Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Dress for afternoon tea

27 replies

namechangedyetagain · 30/05/2021 09:08

Hopefully soon I'll be finishing teacher training year. We're having an afternoon tea in a lovely hotel to celebrate, before the official uni graduation in the autumn.

I have nothing to wear Sad. Lovely dresses in my wardrobe but due to putting on quite a few stone nothing fits. I need to lose a serious amount of weight but at the minute I'm stress eating and drinking so it won't happen this month!

So I need something size 18 for the fat of arse and stomach and arms. Stomach wobbly and huge, hips wide. Don't really suit pastels. No shorter than knee length as also have fat knees.

Where can I look? Don't mind spending a bit IF I can also wear it in under my graduation gown in Sept (navy / blue / silver) .

Would be so grateful for any help. Feeling like I don't want to go as I'll be fattest one there and spoil everyone's photos.

OP posts:
Original poster
namechangedyetagain · 30/05/2021 15:33

Hopeful bump...

OP posts:
CoffeeBeansGalore · 30/05/2021 15:42

How tall are you @namechangedyetagain? Would a maxi dress with little jacket/bolero/shrug suit you? Team with some strappy sandals in a complementary colour.

Nannyamc · 30/05/2021 15:47

Just got a beautiful dress from the white stuff. Very forgiving and price was good.

Original poster
namechangedyetagain · 30/05/2021 15:48

I'm 5.7 . Jackets don't suit me at all - wide shoulders and fat upper arms. Cardis three quarter length sleeves look better on me.
Thank you

OP posts:
MayflowerMaisie · 30/05/2021 15:49

Hush Kensington dresses are great. I’m a similar size to you, and always get compliments when I’m wearing one.

TheWoollybacksWife · 30/05/2021 15:50

What sort of dress suits you? Do you want patterned or plain fabric? Any particular colours?

purplebagladylovesgin · 30/05/2021 15:51

I shop at Roman. Very reasonable and designed for curvy ladies but also suits 12+ size. I was an 18 and loved their things, I'm now a 14 and was delighted the same styles in smaller sizes still suit me.
No many designers get it right across the sizes. Roman do.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 30/05/2021 15:58

This is a Bombshell dress. Along the right lines or not? This one is cotton & elastane.

Dress for afternoon tea
Original poster
namechangedyetagain · 30/05/2021 15:59

Colours I like are navy, black, red, pink. I'm a winter colour. I'm a little scared of patterns unless it's a dot or a stripe.

Have got so big nothing looks nice any more. I'm just like a barrel these days.

OP posts:
Original poster
namechangedyetagain · 30/05/2021 16:01

I do like that dress! But just looked at the price .

Hush don't go to my sizeSad

OP posts:
TheWoollybacksWife · 30/05/2021 16:13

What about this one?

TheWoollybacksWife · 30/05/2021 16:19

Angel sleeve dress from Scarlett and Jo

KingdomScrolls · 30/05/2021 16:37

Have you looked at seasalt? Lengths are below knee and most dresses have sleeves, they are generously sized and cut. Not massively formal but fine for afternoon tea

KingdomScrolls · 30/05/2021 16:38

If you have a blue light card they do good discount too

KingdomScrolls · 30/05/2021 16:40

Something like these?

Dress for afternoon tea
Dress for afternoon tea
AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 30/05/2021 16:47

www.monsoon.co.uk/animal-print-dress-in-pure-cotton-green-14228707.html

Is this too bright?

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 30/05/2021 16:49

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

www.monsoon.co.uk/animal-print-dress-in-pure-cotton-green-14228707.html

Is this too bright?

I chose this because with the drawstring waist, you could lose weight (as per your plan) and wear it again next summer.
Sometimesfraught82 · 30/05/2021 16:49

e I'm stress eating and drinking so it won't happen this month!

Perfect focus to start to rein it in!

bravotango · 30/05/2021 17:01

Have a look at Laura Adlington on Instagram - she always looks great and wears reasonably priced pieces!

Cleverpolly3 · 30/05/2021 17:11

Drawstring waists are not for anyone unless you are very slim
They’d even add pounds to the D o C

LongPauseNoAnswer · 30/05/2021 17:19

Try Joanie Clothing for gorgeous tea dresses joanieclothing.com/dresses.html

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 30/05/2021 17:21

@Cleverpolly3

Drawstring waists are not for anyone unless you are very slim They’d even add pounds to the D o C
Does it not depend on body type? I have friends who are size 18 and have a more hourglass/ pear shape and would look lovely in it. I also have friends who are more apple shaped so it wouldn’t suit.