Appreciate all the comments and I'm working through them.
@InTheLabyrinth, agree with what you say. I have yet to find any casual dress that falls in the right place. A few years ago I used to wear the Hush Tara (I think?) one, that had the ruched skirt and baggy top, and I wore that to death because I could pull the waist to the right place. Unfortunately they're no longer the right style to wear. I agree re- empire lines making you look heavy. I'm open to them only because I found an evening dress a couple of years ago with a wrap bust and an empire line that was incredibly flattering, and I've been trying to replicate it in a casual dress but yet to find something.
@IAmTheLovechildOfYvesAndIsabel lots of recommendations for Trinny, but I find that she is so slim (and not large busted) that the general rules don't always work. I wear good bras. They're not the problem. I wear a fantasie moulded cup which gives a great shape.
@Notlostjustexploring, I think the dark blouse, dark jeans is pretty much what I'd end up with, because I'll feel like myself. Maybe I just need some new boots and accessories to lift it a bit.
@Chewbecca, I love the look of the Hush blouses, but I've tried ordering them in the past at the fabric was horrible and caused static hair. I need to find some similar lovely prints with a better fabric.
@cherrypiepie, agree skirts are always easier than a dress. I struggle with the midi anyway, because with short legs they look like a maxi on me, so I have to try loads to find a short length midi so that I falls at mid calf on me.
All the M&S links, but I've yet to ever find an M&S dress that looks right on me. I've tried on loads over the years.