost just over £100 all in. Simple style with ivory / champagne lace and simple satin ribbon detail it was gorgeous.

LaMarschallin · 03/03/2019 07:34

Just bookmarking as I have an interest.

TranquilityofSolitude · 03/03/2019 07:37

I tried on a dress in John Lewis yesterday that fits the bill, but I can't see it on their website. It's from Modern Rarity and it's just like this top only it's a dress. It came just below the knee on me (I'm 5'8" though).

www.johnlewis.com/modern-rarity-drape-sleeve-top-blue/p3855289

macaronip1e · 03/03/2019 07:54

Have you looked at Scarlett and Jo? They have styles that might work

LaPampa · 03/03/2019 08:15

This fits everything but your price range - www.suzannah.com/collections/ready-to-wear-dresses/products/hicks-dress-navy-blue-cotton

LaPampa · 03/03/2019 08:17

Which probably isn’t hugely helpful... do you follow blogger Liberty London Girl - she is a normal size and posts lots of fashion posts which may help - that’s why I thought of Suzannah as she has posted about them before but I didn’t realise they were so expensive.

Moana123 · 03/03/2019 08:20

Have a look on the Pretty Dress Company website - I’ve bought a few of their dresses and they are lovely

KatharinaRosalie · 03/03/2019 08:30

Have you tried this website? They customise all their models based on your requests and measurements. www.eshakti.com

Original poster
OlennasWimple · 03/03/2019 12:13

Thank you for all the links - I will peruse Smile

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page