I just bought this dress... please help me not take it straight back!

[CheckingOutTheQuantocks]

I never usually wear maxi dresses but I really wanted something to waft around in during the hot weather, and I love the print on this. But now I'm thinking it's too long, I'm too pale, my arms are too fat, I look muttony... can I have honest opinions about whether this dress goes back to the shop??

That's a shame, I think it's really nice. I'm 5ft 2 and wear maxis.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. It’s just that the dress itself is rather dowdy. If you get something in a more up to date fabric you’ll look great. Truly!

There's nothing wrong with your figure at all, but the dress looks as if it's escaped from a 1970s shampoo advert.

If you put on a waist belt and used some gradual tanner it would look 10x better, I like it!

Definitely a shame you’re returning it.

I agree that you obviously have a lovely figure but now I've seen others agree with me, I"m sticking with my opinion that there are MUCH better dresses out there. That ruched waist is a problem. Not flattering on anyone!

Bella it's from H&M. I appreciate what people are trying to say about the dress being the problem, but the high street in general just doesn't make clothes for figures like mine, so there is never going to be a dress that I put on and think "Yes! Everything about this is right!" I usually have to make do with what's available that doesn't look too awful. I most definitely do not have a lovely figure underneath all that fabric, I'm afraid.

Anyway, I exchanged it for some pairs of slouchy jersey trousers which do the job of being cool and wafty without the associated waistlessness.

Get a personal shopper experience. H&M is just crap anyway, even if they fit when you buy them, they wash up badly and look badly fitting too soon. I dread to think how much I've spent on H&M clothes to all end up in a charity shop by the end of the season. I know I have to spend a bit more to get something that flatters me (sz 14, 5ft5, small waist, flabby gut, bum and thighs (and knees weirdly) and saggy boobs) and I have started taking care of my clothes as a result. The shopper experience really helped me see what suits me and what colours.

The shape and fit is perfectly fine for you but the pattern reminds me of the clothes she makes out of curtains in the Sound of Music. If you don't love it, you won't wear it. Take it back.

Yes take it back, if you feel this way about it you always will

Have you tried Dorothy Perkins petite?
And thank you :)

I also don't think it's doing you any favours. I don't think it's you, it's the dress, it kind of swamps you a bit.

Maxis are difficult to get right in all honesty. I'm tall, five foot eight,and I have occasionally bought a maxi dress or skirt, and then on holiday it just feels like too much material and I'm over dressed and well. Like a bit of a twat, so they go unworn, yet I see other women who can really pull them off.

I think of uou don't feel right in it, the odds of you wearing it are low

You look like me. If that dress had a green background and the pattern in white it would look a lot better on you. I agree with PPs that the waist on the dress isn't flattering (it's H&M and it's cheaper to do that tie waist than a fitted shape) and that a nice leather belt would improve things. I do actually think it's a bit long, but a maxi with slits up the side would help with that I think.

As to where to look then OtherStories has some lovely summer dresses, or the dreaded Boden does petite cotton dresses (not so floaty though) or you could go for a buffet dress from Zara (apparently the most sustainable retailer on the high street).

Well I think it’s lovely ...

You absolutely can carry off a maxi! The length or style of the dress isn't the issue - both look lovely on you. But the pattern is too fussy and mumsy and the base colour too pale against your skin. I could see you in something like this though!

I find maxi skirts easier to wear than maxi dresses. Maxi dresses, like jumpsuits, only work on you if your waist is at the right point and mine never is because I have a relatively long torso compared to my stumpy little hobbit legs.

Maxi skirts are surprisingly flattering though. Maybe worth a try? You can also get away with bolder patterns without risking the Sound of Music effect

Good call on returning it. You look fine, and I like the shape of the dress on you but the colour makes it wishy-washy.

I'd go for midi length rather than maxi op. It's otherwise lovely.

I'm 5'4" so I don't quite qualify for petite ranges. I also can't wear midi length because it cuts my legs off at their widest point and looks ultra frumpy on me.

I'm not going to be trying any more maxis on for now. I already tried loads of the things today and the one I bought/returned was really the only one I thought looked ok. There might be a dress out there that has the potential to look nice but I can't be faffed to look for it!

I do appreciate people taking the time to comment. I currently have 2-3 stone to lose and I am not looking on myself with a kind eye right now, so I do occasionally need neutral opinions from people who don't know me.

You are doing the right thing sending it back. You will never wear it if you feel so unsure!

For the record it looks fine. It's a bit meh but it's ok. I think it would have more wow factor on somebody who was tanned and it is a bit frumpy. I would look the same in it. It's the kind of thing I would buy and then never wear except for maybe on holiday! It's the waist not the length but honestly it's doesn't look bad!

I thought i looked really beautiful on you! The shape is perfect for your figure. Sad you returned it. I really think it looked like it was made for you!

You're hiding that 2-3 stone very well then! Don't be downhearted, you can wear maxi dresses, you're arms are not too big, you do have a waist. The dress looked good imo. Maybe not the best sleeves and colour but that's nothing to do with your body.

Also you're not too pale. Fuck gradual tans etc. Some people have pale white skin. We're all different shades and they're all beautiful.

Op the issue is that particular dress, your figure is absolutely fine and brighter dress with a more defined waist would look gorgeous on you.

I think it’s pretty and actually I like that colour and pattern best on pale skin. I think it looks nice on you but would look better with a wide tan belt to accentuate your waist. You are not too short for it and your arms look fine.

Buying new clothes when you're trying to lose weight isn't the brightest thing to do, but I was just so tired of feeling overheated and crammed into my hot weather uniform of chinos and a t shirt. It doesn't help that I'm going through the menopause and I'm already too hot even when it's overcast and breezy. I really did try a lot of maxis on today and they all looked like crap on me, so rather than demoralise myself any further, I'll stick with my trousers. At least I won't get chub rub...

I’ve no waist and I wear maxis but ones that are crossover under the bust.