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).

The frills at the bottom really drive me mad. Not always visible.

I can't wear polyester of any kind. Makes me sweaty.

Yes I find the Hobbs website isn’t helpful in sifting through though. Like you said you have trawl through it all carefully. I do like Hobbs quality. We have a branch in our town, it’s much easier to look in the shop.

Yes, I suspected you were on a wind up. They do party frocks, not work wear. As party frocks they are a gazillion times more interesting than anything on SilkFred.

If I were looking for a plain, but good quality, work dress under £100 I'd go for Community Clothing. All made in the UK and in natural fibres.

100%

I hate puffed sleeves with a passion; they look silly for everyday wear.

And I was quite taken aback seeing so many winter items made with recycled plastic bottles in the shop yesterday. Plastic clothing?

You have a point about high quality polyester over poor quality cotton. Also Cotton uses a lot of water and if it's not organic, chemicals too.

I think those are ridiculously child-like and shapeless.

Snap. I can just about pull off a midi dress if it’s the height of summer with sparkly flip flops but other than I feel like a Granny

It's not just dresses. I spent most of the morning looking for trousers as I lost weight since last winter and don't have anything warm. I didn't find anything I'd like that's under £120-ish.

Boden has actually improved since last year. Now they have some styles in black + a weird colour instead of just weird colours and prints. The fabric is horrible though. Mostly ponte (which looks awful on me) or washed-out summery cotton. Or wool, which is too hot and formal where I work.

I've noticed that there really isn't a great selection anywhere since the pandemic. Maybe companies are afraid to make too much available in case they're stuck with a lot of stock again.

Masai for me, bought on Vinted.

Try & Other Stories

Some lovely knit dresses, minus the garish patterns!

www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/knitted-dresses.html

Blimey sorry those clothes are awful

It's all these high neck designs that are annoying me. Feel like they would strangle me. And , be too much during a hot flush. To much black everywhere. It's either really frumpy out there or ridiculous revealing stuff that an 18 year old with a perfect figure would look like a total tart in. End Rant!

Also lots are very low cut V necks. I tend to wear with a thermal (👵🏻) for day time and work. Also some have quite high side splits which aren’t always visible when you order online.

I was joking, but it wasn't a good joke and has backfired! 😀It's just been suggested so many times on here, so I decided to see if I could get away with it. Really awful clothes for any situation IMHO, but some people do like them because they are as far from Boden as you can get.

It's just been suggested so many times on here

Gosh - more than Next / Debenhams / Mint Velvet / Bombshell / Shein / Pretty … whatever / M&S / Reiss / Seasalt / All Saints / Brora / Joe Effing Browns?

I’d be surprised if that were indeed the case.

Natasha - was the link to the Joanie dresses are joke, that is the exact opposite of what the op asked for. Awful, shapeless sacks! The poor women look like they are wearing garish marquees or some sort of hideous fancy dress. Surely normal people don’t go round looking like that, I’ve never seen one in the wild. I’m 5.3 and slimish, I’d look like lulu from Harry Enfield wearing them.

Cord dress
https://www.johnlewis.com/crew-clothing-nova-cord-cotton-blend-dress-berry-red/p110745770
98% cotton, knee length, not baggy, sleeves three quarters length
£79 in budget

Knitted dress, not long, not over sized, wee bit above budget
https://www.sherpaadventuregear.com/gb/bharati-eco-dress-forest-10210#selection.color=44085

Fitted denim dress
https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/davina-denim-dress-we874

£55 well inside budget

Oh im loving some of the dresses this season, but ive got to say the shoes and boots are horrendous, most look like clumpy work men's boots!

No, nowhere near as often as those purveyors of (often quite awful) dresses.

Or Nancy Mac or Silk Fred.

Oh haha! Sorry it flew over my head!

@Barney60 I agree. It’s like wearing wellies. Those black chunky ankle boots are not flattering with a midi dress and I don’t care how good your legs are! I really get stuck with daytime shoeage in the winter. Can’t wear trainers with tights. All the photos on these websites show bare, tanned legs! In U.K. winter?!?!?!

Organic cotton dresses, simple styles, lots of choice (ignore the weird one shouldered ones)
https://wearpact.com/women/apparel/all%20dresses%20&%20jumpsuits/fit%20&%20flare%20midi%20party%20dress/wa1-wvd-cll

I bought three cord dresses last year and they are so comfy to wear! I feel really good in them. Am considering another one...

I rarely buy high street. Far nicer quality in the independents.

Try here - www.jonzara.co.uk.