Please help! Work dresses following an operation and new shape

[Lemursandions]

Hello everyone

Looking for some inspiration and help! I need two outfits to wear to my work - which is smart/casual.

I had open abdominal surgery for fibroids last year and it’s left me with what I now know is a hernia. So I have a sticky out bump from my tummy button downwards but not all the way across my stomach if that makes sense! Looks particularly odd as rest of my stomach is relatively flat. As a result none of my previous spring/summer work dresses fit. Luckily it turns out I can get this fixed hopefully however I need something to wear in the interim.

My work is relatively casual but I prefer to have top of arms covered a bit. I’m short - 5’2 and generally a size 10. Looks awful
in black unfortunately. Have large chest (32 F) so can’t have a high neck and because of the stomach need something stomach skimming.

In an ideal world I’d get something I will enjoy wearing even once the stomach’s sorted. However I think a dress is possibly best option as trousers/skirts may be more affected if my shape changes after the hernia op. For something I really love would be happy to go to £150ish for at least one item.

Does anyone have any suggestions? No idea why but for some reason I can’t seem to find anything!

Would any of the Beyond Nine dresses work? They also have jumpsuits and separates.

I’m sorry you had such a poor outcome from your surgery. (Presumably embolisation wasn’t an option in your case?) Hope the hernia issue can be resolved soon.

Thanks - yes unfortunately open abdominal was my only option and the surgical hernia is an unlucky result.

Thank you for the link / I think unfortunately as I’m small ( quite petite frame) those dresses would swamp me.

I've always found Monki great for non-body skimming dresses at an affordable price. They do lots of shirt dresses etc with sleeves and fun prints in loose cut shapes.

Aligne is another brand I rate, which is closer to your higher end price point. Probably a slighter more business casual look as well.

Links at the lower end of your budget:

Community Clothing

& Other Stories

Cos

Photos at the higher end. (Green dress from Goodhood Store.)

Some of those Aligne dresses are gorgeous …

Thanks everyone!