Please help me find a 'wow' dress :)

[Gravitatio]

I'm catching up with friends next week and am looking for a new dress as I've lose some weight since they last saw me so want to look my best 😁

It's smart casual dress code, although I would rather be too smart than too formal!

I've dropped down to to a 12, I have a small waist but my hips/but are a large 12, as are my upper arms... bingo wings. So nothing sleeveless please, I need at least short sleeves!

I tend to prefer block colours rather than prints but I'm open to all suggestions really! Thank you!

Budget?
Style preferences?
Material preferences?

Budget up to £100 but cheaper is always better.

Style, something that makes the most of my shape, open to suggestions!

Material… gosh I hadn’t even considered. Cotton might be too informal. I don’t mind really! 😁

Tbh now mid-noughties Top Shop is gone, I’m afraid cheaper generally is not better when it comes to dresses. Unless you’re buying pre-owned, or renting - which are both excellent routes to wearing more than one can afford to buy.

That said - you could have a look at Sister Jane. Everything’s remarkably pretty (best not to look too deeply into provenance perhaps).

SisterJane stuff above looks nice, but is definitely too ‘cool’ for me. So,’if you’re more boring like I am, have you looked at Girl In Mind? I’m a chubby looking 12/14 and find many of their styles flattering, although a lot of it is prints rather than block colour. Girl In Mind

Have to say - for your particular event, @Gravitatio, something like the loose linen suit by Massimo Dutti (photo below) would seem like a ‘cooler’ choice to me. Or the blue American Vintage alternative. But I’ve included three other dresses. The very plain black Community Clothing dress is £99. It might be fabulous if you have jewellery or accessories you want to show off. The bright green & Other Stories looks easy to wear. And the YAS dress comes in about a dozen colours.

(Obvs tap photos for details.)

www.hush-uk.com/meghan-midi-wrap-dress-hearts-navy-red/007481-4219.html

A friend who is a similar size and body shape has this and it looks fab. The pic doesn't do it justice as it looks better on a curvier person!

Have a browse on Debenhams. You can filter. Varous brands some on sale.

https://www.debenhams.com/product/liquorish-black-maxi-wrap-dress-with-kimono-sleeves_p-6a7cbcbe-ca51-4656-8b8d-4859fb6bfb80?colour=Black

https://www.debenhams.com/product/karko-denisa-chiffon-cut-off-dress_p-9bfb82e9-cfb7-43ef-ac53-8507329594d5?colour=Pink

https://www.debenhams.com/product/another-sunday-puff-sleeve-midi-dress-with-tie-waist-in-green_p-4d7ce600-ab26-49a5-b502-a3999aa76b3f?colour=Green

https://www.debenhams.com/product/jolie-moi-beckie-fold-over-neck-dress_p-eaa6e5ea-dbae-4799-8b8f-2c52bd8ffcf4?colour=Purple

https://www.debenhams.com/product/liquorish-royal-blue-maxi-wrap-dress-with-kimono-sleeves_p-a5289dc6-1fa6-4b88-bde7-bef23dc49c2f?colour=Blue

Scrolled and scrolled through the sister Jane ones and saw zero I would wear. I'd fill the wardrobe with the girl in mind stuff.

This is Arket. Look at &OtherStories too. Massimo Dutti are great for smart casuals. Boden have loads of dresses with 20% off.

I took one look at the home page of Girl in Mind, thought, "wouldn't wear any of that, ever." Thought that might be unfair, clicked on "dresses" and thought, "I'd never wear any of that ever."

Sister Jane is full of fabulous dresses. I love this one.

Sister Jane Organza Dress

Shirt dresses

https://www.whistles.com/product/melanie-relaxed-shirt-dress-37220.html#navAjax=true&is=false&cgid=Mini_Dresses_Clothing_WW&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&prefn1=size&prefv1=UK%2012&pid=melanie-relaxed-shirt-dress-37220&pos=8

https://www.whistles.com/product/katie-button-through-dress-34709.html#isSecondPage=false&start=0&sz=60&is=false&cgid=Mini_Dresses_Clothing_WW&prefn1=size&prefv1=UK%2012&pid=katie-button-through-dress-34709&pos=20

Or maybe something like fit and flare, or more tailored dresses to show off your waist.

https://www.johnlewis.com/jolie-moi-paige-3-4-sleeve-flared-dress/p109144316

https://www.johnlewis.com/french-connection-elkie-drawstring-twill-dress/marine/p109963011

https://www.johnlewis.com/ted-baker-ryaa-mini-dress-dark-blue/p109743747

I love this brand for dresses - Roz & Zo https://roandzo.com/?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzdOlBhCNARIsAPMwjbzLN_kFu16CZKucyoRkvdzWPNhVbZ0E10CaBSxe86h1SuRYCPvBTOUaAi1PEALw_wcB

They're stocked in some John Lewis stores too.

If I had your figure I would wear something g like this
https://roandzo.com/products/gingham-v-neck-midi-dress-1

unfortunately I’m an apple shape so could never get away with it! But I can dream

Oh god that Sister Jane dress is hideous! And looking on the site the rest are mostly too! I don't get it! Maybe I am not "cool" enough lol.

https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/midi-dresses/product.collared-wrap-midi-dress-blue.1059510003.html I like this in blue

Same. They look like doll dresses sized up.

Glad it's not just me, I thought they looked like dresses Grayson Perry would love.

Exactly!

It's not anything to do with being cool. I suppose it's whether you're looking for a dress that will "show off your curves" / "show off your figure"/ "suit your colours" or a dress where the dress itself is the centre of attention, (even if it's marmite) and what makes you (general you) the most comfortable and happy.

Three more suggestions - if you’re interested in hiring or pre-owned? (Fabulous contemporary brands with lovely things this Summer. A bit over budget so possibly better rented.)

Alemais

Farm Rio

Klements

If I had lost a lot of weight and wanted to show it off, and had a small waist, I'd go for one of those ribbed midi dresses for a smart/casual thing. Something like this https://www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-midi-rib-dress-with-cut-out-shoulder-detail-in-brown/prd/201454748?xaffid=26502&r=1

The Alemais "Birdie" and "Theo" midi dresses are gorgeous as is the Klements "Orpheus"

Have a look at Mint Velvet, they have a sale on at the moment and have some beautiful dresses in all different types for under £100:

https://www.mintvelvet.co.uk/collections/sale-dresses?gclid=Cj0KCQjwzdOlBhCNARIsAPMwjbwxIq-_bB_kh4OkAJZkdkzsbmGK6JIa9PX_YL4BC4uvVTPca14-jCEaAjb9EALw_wcB

Their wideleg trousers are also 😍