Dress for hourglass figure

[Reddota]

Hello, I am looking for a dress for a wedding. I am a size 16 and 5 ft 7. What I'd love is a long calf length dress, structured with a fullish skirt. A taffeta style shirt dress would be great, 50s prom style, this sort of thing. Ideally 3/4 sleeves, I'm busty, hour glass. I don't like cheap fabrics but budget is only around £200. I've been looking at bombshell hq and although the cuts of these dresses are brilliant, the prints are just too twee for me. Can anybody recommend somewhere else to look or help?

What about the Pretty Dress Company? Maybe you could get it altered to the style you really like?

Samantha Sung dresses are exactly as you describe - I've got one that I wear to weddings and it's brilliantly well made. They are £££ but might be worth seeing if you can get one second hand.

Collectif?

Samantha Sung prices have rocketed although they last forever.

Jasper Conran is similar but cheaper.

Jasper Conran

Max Mara always has exactly what OP is looking for but way over budget.

I really dislike Bombshell.

Miles over budget but targeted ads has just suggested this

Max Mara Shantung shirt dress

Thank you all! Samantha Sung is EXACTLY what I am looking for but it appears I have expensive taste 🤪. Off to see if I can ebay/ vinted a 2nd hand one

Ooh thanks for the Jasper Conran suggestion too, they have some lovely ones and much more my budget!

Have you looked at Seamstress of Bloomsbury?

https://theseamstressofbloomsbury.co.uk/collections/dresses

Watching with interest, the Samantha sung dresses are beautiful

Those Jasper Conran dresses are beautiful. I had forgotten all about him. Will mark if anyone ever invites me to a wedding.

I've got half a dozen Samantha Sung Audrey dresses in everyday prints which I used to wear to work. They must be at least 10 -12 years old. I don't wear them much now as I'm a bit tired of them but I'll come back to them.

The Audrey is now over £800. A reverse inflation calculator says £800 12 years ago was £540 . I think they were around £300 maybe £400 when I bought them.

Emily and Fin have nice vintage style shapes https://emilyandfin.co.uk/search?q=Florence&limit=28

When do you need it? Eshakti has this style and they make the dresses according to your measurements. I have several, only sent back one so far as it wasn't as expected. Like this type? You can also customise sleeves, length, collar etc.
https://www.eshakti.com/shop/Dresses/Cotton-poplin-release-pleat-shirtdress-CL0082659?view_source=regular&index=15

You can sometimes buy Samantha Sung on eBay. Check the size as they use US sizes so you might need to search for a 12 if you want a 16. They are brilliant.

I would also search for 'shirt dress stretch cotton' and pick options you can return if they don't fit. A favourite eBay search of mine as an hourglass shape!

You could also check out House of Foxy and Collectif for similarly vintage shapes.

Vivien of Holloway. If you're nearby and can get to the shop on Holloway Road the girls will fit you properly.

https://www.vivienofholloway.com/

Kemi Telford?