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?

I’m an inch smaller than you so would suggest the problem lies in the fact that’s it’s not for a petite height.
Pinch the shoulder seams where they meet the sleeves. Lift up the dress three inches. The upper part should fit perfectly.
Most dresses are designed for women who are much taller than us.
Go for petites. They are scaled to our frames. All dressmakers adjust patterns accordingly.

I think wrap dresses are really unflattering.

What is your budget?

https://www.coastfashion.com/petite-long-sleeve-pleated-mesh-midi-dress/BCC00999.html?color=138

This has a few colourways, would show off your slim frame while being flattering over your stomach but provide some coverage if you're more comfortable with a sleeve.

Sorry, noticed the asos one was out of stock in your size.

Have you had a look on Girl in Mind? Lots of dresses for a similar price point and it tells you the models height so you can get a feel for how it would sit on you. You seem to be picking wrap dresses, how about something like this? It has a wrap dress feel but a little more modern
https://girlinmind.com/collections/dresses-midi-dresses/products/camila-pink-green-floral-wrap-over-midi-dress

It looks too long for you and too much Patric at the bottom. Overall it looks too big and not fitting enough on your top half. I’d look for something shorter and more fitted in a colour that suits your ‘season’ x

Maybe they are on you? I look like an over stuffed sausage in a bodycon dress and Kirsty Alsop in anything '50's style' - we come in loads of shapes and sizes

I like that pink and green dress above very much

It's an insipid colour, 100% polyester, doesn't fit well and not a very nice style. It looks like a different dress to the advert. Which is why I only buy things I've actually tried on now. I also never buy something for an event, I do the opposite, if I find something I really like I think
"I can wear this to XYZ event"
It stops panic buying and you end up with something you wear lots.

Two more

https://www.karenmillen.com/petite-structured-crepe-forever-pleat-midi-dress/BKK06222.html?color=373

https://www.karenmillen.com/petite-scattered-floral-georgette-pleated-midi-dress/BKK12603-2.html?color=373

This one.

And in that colour. That colour looks fab on all skin tones.

It also looks really cheap and badly made. That back seam is something to behold.

Marcia, I know the OP thinks it's not for her but your Cos dress is by far and away the nicest suggestion on this thread by several country miles.

Thanks for the suggestions.

The pale blue ASOS is out of stock.

The green and pink is too 'cold shoulder' for me.

I suppose I gravitate towards wrap dresses because of my unpredictable stomach. And because I wore one to the last wedding I went to and felt really good in it. This one:

prettykittyfashion.co.uk/collections/velour-dresses/products/emerald-green-velour-40s-1-2-sleeve-wrap-wiggle-dress

Although that was a couple of years ago now:

It really isn't. With the exception of Marcia's suggestions there are some horrors on this thread.

I can see where you're coming from. I much prefer this to the glammed up but cheap suggestions.

Does your budget allow more as you haven't said what your budget is? I think people are suggesting "cheaper" dresses based on the original one , but if you can spent more than how about something like this green Phase Eight dress

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/beverley-stripe-jacquard-midaxi-dress-22142345285.html?utm_source=rakutenmarketing&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=3354356%3ARedbrain&utm_content=15&utm_term=uknetwork&ranMID=44103&ranEAID=pfxNKSnglIM&ranSiteID=pfxNKSnglIM-9vToTia5MS7b.saJuD5ztw

She’s probably got about 10 pins down her back to make it sit right - but even so I think it’s making her look bigger than she is because there’s a lot of drapery and a chunky belt.

It’s too bulky for you, plus it doesn’t look like good quality material so hard to make it sit right. Her’s my very well be heavier material.

It’s the dress, not you.

You are not doing anything wrong. Online shopping is always a gamble.

It’s the bat wing sleeves, there’s too much material up top. And to pull off those asymmetrical hemlines where it’s longer at the back than the front, you need to be very tall. The colour is ok, bit boring, I’d need to wear quite a bit of fake tan with that colour otherwise it could wash me out.

It's the colour. The style is actually nice.

I love the blue one shoulder dress. It’s unfortunate that’s oos. I think you’re a pear shape? So you would suit something to widen the top. The reason the dress isn’t doing anything for you apart from the colour and the fit (too big on the top) is that the v neck is far too conservative. You would need a much deeper cut. I think the one shoulder or off shoulder dresses would look great on you along with deep v neck.

Haven’t found anything so far as often the bottom is too “busy”. Will keep looking but this dress is quite nice. It could swamp you on the top. In that case, I’d go a size down in this one for example and have the skirt part a little tighter. It has a little Lycra to allow this.
https://www.next.co.uk/style/ls369257/k39311#k39311

I also wear wrap dresses with Lycra (they need to be proper wrap rather than false) a size and in some cases 2 smaller than recommended for my size. They give my bust definition required and this loses the excess fabric.

All the models on AX Paris have massive boobs and tiny waists. It makes all the clothes look good, when actually they're all kind of average. I'm someone with a athletic figure, I know to avoid it!

Sorry but the whole dress is a bit off to me, god knows who designed it!

It does look too big for you and needs an iron but I just don’t like the dress, period.

Very strange for models to have that look!

Will check with DB as he used to do fashion photography.

I agree - I do buy without trying on, often from EBay & Vinted, but it’s really helpful to buy further in advance in this way. It helps to build outfits with things you already have. Also it’s always better to avoid cheap fabrics, they just never look good in real life.

Here is a left field suggestion - try Seasalt - their stuff on sale or second hand/outlet is incredibly good value for the quality. Yes, you have to filter out mountains of tweeness, but they tend to use decent fabric and the dresses can be very versatile. They are always styled according to the brand but some are actually very chic with different shoes and accessories.

It's catalogue modelling rather than fashion. The target audience is the Insta generation who all want big boobs and big bums and wear 3 inches of very contoured make-up.