DRESSES- what on earth is going on this season?

[IslandsInTheSunshine]

So, I decided to wean myself off boring trousers and tops and try to wear more dresses over the winter.

What can I find in shops and online? Next to nothing.

Everything looks like it's designed for giants (I could fit 2 of me into most of the floaty offerings.) And VERY long even for me as an average 5 4". There are some knitted dresses around but they are shapeless and huge.

Or the fabric is thin and more suitable for summer.

My go-to in the past has been Boden (sorry folks.)
But this season it's all garish prints (again) or black/ navy and either super-clingy or with low V necks, etc etc etc. And the knitted dresses are £130 (okay- you can get a 20% discount but still....)

I'd spend up to £90-ish for something nice (I work from home so don't need formal stuff).

Sezane

I agree. I've lost some weight and have been working out and want to show my figure not hide ir. Went to buy a blouse and everything is boxy/straight cut, no darts in sight! I guess most people want to cover up.

I have to go to shops for the younger market like Urban Outfitters for skinny ts.

That said I do like Sugarhill Brighton and Oliver Bonas. Sugarhill do lots of dress shapes usually. I've got fitted midi dresses from there.

I have a lot of M&S jersey swing dresses. They're cheap and often nice prints.

Some nice dresses on this thread from earlier in the week!

I've ordered a lovely cord dress!

Help me find a needle cord dress/skirt http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/styleandd_beauty/4908458-help-me-find-a-needle-cord-dressskirt

This is a bit different than most of the stuff out there:

www.sugarhillbrighton.com/products/d0789-paola-midi-shirt-dress-multi-cascading-daisies?_pos=1&_sid=68be22742&_ss=r

Seamstress of Bloomsbury also do lovely fitted and elegant dresses - haven't shopped there yet but they look amazing.

I suppose it depends on what is a "wondrous dress" to you. Sosander, Dancing Leopard and Boden for example certainly are not for me.

Dresses I like and wear.
Palava, Klements,
(wearing this at the moment with a long sleeved thermal vest under it and an long, orange, boiled wool cardigan from Oska on top)

Klements Witch Flower dress

Oska, Colenimo, Ganni, YMC, NRBY, & Daughter (although they no longer do dresses) Cabbages and Roses Batsheva.

My problem is there are too many wondrous dresses around.

I don't have any but Joannie are rather nice too. The Laura Ashley prints are particularly good.
Joannie Dresses

@Lentilweaver that Brora dress - wow. But it's blimmin hand wash only

A bit off topic but if you want something with darts you may need to go to a non fashion store like this

https://www.hawesandcurtis.co.uk/womenswear/shirts

But isn't that the pay off for a good dress? Better quality material should be handwashed. It's not a great hardship.

Sorry, it was me with the ‘wondrous’ - then had to dash out!

I’d have suggested much the same list as @NatashaDancing. But most of those brands, and many, many others, just don’t fit with the OP’s up to £90 budget - even during the sales.

Quality is shocking though. I bought two dresses, wore once, washed on a cold cycle and they shrunk by 4" in the sleeves and hem so now unwearable.

Girl in Mind have some nice dresses - you can buy via Next, SilkFred or we have an independent shop in our high st that stocks them.

I have a couple of their things and just bought another dress - it’s good quality and not a ridiculous tent shape. £45 so good price too.

I would never bother with anything that was hand wash or dry clean only, total waste of money as I'd wear it once and never bother to clean it.

Good cotton washes well, it doesn't have to be man made.

What is the sizing like please? I like some of those shirts.

If you don’t want to wear jeans and all the dresses aren’t to your taste maybe try a nice top/jumper with a skirt, tights and boots instead.

I’m definitely out of kilter. The dresses I like are probably frumpy, Weirdfish, Whitestuff etc, but the fashion for ‘Little House on the Prairie’ style with the high necks etc are the epitome of chintz frump to me! 🤷🏼‍♀️

Also agree with pp that silkfred is worth a look they have such a wide variety of dresses.

I like Jaba Yard - I got a really nice wrap dress in summer, cap sleeves, knee length, which I'm now adding over jeans/jeggings and probably a polo neck sweater and boots as the weather changes.

Also got this dress at Edinburgh Woolen Mill, styling that the same way.

https://www.jabayard.com/womenswear/dresses/page3.html

@NatashaDancing not necessarily.
I have plenty of clothes that are years and years old and are machine washable.
But yes it's a choice. And in fact I've just ordered it. If it's a real banger on then it's worth the time

It all very much depends on the occasion and your own style surely? Everything is just so individual as the suggestions on here show.

Tu at sainsburys had some lovely dresses in store when I was in last week!

Still so many puffed sleeves. And i don't want my clothes to be made from recycled plastic bottles.

Have you looked at Jolie Moi? I just bought this one via Silkfred. It's really comfy, long but not too long, relaxed fit yet semi fitted. Nice enough for the office or an event (wore it to a christening yesterday) but fine for more casual wear too. Jolie Moi seems to have a lot of colourful dresses similar to this but a range of patterns and necklines.

I hate the loose shapeless ones too.