Help me understand why this looks wrong

[GraceMarks]

I'm hoping the MN style mavens can help me find a summer dress that suits me because I'm clearly struggling by myself!

I've seen lots of these midi shirt dresses in the shops and decided to try one on this afternoon. But it just doesn't look right and I can't put my finger on why. Is it too wide across the shoulders? Too tight on my tummy? The wrong length? Please try to ignore the socks

I'm quite annoyed because it was lovely and comfortable and I could imagine it being really cool on a hot day. I really liked the pattern too.

I think the sleeves are a really bad length. You're quite blessed of nork too, and the buttoned up look does you no favours. Undo the top ones, cami underneath and it could look better.

It looks a bit too big - as if the proportions don't work. Too wide on the shoulders but then the sleeves are neither cap or half way so that looks odd to me.

Also looks a bit too long although shoes would make a difference.

I love the pattern! I think it's a little bit long and maybe the sleeves just a bit 'flappy'? But I am not an expert at all in dressing and hope someone else can help!

I’m just not a fan of short sleeves in shirt dresses. Long sleeves rolled up look better.

Sorry but its too old for you.

It’s too big, is there a smaller size? I also think the colour washes you out a little, maybe a brighter colour will be better

Wrong length and too high up on your chest I reckon.

I think it’s the sleeves - they add width to your arms where there isn’t any. Plus I think it’s a bit long on you. What about a v neck style?

I think it’s the sleeves - they add width to your arms where there isn’t any. Plus I think it’s a bit long on you. What about a v neck style?

Sorry - don’t know why it’s posted twice! I wasn’t that passionate about telling you about the sleeves!

It looks like the kind of thing Nora Batty would wear to the summer fete.

It's too wide, the hem hits at an unflattering point, as do the sleeves, the collar is frumpy, and the little belt.

You are far too good for this horror dress.

And yes, too high up on your ample chest. A slash neck is best when you're ample of tit.

m.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-5699972/midi-dresses-2312666/billie-blossom-red-leopard-print-ruffle-dress-8644519

m.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-5699972/midi-dresses-2312666/black-daisy-print-midi-skater-dress-8631617

m.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-5699972/midi-dresses-2312666/navy-floral-print-midi-skater-dress-8490576

I agreed with everyone else the sleeves are wrong and you need a deeper v showing.
I tried a Boden shirt dress on yesterday ( door £3 in second hand shop....wish I'd bought it now but was a little tight on the boobs 🤦) anyway this is a similar style and might suit you.
m.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-dresses/day-dresses/w0293-lch/womens-light-chambray-anastasia-shirt-dress

It looks a bit too long for you in the photo, but that could be remedied. Also, as you're blessed in the boob dept, there is too much fabric for your top half; you need to show a bit more skin with a wider v-neck or an unfussy, deeper scoop neck. I think longer sleeves rolled up would be more flattering, too.

On a positive note, the belt is great for cinching your waist in.

Once you're wearing pewter or tan sandals, for instance, undone two more buttons and put a camisole underneath, I think it will be fine.

Also, maybe it needs a contrasting belt rather than the current one.

Makes you look old and I cant even see your face. Its totally the wrong style for you. You have big boobs, you need something lower cut to avoid looking matronly, and possibly a shorter length, and darker colour.

You're quite blessed of nork

this is amazing.

Doesn’t fit you. It’s too long for you (both skirt and sleeves) and it’s to wide on the shoulders. I also think you are going for the wrong style. Fit and flare would be better. I would reccomend Seasalt Lottie dress.

Belted shirt dresses often look bad on anyone who hasn’t got a small waist in proportion to their other measurements — regardless of your size. Look up a white shirt dress Megan Markle wore to some race meeting, I think? She’s a little slip of a thing without an ounce of spare flesh around her middle, but hasn’t got a defined waist in comparison to the rest of her torso, and the dress made her look weirdly wide-bodied from the front.

I agree with others that you would suit a lower scoop or v neck, and sleeves that don’t end at bust level.

To me the style looks ok, I don’t like the pattern/ colour.

quite blessed of nork too

Wonderful! I’ll be using this in the future.

Gosh, OK, lots wrong with it then. I quite liked it but probably there are too many problems to overcome!

The size - it was actually quite snug around my midriff so I think the next size down would have been too small. I am pear shaped, so I often have this issue with dresses.

The length - I do prefer just below knee length but there isn't much like that around at the moment. Midi is very much in, it seems.

The sleeves - yes, agree they're wrong, something elbow length, or longer but rolled up, would be the ideal.

I'm also not sure where the idea of ample norkage is coming from! They're really quite modest. Obviously the angle of the photo is somehow giving a false impression...

As for making me look old, I am almost 40. Is that old, or do I look even older...?

This dress makes you look around 85. If you are 85, then stay with it!

(If not, try a v neck and shorter length.)

I look terrible in shirt dresses too. I'm fairly tall and have quite wide shoulders and ahem dainty boobs. Shirt dresses make me look like a transvestite. (weird, because actual shirts look decent).

Wrt the dress in the picture - the shirt collar doesn't really work (collarless v neck/boat neck/scoop neck would all work better), nor the tie belt. I think it's a bit overlong.