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!

The red dress is lovely. It can be worn with sandals for a special occasion. Versatile and will get lots of wear. Thick tights and boots for a smart daytime look

The Boden dress is nice. With boots like this, maybe ? https://fr.claudiepierlot.com/fr/p/bottines-cuir-noir/123annabel/CFACH00451.html

I love the red velvet dress and the silver skirt, that leopard dress would stand out for all the wrong reasons!

@Notcontent nothing to stop you trying the red dress. I personally think it'll make you look like a 10 year old at the school chrustmas party. With no bust it'll just sit shapeless on your chest. (I'll happily send you some boobage. I have way too much & at under 5ft in my 50's its now matronly not sexy) 🙄🙄

definite no to the others on your list. Look at your normal day to day wardrobe & really think about what style suits you & makes you feel good, then look at things in a more lux fabric or 'evening' colour or add nicer jewellery etc.

That's a skirt love ❤️

I'm sorry but I think the whole lot of them, other than the silver mini, are quite frumpy and voluminous. I think with your size you can do a lot better. I think that sort of crushed velvet is very dated.

Which silver mini? I didn't see one.

So many comments saying red dress is nice! I don't understand it at all. The fabric reminds me of plush chairs in a theatre, seems very unsuitable for a dress; the cut is really old fashioned and makes even young beautiful model in the picture looks frumpy wearing it, but its just me, maybe its supposed to be "classic". Kind of getting Kate vibe, very old school "proper lady".

And the hate for the skirt! I think its quite cool and would work both for work (with black top and black boots) and for going out (dressed up with some nice shoes). For me, anyway.

Yes some people hate velvet/velour so I get that objection but the dress is timeless and beautiful cut that flatters the body in all the right places. Yes at the hem length maybe a bit Kate Middleton but the exact opposite of frumpy.

On the other hand that ugly pleather metallic silver skirt with that awful square pattern is the kind that I would expect to see Janet Street Porter or Prue Leith to wear to a xmas party... about as frumpy and gaudy as humanly possible.

Hahahhh just shows how different people's tastes are! Though I would always pick "gaudy" and "unusual" over "boring" and "timeless" )))

On the other hand that ugly pleather metallic silver skirt with that awful square pattern is the kind that I would expect to see Janet Street Porter or Prue Leith to wear to a xmas party... No chance would either of them wear it.
I agree that it's ugly though.
It might be nice if it was in a soft supple (faux) suede or nubuck and in a natural or earthy colour.

I took on board many of the comments and also thought about what kind of clothes I usually wear. I do like a leather skirt so decided to order a real leather one on the basis that it’s something I could potentially enjoy wearing for many years. I would need to get it shortened. But it’s worth a try! If it’s nice I would wear black.

https://www.matchesfashion.com/products/1553863?qxjkl=tsid%3A30065%7Ccgn%3AgcdL%2FATRVoE&c3ch=LinkShare&c3nid=gcdL%2FATRVoE&utm_source=linkshare&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=uk&utm_content=gcdL%2FATRVoE&rffrid=aff.linkshare.2523611.35725

The shape of it is nice but the colour isn't to my taste.

Shame about the Tory provenance, (boo, hiss!) but that’s a markedly better shape. And better value. Will look very fine with a white shirt and a tailored jacket once the party season is over, too.

i know @RandomersAssociation - very unfortunate Tory connection!!

I like the both skirts ))) really cool, GAUDY and in your face! ))

@Notcontent I thought the red dress was really pretty, then I saw the navy version and wow! 😍 Deep blue and gold are very Christmassy to me, probably because I associate myrrh with the colour blue, based on many school nativity plays.

https://www.wyselondon.com/collections/dresses/products/ari-smocked-dress-blue-lame

Don't like the gold or leopard print, but this one is calling to me, not that I can afford it!

Good grief. I suppose at least this one isn’t leopard print as well.

That Wyse is an abject ripoff site. Stupid prices.

The person behind the Wyse label models the clothes herself.
The leather skirt seems to be available in other colours.

I generally like the Cefinn clothes, and trust the person behind the brand's taste.

Neither brand is within my budget, but I have left Wyse clothing in a charity shop because I didn't like it. People like Alyson Walsh (That's Not My Age) seem to like it.

Everything is very shiny at the moment. I don't like shine, glitter or velvet. Not very festive, I know! But there must be a way to do luxe without shine.

I like glitter, velvet. Turns out I don’t like metallic leather

The test is, if it looks like Angela Rayner might wear it, don't buy it.

The red velvet dress is lovely 💃
I don't like any of the other options. All a matter of taste though 👍