petite summer dresses in your 40s

[ghluhaefupareh134]

Am desperately searching for a nice summer dress. Feeling like I can no longer wear the short dresses that I used to wear in my 30s. Looked all over Oxford street but everything seems so large. Am quite petite - size 6 and 5.3 and every time I tried something on in the shop, I just feel completely swamped. Tried all the usual Zara, Mango, Massimo, Cos, &other stories - why is this year's fashion so enormous. Anyone got any tips/advice. Cant spend the whole summer in jeans and trousers

Dorothy Perkins and Next have a lot of petite knee length dresses on their websites.

www.marksandspencer.com/petite-linen-square-neck-midi-waisted-dress/p/clp60452500?color=NAVY&prevPage=srp

I'm just under 5ft and often buy from Yumi and Apricot. Hit and miss sometimes but I always keep an eye on their new stuff.
H&M is all a bit 'big' at the moment.
I can't buy anything that's too loose fitting or baggy as, like you, I feel swamped.
I'll add more if I can think of anywhere else.

Also following.
I’ve gotten some from boohoo and they’re not great at all, have to return 2.

Never heard of either Yumi or Apricot - will check them out. I just can't believe there are more brands with petite ranges (and most of those that had them have gone bust this year or are online only). Years ago I would just wear short dresses and it did matter too much if they were a bit longer or buy from New Look but I feel too old for that. It's a bit unfortunate that I also have short legs so can get away with normal tops/jumpers but not bottoms.

5ft 2 sz8 here. similar prob. Boden have a selection of midi and maxi dresses in petite. Also go down to sz 6 in regular fit and I find sometimes if you buy a knee length regular one, it is just the right length to cover your knees without swamping you, which is what I want.

Hobbs have a few in petite but more formal and older

More fitted style I think are better. How about this one from French connection? www.frenchconnection.com/product/woman-collections-dresses/71qew/reta-check-midi-shirt-dress.htm

Am under 5 foot and Boden seem to be the only place that fit well. I'd love something more trendy, but I'd need to get my sowing machine out. Which I got 3 years ago to make clothes as nothing fits. I've made a pillow case.

that FC one is lovely.

How is Boden? Always thought it was a bit...well frumpy perhaps but should probably give it a go. Did pop into Hobbs but it still feels too grown up.

5ft here and petite also. I found a couple this year - hush and mango. Both well fit to my frame size 6/8 and great lengths. The mango dress is gorgeous!

shop.mango.com/ae-en/women/dresses-and-jumpsuits/printed-ruched-dress_87018634.html

www.hush-uk.com/v-neck-jersey-midi-dress-leopard/001991-2815.html

Boden? They also do well weighted jersey dresses which seem to skim rather than cling to all the bumpy bits (at this age I need all the skimming I can get!). They've also currently got a sale on..

The Amelia dress is pretty cute: Amelia@Boden

I got a couple of nice ones from Zalando - they have a good petite section, lots of different makes/designers.

Specific petite ranges are very limited. I'm 5ft, size 6 and (having looked in my wardrobe) I have the following that all fit a small frame well:

• knee length-ish sleeveless and short sleeve shirt-style dresses from H&M, White Stuff and New Look, all cotton/linen or thin denim - these are all belted.

• ankle length dress from H&M that I had to get shortened by a tailor at dry cleaners. I wear with a belt.

• ankle length &Other Stories dress that someone gave me - is meant to be midi length I guess but is almost ankle length on me. Lovely fitted top half, was too small in the body for my friend, hence ends up fitting a shortie.

Its hit and miss...smock or oversize styles probably won't suit (and there's a lot about). I find shirt dresses quite good. Or midi skirts as an alternative (Mango and H&M again for those).

Deliabob - that Mango dress is lovely!

I have found it harder & harder finding anything that fits, I’m under 5ft size 6 have had some luck with French connection, jigsaw occasionally Mango, Reiss in the sale
Boden I find much to big on the hips & hush never been successful with apart from tops, I did get a midi dress from top shop which is ankle length on me but looks ok I think, oh & a white stuff linen dress which fits well.

I've also been searching for dresses. I have bought a few from Next. Other online shops with petite sections that I've looked at are TU (Sainsbury's), Matalan, Dorothy Perkins, ASOS, Boohoo, Very.

Thank you everyone - this has been so helpful and nice not to feel alone ;-)

@dameofdilemma exactly the sort of things I am after but this year they dont seem to have any for some reason. I still have a shirt dress that I bought in H&M in 2003 (I kid you not) but it would be nice to get a few more

I’ve got this for the summer from next fits well, I don’t buy from there much (used to buy a lot from Oasis RIP) but big selection on next website of all different brands and petite options www.next.co.uk/style/st343736/785983#785983 I’m 5 3 and a 6 or 8 in dresses depending on shop.

Mocha, what do you do about the bra situation in those strappy dresses? Would a crop top look strange?

If you're looking at loose or smock type dresses, I've found that the addition of a belt often helps. I have a few nice leather ones that I put to good use with summer dresses eg a skinny silver one and a nice brown plaited one amongst others. They make me feel a bit less swamped.

@dameofdilemma it is absolutely beautiful on and swishy and just gorgeous

@Dragonn

Mocha, what do you do about the bra situation in those strappy dresses? Would a crop top look strange?

I’m really flat chested so wear a padded strapless bra to give me shape under any strappy/halter neck dresses. Would be fantastic to be able to go braless in these sorts of dresses!

I think the problem is that you’re searching in Oxford street instead of online, which will have a much bigger selection. The current fashion trends are quite casual - this will be reflected on what is available in store as these items will sell the most. Oxford st is a tourist hot spot, so will have a wide variety of stuff that also caters to tourists as they spend the most money

Ooops - by “casual” I meant that summer trends seem to be joggers/baggy jeans and a crop top vs a summer dress which seems more formal in comparison!

Wherever you end up getting them from, please don't style with white trainers and a denim jacket. It's like a freaking dull woman uniform.

@23andbroke I know but it's my local high street and it's nicer to pop into a shop 5mins down the road than get yet another delivery of clothes that are too big or just don't fit. My current success rate for online deliveries is about 1/10

@honeybuns007 love it....dont own a denim jacket anymore and sort of thought that i was too old for them. But looking around me - i might be too young ;-)

I used to find some nice petite things in Debenhams. I genuinely feel that they didn't get the recognition they deserved for being a great place to shop for all around well priced clothing.

Here is a link to their petite range (now all online) with 131 petite size 6 dresses from loads of different brands. You're bound to find one in here!

www.debenhams.com/category/womens-petite?categoryTaxonomy=Dresses&size=6