Is this dress frumpy? Please help !!!

[Notcontent]

I have quite a lot of nice clothes for everyday wear but don’t have anything that is particularly “dressy”. Part of the reason is that I don’t really go out much, except to work or the occasional casual dinner, etc. I would like to get a slightly more dressy outfit to wear to e.g. my work Christmas drinks. I am in London so it’s more of a casual vibe anyway.

I am 50, short and very slim. No bust to speak of sadly.

I was looking at this dress, as it’s available in petite and I think the bright red would suit me, but I am just not sure if it’s really me:
https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/elise-velvet-midi-dress-red/sty-d0810-red

maybe could look good with chunky boots?

Alternatively I was looking at the silver faux leather skirt from Wyse but I think that looks better styled more casually with a black top - but it’s an option…
https://www.wyselondon.com/collections/leather-etc/products/lateisha-faux-leather-skirt-silver

this dress is also gorgeous I think but I suspect it would swamp me!
https://www.wyselondon.com/collections/dresses/products/ari-smocked-dress-leopard?variant=40487396999257

I do look a bit like a younger and skinnier version of the older model (who I think is the co-owner of the brand )!

thanks in advance!

Edit - forgot to add… I think the red dress would suit you best, it’s lovely.

I love the silver skirt. But I think it would suit tall, slim women. Expensive for what it is. But if I were slim and money were no object, I’d buy it!

I'm not keen on the Boden dress either - think it would need high heels to look ok.

I'm tall so don't have your experiences, but couldn't you wear a short dress?

I quite like this party dress from Other Stories or something similar.

I just think midi length is really difficult to wear (and not look frumpy) however tall you are, but it's harder if you're shorter. I am 173 cm and have to wear high heels to look good with that length.

The first dress is not you so don't dream of wearing it.

I totally see where you're going with the other two looks. They are great. I'm jealous as my boobs are huge and I could never wear that leopard dress but with a flat chest and boots you would look very striking.

I like the silver skirt too and would style it as you suggested. However I think you could probably get a better silver pleather at the same length.

Would you wear sequin trousers? M&S have some, I haven't tried them but reports are good from my friends.

I love the cord suit a poster above contributed. Cawley Clothing above.

I also like the sequin skirt wraparound dresses above but with your slim build you could pull off something more striking.

The Biden one 😂😂😂

I love the silver skirt, and think it’d look great worn with a silk/chiffon/metallic drapey shirt worn with buttons open as low as possible, or a shirt same as above, but wrap style.

Alternatively, silver trousers similar to these would look great, again paired with a shirt as above.

I’m definitely looking for silver trousers this year.

The thing that would put me off the red dress is that it's dry clean only.

If you're looking for something sparkly, Disko Kidshave a partywear section. I haven't tried any of it myself but I do have a t-shirt and sweatshirt from them which I love. They give detailed sizing information for each item and they are quick to respond to queries as well.

@GonnaGetGoingReturns

I will too.

When I first saw a pair online, I showed my Husband and said maybe we could visit space this year, but they have very quickly grown on me!

They just look so gorgeous, and can look casual, and provide an almost effortless chic. I just hope they’re easier than bloody jeans shopping!

I like what Warehouse have on their site. I do think it's probably better to spend money on the things you wear every day and save on the one off, occasion outfits. (I need to practice what I preach a little more).

What a fabulous outfit. ❤️

The Boden dress is viscose velvet - I would risk it one a cool delicates or handwash programme in washing machine. I did that with a Next viscose velvet dress and it was fine, washing inside out in a net laundry bag.

Personally I dont like anything. You are only 50 and the models are older, suggesting they are aimed at 60+. With the figure you describe I would go straight to Phase Eight or to a vintage boutique
(of which there are lots in London and which would have plenty of bold
dresses in your size-sadly hard to find in mine!)

The silver trousers made me think of the Tin Man or tin foil

The clothes linked on this thread are pretty bad IMO.
The best of the bunch is the viscose red Boden dress, which seems to have a cheap-looking velvet sheen in the link.

Oh my word, imagine a brand with a middle aged demographic modelling their clothes on middle aged women. Whatever will they think of next?

The red velvet dress looks very, very shiny. I know all velvet is these days but there are some wide velvet leg trousers on the Boden website in what looks like a similar fabric and the reviews are slating the quality.

The animal print dress isn't my thing at all but you know what, I quite like it.

I'm not keen on silver (p)leather. I know it's having a fashion moment but I'd prefer the bronze if it's not too shiny.

Not first dress, does not flatter the small bust of the model.
Love the silver skirt and jumper!!

I quite like the leopard dress too, apart from the shine, but it would look awful on me.

Oh my word, imagine a brand with a middle aged demographic modelling their clothes on middle aged women. Whatever will they think of next?
Many of the brands criticised as frumpy on S&B have more mature models. We should be able to see beyond the model and consider how it would look on ourselves.

I think that an older model (someone 50+) might suggest a style less likely to date, and, I hope, of a decent quality. Not all clothes modelled that way are though.

• 50+ isn't old but the models used for people of retirement age often look quite a bit younger

I think the red Boden dress is lovely, but much nicer in either of the other two colours. I'm afraid I think the silver fake leather skirt and the leopard skin dress are hideous.

@Notcontent I agree with whoever suggested that anything midi length is prone to looking either dowdy or twee when dressed up, unless worn with intention.

There was a great Wiggy Kit silver skirt posted above. I’m also inclined to feel that if you want to look slightly cool it’s always worth looking outside shops specifically aimed at sensible middle age. So here’s another silver skirt - costs nothing but would look delightfully relaxed worn with other more expensive pieces:

https://www.asos.com/topshop/topshop-textured-maxi-skirt-in-metallic-silver/prd/205095027#colourWayId-205095035

Also a couple of photos below of other ways not to look twee.

Silver suits me better than gold generally and I like I’ve got tops I can wear with them. Not sure which ones I’ll end up going for though.

Red one is beautiful, very florence and the machine 😍

the cut of it's really nice

But that’s the thing - it really isn’t. (IMVHO )

1. Faux anything is generally crap.
2. They’ve copied the panelling often necessary with real leather garments - but it looks stupid in that synthetic material.
3. The elasticated back means the skirt bunches up and simply doesn’t have any structure of its own. So it just looks limp, when silver leather ought to look fierce.
4. Consequently the whole thing just looks half hearted and apologetic. Either get real leather or choose something that makes the best of the fabric it’s made of, rather than being a poor copy.

I appreciate others may disagree …

The red dress is very pretty. The leopard dress does not do any favours to either model, and the price is hideous.

@GonnaGetGoingReturns

I think they’re really versatile, and so many different tops could be worn with them, dressing them up or down, maybe by using a French tuck.