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Dress panic, urgent, please help. Four hours in Bluewater to no avail you’re my last hope.

27 replies

AgentPeggyCarter · 13/03/2019 13:11

I’ve never had a wardrobe emergency but I guess there’s a first time for everything!

Urgently need a dress for a big opportunity at work. Thought it’d be easy but apparently I have impossible criteria. Thought I’d do an hour round Bluewater, have a lazy brunch with a magazine without kids and be home long before the school run. Not. A. Chance. Just given up after four and a half hours and am skulking in costa in a panic. My Fitbit says I’ve walked 7km.

Criteria:

  • First and foremost I need to be able to order it to arrive by Monday at the latest.

  • A relatively casual plain colour dress. Not too dressy, I need to look approachable, will be wearing flats with it. I’m being videoed so I’ve been asked to avoid prints, dots, stripes or anything that will strobe. Ideally a single colour - Black, navy, grey, maybe a dark blue or purple (that’s my preference, not theirs!).

  • Preferably skater style, preferably sleeveless or cap sleeved as I’m pretty happy with my arms (but not spaghetti straps - have big boobs that need scaffolding bras). Happy to have it relatively fitted at the top, genuinely open minded about the bottom. At this point all suggestions are welcome. Just not linen cause I have a tendency to look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards without the possibility of being creased too.

  • Knee length or slightly below.

I’ve tried everything from work style sleeveless dresses to more casual but nothing works. Wrap dresses are too low at the crossover so I’m showing too much boob, more fitted dresses are either too tight over the boobs or baggy fitting elsewhere if I go up a size. I’m genuinely gobsmacked at how hard it has been.

Please Mumsnet, you’re my last hope!

OP posts:
itbemay · 13/03/2019 13:16

Wallis on line have some great dresses and next day delivery - just bought 2 in the sale. Try phase eight or john lewis? good luck

Scootergrrrl · 13/03/2019 13:22

Anything at Boden?

Nowisthemonthofmaying · 13/03/2019 13:24

Something like this maybe? It's jersey so might be better fitting than something tailored, but still fairly smart.

Nowisthemonthofmaying · 13/03/2019 13:24

haha snap!

Hoppinggreen · 13/03/2019 13:24

I was going to suggest Boden as well
I know people on here can be sniffy about it but they do quite a few dresses that will fit the bill and delivery is pretty fast

EgremontRusset · 13/03/2019 13:28

Wear a vest under a wrap dress, surely?
Or there are some nice things in the Hobbs sale. I’ve got an eye on this one -
www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0217-5993-9014L00&productvarid=0217-5993-9014L00-EMERALD-GREEN-12&refpage=dresses

MrsBrill · 13/03/2019 13:35

I don't have any actual dress suggestions but Next's delivery service is amazingly quick efficient imo. Plus they have loads of non-Next brands. Boden are pretty quick to deliver too.

ChopOrNot · 13/03/2019 14:08

Try All Saints. I have just got this (though got through John Lewis)

Superflattering (see my thread for pics www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3532005-Which-Shoes)
This is the dress.
www.allsaints.com/women/dresses/allsaints-kasia-dress/?colour=5&category=22

They have a fair few others which may match your criteria.

ChopOrNot · 13/03/2019 14:09

Oh, and if you add a smile when wearing an All Saints dress it looks a lot less grumpy than their website! Grin

wink1970 · 13/03/2019 14:18

Ah Bluewater, my spiritual home! Grin

Have you been into Monsoon and All Saints? and Hobbs have some nice stuff in there at the moment. Ditto Jaeger.

Don't forget there's that lovely tailors who can make any dress look better; they do a 48 hour turnaround.

beenandgoneandbackagain · 13/03/2019 14:20

Hobbs, LK Bennett, Reiss, John Lewis.

LK Bennett have a couple of options that look like that might work for you.

EstelleLauder · 13/03/2019 14:32

This one? Very feminine skirt but fitted top - model is tall so it would be longer on someone of average height. And ASOS would get it to you sharpish.

www.asos.com/closet-london/closet-london-sleeveless-skater-dress-in-black/prd/11685719?clr=black&SearchQuery=Skater%20dress&gridcolumn=2&gridrow=6&gridsize=2&pge=3&pgesize=72&totalstyles=2162

Eve · 13/03/2019 16:20

Bombshell?

www.bombshellhq.com/

AgentPeggyCarter · 13/03/2019 19:34

Hi everyone, thanks so much for the suggestions, have booted up the laptop (why do so many brands have such shite mobile sites?!) and am starting to look through them now.

OP posts:
AuntVanya · 13/03/2019 19:48

Fold have some lovely, good quality, plain coloured work dresses- but not really sleeveless or cap.
Pricey too but if you happen to see just the thing....
thefoldlondon.com/product-category/shop-by-style/dresses/

SavageBeauty73 · 13/03/2019 20:52

ASOS have loads that are suitable and next day delivery. I can't link on my phone.

youmeandconchitawurst · 13/03/2019 20:56

If you've found a wrap dress you like but it's too low at the front, get one of those wee vests tops with spaghetti straps from jigsaw two sizes below your normal so it's skin tight and wear it under. Don't buy it in your size. I got this advice from a personal shopper and it opened up a whole new world of options.

RubberBabyBuggyBumpers · 13/03/2019 21:31

How about Bravissimo? You order your normal size but you can change the size of the bust so you get a better fit. Had a skim and there seem to be some dresses that fit your criteria. Good luck with the promotion!

Bethanyg25 · 13/03/2019 21:31

I would have a look on ASOS. True to size and loads and loads of choices