Help me choose an amazing dress

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I 'may' be having a significant birthday soon. I was hoping to get a dress made but two local dressmakers have proven useless, so might want to buy one instead.

I'm size 14, used to be hourglass but now a bit rounder, busty. I'm very fussy! I want something that feels dressy but could equally well just be worn with ankle boots and a biker jacket to the pub. Would prefer it to have at least short sleeves, and not be polyester. Black or red probably my best colours, or maybe a dark print.

Budget up to about £200 for something really amazing.

Sorry, totally going against the grain here, but just don’t see the appeal of Nancy Mac at all, it all looks like a better styled Phase Eight. A bit ‘mother of the bride’ and frumpy.

I’m with you tiger. Not a fan.

I don't think they look anything like Phase Eight, although the beautiful model might help that. They're the sort of thing I'd have bought for pennies from dusty old shops and flea markets aged 19 and worn with DMs or Woolworths PE pumps, with a donkey jacket on top. I think they probably appeal to me because they remind me of being young and skinny and being able to wear pretty much anything.

Fair enough OP, we’re all different, all different tastes and styles.
I just don’t see anything particularly exciting about it, in the same way I just don’t understand the way people fawn over or go mad for Hush on here.

I hope you’re right about Nancy Mac Remus and Sprouts as I have two beauties winging their way to me within the next few days 🤣. I’m definitely not aiming for a dowdy Phase Eight look!!!!

I love your reference Remus. That’s exactly how I used to dress when I was 18, down to the black PE pumps and a guy’s oversized overcoat or donkey jacket. I still remember the musty smell of the second hand shops. Happy times ❤️😅

Tiger - agree 're Hush. I've got a couple of nice things from before the quality went so shite but rarely look in there now. It's all scratchy viscose or crease like a bastard soft viscose and mostly very shapeless.

Tried the Whistles black dress on today but it was too long for a mini and very expensive for what it was.

Fingers crossed, Cat. I can't wait to hear your feedback. If positive, I might order an eBay one.

OP I actually think the Whistles Short Button Through Dress you posted near the start of your thread would be more versatile than their Ponte Jersey Paige Dress you now like.

https://www.whistles.com/women/clothing/dresses/short-button-through-dress-31174.html?cgid=DressesClothinggWW&dwvarshort-button-through-dress-311744color=Black#start=0

It would go much better with the ankle boots and biker jacket combo you said it would need to work with.

It's horrible fabric irl though, Ready.

I can quite understand how Remus is 'fussy'. I find it hard to get anything clothes wise. I cannot wear viscose/tensel/lyocell as they bring me out in a sweat, unlike Remus I can wear polyester. I am overweight with an apple shape and look dreadful in wrap dresses, especially patterned ones. I look like I have swallowed Nana's sofa, plus as I walk , my 'girls' display themselves, plus the dress falls open to display my not so lovely legs!

Also a lot of dresses are high necked which would make me hot. I do love velvet and feel it is not just for Christmas (but especially for Christmas!).

I hope you do find a dress you like Remus. I love the look of those VW dresses. If I was slimmer and richer......

DeathRay - glad I'm not the only fussy one. It's a reason I'm cross that the local dressmakers didn't get back to me, because I would have been prepared to spend quite a lot of money with them and would probably have gone back to them again and again. Annoying!

I sound a similar shape to you and from the things you've shown you like and don't, have similar tastes. One solution I've been using recently is to wear a lacy or mesh sleeved body underneath a sleeveless dress. I've made it work nicely in either a contrasting colour or matching. Might just be another option to consider?

Thanks, Kitty, but I don't like that look on me.

Remus - yup, the one time I did an order of several things from Hush, I was so disappointed by the quality, or lack of.
The jumpsuit I bought was creased to fuck, a top had a whole in it, the T-shirt such a thin material it was see through, and the two jersey sweat tops looked like they were sub Primark quality, totally shapeless and baggy necklines. Really, really don’t understand why people like it so much.

*Hole

Have a look at Blonde and wise - beautiful dresses that are a wee bit different

Just want to say thanks to Remus et al for this thread. I've spent a joyous hour+ going through all the links. I'm 65 now, and have totally let myself go over the last few years, so am now a size 20/22, and curvy in all the places you don't want to be, e.g. belly, thighs, plus boobs/bum have drooped. But if anything was going to make me make an effort to lose lots of weight/tone up, it would be the Nancymac dresses. Although lots of them would be "too young" for me, feck me, they're all gorgeous. Thanks again folks.

Glad you've enjoyed it, Granny.

HAve you looked at Ghost?

Peachy - yep. It's all a bit too flouncy/70s for me.

I can't rtft but have you looked at Ted Baker? I have this one www.tedbaker.com/uk/Womens/Clothing/Dresses/GABIE-One-shoulder-drape-midi-dress-Khaki/p/157697-KHAKI and it's beautiful on.
Also liked www.tedbaker.com/uk/Womens/Clothing/Dresses/RIDAH-Waterfall-skirt-one-shoulder-dress-Gunmetal/p/158778-GUNMETAL

Both beautiful, Mary, but I want sleeves.

I’m a bit late to the party, but what about www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/mikael-aghal/dresses/knee-length-dress/lace-paneled-crepe-dress/2307389542081115