This isn't doing much for me, is it?

[headwear]

This dress:

www.axparis.com/products/duck-egg-short-sleeve-belted-wrap-midi-dress

On me...

What's the problem? Is it too big/too small? Am I too short? Is it the sleeves? Is the neckline too high?

Loved the colour and had such high hopes!

I am sick to death of trying to dress this body. I'm a size 8/10 and just under 5ft 2.

Where am I going wrong?

Ignore this OP. It's a horrible dress. It doesn't even look nice on the tall black model. I'm your size and this would look hideous and the colour is dire for white skins.

It's not horrible but .. not great for a wedding guest.

And probably touching up and photoshopping and it's still not nice.

That is fabulous. The material, the colour and it's lined too. It also looks like nothing else on the high street.

Try looking on petite sections, such as Next online. I'm 4ft 11 and dresses specifically designed for shorter people cling to/ flow from the right places. So the waist and hem etc are where they should be. Also look at the reviews and ratings from people to get an idea of material.
Next deliver next day, and their returns policy is great so I tend to order the same thing in a couple of different sizes depending on what shape the dress is.

You have a great figure that is swamped by that dress (which is a cheap-looking dress). You have trim legs and arms and could definitely show more of those too. You're not just short, but genuinely petite in all dimensions, so I think you need to shop from a petite range, Roman have a lot of petite dresses suitable for weddings in your price range.

This.
OP, the dress looks great in the original picture but it's clearly a poor design, and poor quality fabric, if it looks so rough on you. With your figure you should expect to look amazing.

The Cos dress looks unforgiving.

Slightly lower key, but could be lovely as styled, with a belt - from Massimo Dutti. (Again, hem alteration shouldn’t be a problem.) Nicely ruched at sides and seems to hang elegantly.

I actually like the colour- and like the top half on you if you had some nice jewellery- I don't like the lenght/shape around your legs although that might look better with nice heels.

Sorry op, the material is cheap. You have a nice figure and it is not flattering.

Shorter women often have issues with ‘standard sized’ clothing. In this case, the dress is too long. Not just the hem of the skirt, but too long right the way through. The neck-to-waist measurement is too long for the OP, which causes bagging and bunching round the belt area and puts the bust darts too low. The distance from natural waistline to hip bone (a small but vital measurement) is also too long. This can make dresses and skirts seem too small at the waist when in fact they’re sitting in the wrong place and very likely too big. Also, unless your legs are long relative to your body, avoid handkerchief or asymmetric hems.

Lastly, the colour’s too cool for your skin tone. I’d go for a warm ballerina pink or golden yellow.

Have you seen this Asos one? it is available in a size 8
https://www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-twist-and-drape-front-midi-dress-in-duck-egg/prd/201449585

You need a petite dress - that doesn't fit waist to shoulder and it doesn't sit right

I got this in a panic for a conference I had to attend last min (I usually work in jeans but this was with my boss and I was facilitating some workshops!)

I know I bang on about wrap dresses all the time but they hide a lot and look nice

Dresses | Petite Cobalt Floral Jersey Wrap Midi Dress | Wallis

Oh I'm 5ft2" and a 10!

It’s a cheap dress in an insipid colour, it’s definitely the dress, not you.

What about this?

I can't post a link. It just take me to my Next app. But it is petite.

Not sure if the tie waist would do me any favours though.

I think the colour is too pale for you and will make you look washed out. You need a stronger colour.

Thanks for the suggestions. I would have tried the ASOS one, but there's no size 10 in stock which is what I would need from there, I think.

I think wrap dresses are only for those with big boobs. Definitely not me. I’m slender on top and they look awful on me

Bear with me because this is going to sound like a cheap and nasty option but this dress https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/apricot-green-abstract-print-short-sleeve-midi-shirt-dress/p/865932339

looks really good on me and I’m the same height and shape as you, and probably similar colouring. If I had a wedding I’d wear this with good wedges.

I think a stronger blue, purple, or berry colour if you suit dark greens. Avoid the wrap and floaty sleeve.
Agree with a previous poster that a petite dress is the way to go.

Maybe something like this:

https://www.asos.com/asos-petite/asos-design-petite-fallen-shoulder-pleat-back-midi-dress-in-blue/prd/204820097?clr=blue&colourWayId=204820098&cid=13934

I’m puzzled as to why you’re choosing wrap dresses, @headwear. They really are designed to disguise ‘imperfections’ - and you have none. You could easily wear something more … 21st century.

Hair down and give the dress an iron, it would look so much better

Wow this is the second dress you’ve recommended that looks straight from a cult documentary. OP ignore these suggestions; they are insane. The Cos dress looks terrible on the gorgeous model and the second dress even worse.