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!

Boden red velvet dress is frumpy. If you are slim and 50 you can easily do non-frumpy. I was still wearing mini skirts at that age.

The Wyse leopard print lame dress is a real horror. Shirred bodices, however, can be flattering. Whistles were lately doing a lot of shirred dresses, perhaps over now so look on ebay.

The faux leather silver skirt is clunky. It won't hang well. This Whistles skirt has a much nicer drape. https://www.johnlewis.com/whistles-sequin-midi-skirt-silver/p110975025

Above all, remember that 50 is young and you can wear whatever you like, look at fun cheap stuff on Asos etc.

Not because it's cheap but because you can, and because it's fun.

Why dont you ask on frillseeking Personal Stylist thread which looks as though she is still taking questions

@Notcontent I am not normally a fan of red but that first dress is lovely - I am close to your age (teeny bit younger) but don't think it looks frumpy at all! I don't suit red so wouldn't buy it but would wear something similar in a colour that suited me better!
Not keen on the skirt because it looks awful to sit down/move in and would be a nightmare to match with a top.
Not keen on the dress as I feel it is a tad frumpy and also might well swamp a lot of folk.

I love the red dress, I've been looking for something to wear to my sons easter wedding and I think it'll still be cold. Not sure red would be appropriate I'm petite too and 60 I've been looking all over for something not really old lady frumpy as many mother of the bride/groom dresses seem to be.
It's all in one location so no jacket or coat needed with a long sleeve dress.

hi

Oh I absolutely LOVE the skirt and top combo! The red dress is nice but a bit dated. The leopard is fab! If you can pull it off go for it!

I really like the Boden one in the green. The leopard one is horrible and the silver skirt could be very unforgiving unless you have a perfect figure.

Can't stand the word 'frumpy'.

You would never use it in regards to a man.

It's an awful word.

Re the dresses though, the red one is best.

fixies · 03/11/2023 19:26

Going to be controversial and say the Biden one only doesn't look frumpy because of the shoes, bare legs and general gorgeousness of the model.

Yes, I know what you mean!

The red dress is lovely, OP, and I'd go for it.

(But you always have to factor in the model - tall, willowy and with very little bosom. I have a less-than-model figure but I remember that once a tall, slender friend tried on my very average clothes and made them look amazing.
If something doesn't look superb on a model, I've learned, it will never look good on me.)

I think all the shiny metallic stuff with date very quickly.

Re Wyse, I’ve been buying from there for a few years and have some beautiful classic pieces, I know I’ll wear for years to come.
The last few seasons have been dreadful, I call it “Doing a Boden”, they’ve gone too “fashionable” and the fabrics seem cheap. I’ve done 4 large orders and everything apart from a blue T shirt has gone back. Such a shame

It doesn’t even look that good on the models. It flattens the chest and bunches around the waist.

I like the red dress though extremely safe........but nice enough and the silver skirt is gorgeous (as would be silver trews).....though prohibitively expensive considering its faux leather but......gorgeous. I think pairing the skirt with a black polo neck is playing it safe again, why not pair with a fine white ruffled top. Sosandar make some beautiful dressy tops infact they have a light coloured ruffle top that would go beautifully with the silver skirt.

Having said all that, someone on this thread mentioned checking out the Matches catalogue or Net A Porter, THAT is a very VERY good idea, considering the funds you have at your disposal.

Whichever you go for, I wish you the VERY VERY best. Good Luck.

Tori x

Silver skirt with any tight black top. I’m a similar shape to you and would never wear the red dress….it’ll make you look shapeless.

I bought last years version of that red dress from Boden and I’ve tried it on again this year and it is really frumpy, something about the cut of it and the long sleeves and how it falls. You can do better OP!

If you are slim, wear something slightly fitted to show off your figure. Those types of dresses tend to hang

Love the first two most. But you always look your best in what you feel most comfortable in. Is there someone you like in the office, going to the event, that you could ask for their valued opinion. They'll feel flattered and they'll almost certainly tell you how great you look in front of everyone.

Do you like the plain gold version of your leopard dress? With a small bust you could really wear it well.

Personally I don't like the red velvet dress, I'm not keen on velvet as a fabric as it creases and marks very easily and unless it is pristine it looks frumpy and a bit tired by the second wear. I really like the faux leather silver skirt and think you should go for that. You can team it up with a sparkly top or dress it down with a plain jumper as in the photo. You could wear it with heels or chunky boots as well so it is more versatile than the dress and is what I would wear. Also, I think A line skirts are very flattering especially as you get older.

Sorry, not that keen on the leopard print dress either!

@Notcontent I think you have made the right decision - this skirt is a real gem and leather always looks more classy than faux/pleather. As you say it is a statement piece which will never go out of fashion. It just needs teaming up with a plain top as the feature is the skirt and you don't want anything to detract from that. Love it! Hope you like it too .

So the gold leather skirt arrived today and it is very nice. The leather is not as soft as I expected but it’s a nice shape. The only issue - as I knew it would be - is that it’s very long. To be honest I think it would be very long on most women, unless they are tall like the models. I am going to take a couple of days to decide if I will keep it and get it shortened.

i don’t splurge on expensive items all the time - in fact most of my clothes are from Vinted, basics from places like Uniqlo and then I get a few items every so often that are more expensive - a statement piece, boots, coat, etc.

I don’t like the leather skirt and it’ll be tricky to get altered I think. If you’re tall and slim it could work.