Dress help!

[SugarHockeyIcedTea]

I'm going away for a week with the family next month and am desperate to get out of my token Mum wardrobe of jeans and a hoodie.

I've been looking at summer dresses but am finding myself completely flummoxed! I need a dress that is comfy, covers my mum tum (thanks kids), has short sleeves and isn't too short as I'll be mucking about with the kids and don't want to be flashing at everyone! I'm a 12-14, peely wally as the driven snow and fairly decent legs,however they are pretty much blue due to my Highland heritage.

I'll be wearing my Chucks most of the time and basically want to look effortlessly cool and casual but stylish.

Does such a thing exist?

Uniqlo have some amazing looking oversize T-shirt dresses in at the mo. Haven’t tried one on yet but I do rate uniqlo

www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/women-uniqlo-u-crew-neck-t-shirt-dress-414054.html

Fat Face have 20% off dressesjust now. Some really nice ones. I have this I'm the same size as you and it looks good.

https://www.fatface.com/women/clothing/20-off-dresses/willa-sunset-floral-midi-dress/942758.html?dwvar9427588_color=indigo&cgid=women-clothing-20-off-dresses#start=13

I do like the oversized T-shirt style but worry that it would cling to my stomach. I feel like I'm a bit like a potato shape just now!

Fat face has some beautiful dresses! Love the Simone ones but wonder if they are too short. Love the linked one too but although I'm not too generous of nork anymore I think I'd still make it look ok?

Debenhams and White Stuff have some which might fit the bill. How talk are you?

@StarlightLady I'm 5'7''. I've got quite long legs and a short wee body.

I'll have a look there too, thanks!

@SugarHockeyIcedTea - l think you should be able to find a reasonable length without too much trouble.

I’ve got several of the Fat Face Simone dresses and they come in two different lengths (though not every pattern is available in the longer length). I wear the shorter ones in autumn/winter with thick tights, and have a longer length one for the summer so I’m not showing off my knobbly knees!

I have huge boobs (32GG) and wear wrap dresses a lot. They're super flattering. I tried on the Simone one from Fat Face but they did absolutely nothing for my figure (inverted triangle- broad shoulders big boobs but slim hips and no bum)

How much is your budget Op?
You are right about t-shirt dresses. Imo, they are not easy to pull off.
But something a bit more interesting with shape might work.
Is any of this of your liking?
Long wrap
halter dress

@Redandblue11 I'd be looking at around £30-40, I'm going to be mucking about with kids and getting covered in lord knows what so am loathed to buy anything too expensive as I'll be crying inside!

Love that halter dress!

@motherofgod2 @hotchocdrinker oh I didn't realise they had two different lengths, that's interesting as I don't want to be flashing my pants!

I don't have much boobs to speak of but barely any arse either (I'm really selling myself here!)

H+M have a lot of tunic-style dresses that would skim over the tummy more than a t-shirt dress. Variety of styles/colours and above/at knee-length so makes the most of your legs, and easy to sling a leather/denim jacket or waterproof over if you need.
m2.hm.com/m/en_gb/ladies/shop-by-product/dresses.html

How about this?
www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/elina-jersey-midi-dress-cobalt/sty-j0329-lbl?istCompanyId=a40e1fa1-0635-4a1b-8d9a-2caa763eeee2&istFeedId=2baa5e38-c363-4ebf-aa58-ab2450d639aa&istItemId=wlpaqtall&istBid=tztx&ef_id=EAIaIQobChMI5Kj1vNnD4gIVbrvtCh1zCwmzEAQYASABEgLtU_D_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!8125!3!297909388773!!!g!532564148288!&cm_mmc=PLA--GoogleNMPICSS1585740208--60124337656-_-40113358&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5Kj1vNnD4gIVbrvtCh1zCwmzEAQYASABEgLtU_D_BwE

I know it’s over the budget you mentioned, but I’ve got this dress (in a different colourway which is sold out now), and it’s great for skimming over the tummy in a really flattering way. I can throw it on without a thought to anything and I get compliments every time I wear it. It’s also a really lovely soft fabric and it washes well. The pattern means getting mucky isn’t really a problem.

www.whistles.com/women/sale/dresses/luna-cordilla-print-dress-27831.html?cgid=Dresses_Sale_WW&dwvar_luna-cordilla-print-dress-27831_color=Navy%2FMulti#sz=436&start=0

Bear in mind it’s very roomy. I’m on the very big side of 12 at the moment and the S is perfect for me.

I love mine. Proper comfortable dress with no worries about showing lumps and bumps.

I’m about 5.5 so it’d sit differently on you. It comes to just under the knee on me.

@Ninkaninus oh how I wish you hadn't shown me that dress! I love it!

Sadly it's way too much above my budget- I just need to find something similar but half the price!

@palahvah thanks, I'll have a look. I always tend to avoid H&M, think I had it in my head that it's only for slim girls!

@Redandblue11 I love the colour but would prefer sleeves, I'm quite self conscious about my arms.

Lovely style though!

Oh I’m sorry! I was hoping that maybe it was a fluid budget and you might be able to justify it - sometimes I think having one really perfect and ideal dress is better than two or three or more that all aren’t quite right.

I should have asked first if it was a really strict budget.

@Ninkaninus don't worry! I would definitely buy it if I didn't need to get my kids clothes for the holiday too!

Check out the clearance section in next online. Loads of choice. Here’s a few...

I found some really good options at warehouse last year. Same easygoing style, good cotton fabrics and around the £50 mark but they might be doing %off.

Or, you could get this jumpsuit (just a smidge over budget, sorry):

uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.7/6472536151

I’ve seen it modelled by someone on a thread I’m on and she had sized up to make it a more loose, relaxed fit, and it looked awesome. Simple vest underneath to protect modesty. If you aren’t busty you might not need to size up. But it looked really good.

Oh oops forgot about arms. Tee underneath would work too.

@Ninkaninus yup had to order it! It's beautiful!