I know boden is derided on here, but can anyone point me in the direction of a dress that looks great on size 16?

[lborgia]

I've suddenly gone up from a neat 14 to a very full 16, and it seems to have made a big difference to my shape, I can't seem to feel happy in the wrap and other dresses I've always relied on to feel put together at work.

I realise part of this is my health, self perception, chronic pain etc., but god I'd feel better in a decent outfit!

Believe it or not OP, I've just bought 4 lovely dresses from Mountain Warehouse. The 14 is more generous than most and I'm between that and 16 just now.

I bought a beautiful yellow wrap dress as well which isn't on the site, maybe they only have some options on there: www.mountainwarehouse.com/womens/dresses/

Sorry, completely forgot the boden bit, I used to rely on them a lot but what was capable and easy 10 years ago I suspect now looks frumpy. I'd normally go for something like this - boden 1 and boden 2

I think I've found the answer so, if not boden, then where?

Ooh, sorry, too absorbed, I've never heard of mountain warehouse, I'm not in the UK, but they will deliver. It does look very frumpy but I've realised that's because they're not posed, but the flat dresses.

Thank you.

I'm a size 16/18 and although I don't shop in Boden, I can see how the odd thing in there would still look good. And don't listen to that Mumsnet quote you posted. Don't you know we're a nest of vipers on here ?

I have got a few things from H&M recently, which is less frumpy and quite cheap if you're thinking of losing weight and not needing your size 16s for long. I buy from their sustainable line mainly and have found the quality pretty good, but you get what you pay for obviously.

I have also bought a dress from Sezane, which goes up to an 18 at least, and just yesterday bought a skirt from Kemi Telford at John Lewis which I'm very excited about. I also bought a dress from &other stories but it was way too short on me and I ended up wearing it as a top!

I think, aesthetically, you don't necessarily need to worry that much about your size making you frumpy. I see women bigger than you or me looking very stylish all the time. But no, Boden possibly won't help and you don't have to shop there. They do have the odd nice thing. I posted a dress from there yesterday which was lovely except for a big ugly (imo) tie belt which I would just take off and add my own belt, or tie differently maybe. But generally, I don't shop there.

Oh also Baum Und Pferdgarten and Ganni are worth a look at size 16.

@lborgia

I've suddenly gone up from a neat 14 to a very full 16, and it seems to have made a big difference to my shape, I can't seem to feel happy in the wrap and other dresses I've always relied on to feel put together at work.

I realise part of this is my health, self perception, chronic pain etc., but god I'd feel better in a decent outfit!

Cos and Monki are both good at bigger sizes. If you still have a nipped in waist then Asos, H&M, Zara and River Island do some beautiful things.

Like Zara for my sons, I have walked through the women’s stuff and assumed they wouldn’t have my size, even before I got bigger! I’ll give them a go, thanks!

I'm a bit of a rectangle - fairly broad shoulders, not much of a waist, def got a tummy, but I've put weight on all over, partly because of steroid medicines, partly shifting hormone.

I used to have a d cup/ good boobs, but now even one cup bigger, and everything else fatter, I'm just as much midriff, back fat etc. Iyswim. Sorry, no idea if that explains anything!

Watching, as I'm looking for a dress too, similar size and possibly shape.

I am same shape but tall. I have just discovered the Dove dress from Dancing Leopard and it's fab. Some on the site are lairy but some are plain. First I've found that make me feel glam but can also be toned down with trainers.

I've always been pleasantly surprised with M&Co

Omg I love the look of Dancing Leopard!

What's the sizing like?

@lborgia yay!!

@lborgia I only have one but I would say true to size

I am a 16/18 and have these two. I feel great in them. The green Roberta dress is really flattering 🙂
www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/amelie-jersey-dress-ivory-palm-tile/sty-j0326-ivo?cat=C1_S2_G4

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/roberta-jersey-dress-sapling-flora-bud/sty-j0869-grn?cat=C1_S2_G4

Thanks @jakeyboy1!

@AnnieSnap - I used to wear the amelie a lot, and then they got too small, and note I remember them as mono boob, but that may be because I was still trying to fit my 36Es into a size 14 wil buy again to fit!

Amelie jersey dress

https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/amelie-jersey-dress-black/sty-j0326-bla?cat=C1S22_G4

Hush or Next own brand stuff. Shite stuff for jersey shirts. Poetry for linen trousers. Wrap London and Sezane for tops. Sezane also for carefully chosen dresses - wraps and button front midi/maxis not the ridiculous stuff.

I did mean White not shite...

@lborgia I don’t get mono boob, so I suspect it was the bra. Have a look at the Roberta. It’s gorgeous on in green (brown I suspect, not so much).

If you like the Boden esthetic, try Seasalt, whose dresses are really well cut and flattering for a fuller figure.

I'm going to suggest you look at ebay. I've started getting most of my clothes there. Expensive brands for rock bottom prices. I bought a beautiful red Monsoon dress recently for £10.

The thought of spending £100 on a daytime dress (or anything really) horrifies me now.

Everything except underwear and shoes.