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??

If you loved it, you'd know straight away and would not need to ask us. Because you're not sure, I think you'd probably not end up wearing it that much. Get a nicer, brighter fabric and maybe more fitted woukd be flattering on you? This is a bit like a pillowcase.

I'm the same as PolarBear, I wear dresses that are fitted under the bust, they are much more flattering

Well it's too late now as it's gone back - but for future thought there's a big difference in how the dress looks in picture 1 and picture 2. I think the first pic is just taken at an unflattering angle . You look absolutely lovely in the second pic and as that's more at a distance, that's the view that others will see of you.

I tend not to look great in maxis but recently bought one that has buttons down the from and splits from just below the knee. Seeing some leg stops me looking like I'm all fabric which I think maxis can do - especially if you're high waisted like me.

I think your figure looks great OP and that style dress is definitely not off the cars for you.

It takes a very, very, VERY particular build /colouring/set of facial features to channel that whole “whimsical English rose pastel delicate” style in a flattering way.

I’m petite with a size 6-8 figure (very toned) and I used to get those kind of frilly dresses which looked great on the hangar (imagining myself skipping through fields being all cool and comfortable picking daisies )

Those dresses ended up going to the charity shop as I could never style them right and I looked a bit stocky and lumpen even though objectively I’m not

Solid blocky strong colours in clean simple cuts are often a lot more chic on.

I have a similar figure/colouring and I empathise. I've had some rough shopping trips recently and even a top I thought looked good and bought (and wore, so can't return) I've now decided makes me look wider and cuts my arms off at the widest point. Hey ho.

I would like to lose weight too and understand your train of thought but I think there is a case for buying new clothes when trying to lose weight - you still deserve to feel good. I wouldn't buy a whole new wardrobe, but a couple of things is fine.

I think maxis are all about you accessorise them tbh. If I just put in a maxi I’d look mumsynso id have to have a long necklace , bangles and statement shades
To pull it off .

tentative3 yes, I hear you. In order to lose weight, it's important for me to feel relatively happy in your own skin, because when I'm not, my default is to comfort eat. But it's so hard when you set off with an optimistic attitude thinking about the sort of thing you want to buy, and then you can't find anything that looks nice on. The picture of you that you had in your head, all cool and summery, doesn't match what you can see in the mirror. In the dress in my OP, all I could see was fat pale arms and a lumpy stomach. I thought I liked the fabric too but apparently it looks like curtains! It's so disheartening and it doesn't help when you're trying to have a positive mindset for weight loss.

It's the dress that is crap- you have a great figure.

Leather belt - chunky one?

Totally agree with PP, your figure is great, it's the dress that is unflattering.

I love the dress and i never wear them! Very pretty.

Toughen it up with a black studded belt (&other stories do one - sorry, can't do links). Pretty plus a bit of edge works well (I think!). Better than pure pretty on anybody over 18....