Where do you get your summer dresses?

[travelingtortoise]

I live in a warm climate and spring has firmly sprung here (23 degrees today).

I had a massive clear out of my wardrobe over the winter and so I'm looking to stock up on dresses for the next year.

But I'm really struggling to find anything nice online! There aren't a lot of options offline for buying clothes where I am, so I've been trawling the internet and I need help.

I'm 35, 5'4, size 10-12. Athletic build, tend to feel a bit heavy around the shoulders so I'm really not a fan of spaghetti straps – ideally looking for V-neck styles in a 'light spring' colour palette.

I can't seem to find anything that would fit the bill – it's all dark colours and moody prints, or teeny-weeny strappy numbers... Where am I going wrong?!

Where do you look online for decent quality, light, swishy, stylish things you can throw on with some sandals and go?

I’m not sure where you are or how hot it gets in the summer. But we spent four weeks at MIL’s in Provence last summer ( hotter than Hades in the canicule) and my much loved Emily and Fin skater and cotton Palava dresses were unwearable. My preferred dress was a pure cotton, black loose dress from Hush, which I wore about 14 hours a day (with bikini bottoms underneath for pool dips). If we went out, I wore a cotton Seasalt midi dress, or a Hush zigzag pattern midi dress.

Hahaha I was there too and concur. Literally nothing was comfortable in that heat. It was awful.

Aspiga sent me a catalogue, my goodness it was AWFUL. Literally nothing I would wear and very expensive

You have such lovely style x

Thank you @Enthrallingstoryofstillnessandlight

I was looking yesterday (in store M&S ) and online

There was a lot of animal print ( I am fond of traditional beige/black leopard and have some black with white/pink from a couple of years ago)

Not a fan of tiered flouncy , I'd look like Nellie from Little House on the Prairie

I have bought a cotton/vicose button front ditsy floral ( I know ditsy is out but I'm always a couple of years behind) from Monsoon.

I'm looking for some M&S stretch jersey skater dresses . No button, no flounces , pull over my head , wash/hang up/no ironing .
I think it's too early at the moment

After looking at what I have, I've decided I'm after 2 dresses this summer - a strappy sundress with slightly wider straps to hide bra straps (so not spaghetti strap) in thin cotton or linen. Willing to consider prints for this one apart from very dainty florals.

Second one I'd love a shirt-style front (without actual buttons, or being a shirt dress) and with short/cap sleeves. A-line, knee-length ideally. Preferably quite neutral. If anyone sees anything like that, do give me a shout!

Hush for your first preference...but possibly too early. I got a red and blue exactly as you describe last year. Plainer than plain, super comfy and nonstop compliments every time I wore it.

www.hush-uk.com/int/janelle-jersey-midi-dress-khaki/002567-2012.html
Not quite what you've described but this is light and looks v comfy and great reviews. The khaki doesn't suit me but the navy is all but sold out for weeks now.

I very much love Gudrun Sjödén! It's clothes for real women, not starved 12year-olds 😊www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjf-PXkndf9AhWSl1EKHbGtDPsYABAGGgJ3cw&ohost=www.google.be&cid=CAESbOD2fIgX2HpSImIS1HA7-E0Vufu3F6iVWEwKxoI45-a9d9cLLC2LBi2OMYjB1sNT5sYIF9CscggeDIYcBHAZW7PkoM9__vAgj_vuu969HioO6oe6huEnHE2X8f0bwgCNOH7zwR34y8Vd4HO5kQ&sig=AOD64_0xPpCsaVT-rlruPUUbPziGo1mDuw&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwi13O3kndf9AhVdhP0HHWm_DSsQ0Qx6BAgDEAE

Someone already mentioned it, but I second Mountain Warehouse for reasonably priced simple jersey dresses:

Mountain Warehouse

Which dresses are for starved 12 yos??

You're just a bit early for the new collections!

Asos and Monsoon have a bit more in now. Someone mentioned Palava above - I love my Palava dresses, they're such good quality and will last for years and years. A bit expensive but there's a thriving second hand market.

@Sennelier1 Define 'real women' 🙄 No need to body shame anyone, big or small. I don't like the distinct lack of waist in all Gudrun Sjoden. They don't sell the V-neck and light spring colours OP asked for, either.

I used to wear a lot of Gudrun Sjoden until my daughter cast a jaundiced eye and said 'It's all a bit Pippi Longstocking, isn't it?' That being what daughters are for. The shop in Stockholm is a real treat though.

@toucaninjapan My apologies for late reply, first chance to get on Mumsnet for a few days! Love your tights and pairing grey/cool and brown/warm shades. You look so comfy and chic! Would love to see the boots you mention you wear with skirts and dresses. I never seem to be able to get it right.

She's not wrong 😄

OP - have you tried Phase Eight? They have a sale on at the moment and I've just ordered a teal linen dress which is v neck and plain, with a grown on short sleeve - I hope it's as nice as the photo. They have some nice shirt dresses too. Also ordered a sleeveless linen dress from M&S which is completely plain and just has a belt but which you can wear a normal bra under. Monsoon are normally pretty good for summer dresses and the gingham picture posted earlier is extremely similar to their Dolly dress which they do every year.
Phase Eight
M&S

Are you sure? Japanese women tend to have small frames and often wear dresses in this kind of style. Might be worth trying on and seeing. Could surprise you.

(Though might depend on your boobage.)

Thanks, despite being petite I have rather large boobs! I lived in Japan for a couple of years and definitely didn't fit into the kind of dresses petite Japanese women wore. My mum bought me a bra from M&S at the time and sent it to me.

Never got any replies on the thread I posted so I'm trying here: does anybody know the designer of the dress worn by Thea Rogers (George Osbourne's girlfriend) to Clodagh McKenna and Harry Herbert's wedding?