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 sure could use a style analysis! Never heard of this.

You can get a free 2 hour personal shopper thing in John Lewis which serves as a style analysis, if you get a stylist with a good eye. I had one last year, but really you need to keep going back as the seasons change and new trends come in.

I'd love to see you in a different dress because you are describing yourself as a pear with big bum and small boobs and this dress makes you look rather apple like. But I've seen the impact on here of horrendous dresses vs good dresses to know how bad a bad dress can make someone look - there was a thread last year where someone looked a completely different shape in different dresses, one she was a heffalump and the other she was 'hello girlfriend!' I thought it was incredible the differenc.

I'm a short hourglass and love a shirt dress, I have 3 of different styles. I also very strongly believe that anyone can wear any style, fashion is not just for the young.

Anyway, for you, if you are a pear then maybe something like the boden dress above with a fitted bodice and flared skirt might work well. Or if your bust and waist have increased with the years then maybe a short shift dress might work better with your shape. But it's quite hard to judge from one photo in one dress. As others have said the sleeves and waist and length and neckline are all bad for you. But what works needs experimentation (please experiment, we'll hold your hand!).

www.bravissimo.com/products/denim-shirt-dress-black-pd770blk/

Bravissimo one might be more flattering

I would roll up the sleeves James Dean Style, as another poster said undo some buttons and put a light coloured cami under it and replace the belt with a nice wide waist cincher belt in a similar green to the pattern

Pair with some strappy flat sandals

For what it’s worth I thought you looked canny in it

‘Blessed of nork’ Love it! I too am ‘blessed’ also short-waisted and, er, short generally, and would struggle with that dress. No idea if they are still a ‘thing’ (and care even less) but I find wrap dresses with a deep vee neck are great. Opens up the space between neck and nork (so you don’t end up with ‘shelf boob’ ) and as a diagonal is the longest line between two points, instantly longer waist. If you are pear-shaped, you could find a cunning plan to make a shirtwaister work is to find one with a graduated pattern with lots of detail at the top and bottom, darker in the body, also 3/4 sleeves. I’d either do platform heeled sandals or something like DMs with a dress like this, and a denim or leather jacket. I find if I go too ‘formal’ with accessories I look like someone’s maiden aunt at a wedding!

It’s much too long. That length would only be flattering if the dress was fitted or tapered as otherwise it looks quite wide and boxy.

It isn’t flattering on you.

Personally I would style it with some of the top buttons undone and the collar folded more widely, and then use my own belt around the waist. Wear with heeled sandals.

There are so many nicer dresses right now - try Zara

I was looking at mid length wrap dresses for the summer - do I need to get my coat?

I don't think there's anything wrong with wrap dresses at all, HostessTrolley, if you have the sort of figure that suits them. I don't like them because they cling to my tummy and make me look pregnant, but they can be very stylish.

Unbutton the top three buttons and shorten it, and it will look like a different dress. You may need a cami for modesty, but given your norkness, the neckline is unforgiving. You need to wear anything shirt-like unbuttoned almost to the point of naked, to get the V effect which takes the eye off large breasts. A plain vest top in a complementary colour underneath for modesty will work. The same colour as the main colour of the dress, or to match the print, but no big contrasts.

Top too loose, sleeves too baggy and a string round the middle. Shapeless (it, not you).

The colour is awful, completely washes you out.

Two people have said this so it must be true but how the hell can you tell?!

DontcallmeCharlotte I did slightly wonder that. The green scribble is not my actual skin tone...

I have to say, you look like a perfectly normal person in a terribly terrible dress-my grandma used to wear things like that in the 1970s when she was rather old (70+!).

Something knee- length, with better sleeves -sleeveless or 3/4 maybe-would be much more flattering.

Its too long, it's not really midi on you. Plus you buttoned it all the way up.
Undo top buttons.

These midi shirt dresses are the kind that teens and twenty something’s can make look trendy and the rest of us look like our nan’s Circa 1983.

It´s the sleeves. They are too wide and make you look wider at the top of your body. I have the same trouble with sleeves like those. I don't think you need to write off your dress dreams, but try a dress that has more fitted sleeves and a lower neckline (or unbutton it a bit further down).

The green scribble is not my actual skin tone

But we can see your arms.

I think it's just not a great dress? Sorry. And also white is not flattering to anyone over a size 8.

OP, I'm almost 40 too and that is a matronly, old lady dress. Definitely not for us.

I think the only woman who would look good in that dress is one who is tall and willowy with a narrow waste. It's the dress that's wrong- not you. Best to find a style of dress that suits your figure.

Why is an unflattering dress ok for an old lady? Why should they put up with shit clothes any more then the rest of us?

Op I would say the main problem is that you're wearing it as a fitted dress when it's not really meant to be. On the model it's very loose fitting but on you it looks strained, both across the boobs (as others have said) and also round the waist. A belt can be good for pulling you in and giving you shape but it can also add bulk.

And I agree with other posters that you appear to be pale skinned so there's a high chance that the colour will wash you out. The model is dark skinned so there's contrast.

I agree OP, too old fashioned for you, especially the length, I bought a beautiful feminine midi dress from Primani last week, really liked the pattern , colours etc, got it home, and it was a resounding no from my teenagers!, I am tall and reasonably well proportioned , it just looked so old fashioned, the length did nothing for me, I think as other posters have said, this type of dress that is everywhere for this summer is best suited for willowy 18 year olds, with long flowing hair, thin sandals (or trainers), sadly not for all of us ladies who would like to look a vision of summer loveliness :(

It looks terrible on the model so mere mortals have no hope.

I put shirt dresses in the category 'too difficult' when I was in my mid 20s and that is now a long time ago.

If you have any sort of hip or boob they make you look like an elderly matron who should be accessorizing with curlers and a headscarf.