Can anyone help a clueless country girl?

[homemadegin]

Hello

I very much need some help.

I have DD christening in May, miracle baby after fifteen years and many losses.

I want to look lovely. We got married twenty years ago so following christening is a big party.

I have no idea. I was a professional person but very much black suit. At home I'm a farmer.

I have looked online at usual stores, phase eight, monsoon, debenhams etc.

I learnt about Roman originals and chichi here. I like the black hanky hem from Roman with pink trim.

I'm size fourteen but mostly tummy, prefer floaty or fit and flare.

Which other online stores are good that I won't have heard off? I want something different. I found a black dress with a rainbow cut insert which I loved but was in America.

Any ideas?

If you have the option of leaving your baby DD with a trusted friend or GPs, I suggest that your best option is real life shopping in your closest city, with or without a friend. Your body has almost certainly changed since you gave birth; I would not have wanted to buy a dress for DS's christening without trying it. FWIW, the dress I did buy has been worn endlessly (not hard) and still comes back every year for summer and holidays, 19 years later. With a jacket, sometimes, with jewellery for a party/dressy occasion, or alone on the beach. It was spendy, but has earned its keep many times over.

Thank you @XingMing. I understand. Nearest city is two hours away. I don't have that option with lambing. There is a good dress maker in town. I might just need to visit her. I just wondered where else people shop really. I hadn't heard of lots of places mentioned here. Thank you.

I've nevwr bought anything from them so others might be able to comment on quality but I keep seeing Sosander on my Facebook feed and some of the dresses look lovely. I'd never heard of them before.

Nancy Mac have some lovely dresses.

Boden is always worth looking at for dresses, frequently have 10-20% off so worth signing up for newsletters etc.

On line: look at Arket and &OtherStories. Scandinavian influence with loads of dresses. They are the latest high street hits. You cannot go wrong! Arket is slightly more classy with better fabrics. You might like Toast. They have quite a rural bohemian feel and have a sale on. Last but not least, try John Lewis on line for ideas. Loads of makes and you can filter in what you are looking for. You can send back what you don’t want.

Masai can be good for floaty/fit and flare and I find them very forgiving on the tummy! Difficult to order online though - I use eBay and have probably sold on as many as I've kept - but they're very flattering. Definitely check their sizing details on the website.

Maybe Desiguel? It can look like an explosion in a pattern factory, but they are the type of dresses non-dress wearers (like my DD) willwear

Also available in red pattern
Loose with sleeves
Decent length

I can attest to the wearability of this dress

I also like Emily and Finn dresses

As BubblesBuddy says & Other Stories and Arket are nice - personally from my experience with both - yes Arket are higher quality fabrics but I tend to find them more midi/maxi dress like than & Other Stories. & Other Stories do some pretty/stylish dresses though.

As slug says Emily and Finn dresses are nice too - but I find them almost 50s in style - very christening like though.

Oasis do some gorgeous dresses (they did or do have fit and flare) and occasion dresses too. I'd also do a trip into your nearest large town/city and look at a wide range from Reiss to Whistles to Top Shop etc - Top Shop has a boutique section.

Maybe do a browse of other online shops too.

Poetry ?

Congratulations btw !

No fashion advice, just wanted to say congrats on your miracle baby

Brilliant thank you all. I shall look at all these tonight and post any I like. Have not heard of any of these places

Congratulations!

Might be worth having a look on eBay for Warehouse Spotlight.

Phase Eight does nice occasion dresses. You can order through John Lewis. There is a promotion on many of their dresses at the moment.

Hobbs also does nice stuff, I like their matching dress and coat sets. I’m getting married in one.

Oh oops just realised you’ve already looked at Phase Eight! Sorry.

If that’s not your thing then I suppose Hobbs won’t be either.