Problems with summer dresses in the shops right now

[Clotheswoe]

I've been trying to find some nice summer dresses to buy. I'm a size 12, mid/late 30s.

I'm struggling find any that suit me and that I'm comfortable wearing.

Main issues are:

• Many are wrap dresses and don't feel secure, especially when it's windy

• I would like a waist line where my waist actually is - and I can't find dresses like this

• Dresses seem to either cling in all the wrong places, or the opposite and they drown me.

Anyone else having issues with summer dresses?

I’m 5’5. All dresses seem to be made for 6’ Swedish women.

I’m 5’1” and everything has puff sleeves which make me look as wide as I am tall 😢

Smocking! Seems to be the new (lazy) alternative to making dresses that fit. But makes my boobs look like scotch pancakes.

H&M generally has some good cotton or linen ones but they sell out very quickly.

fucking tiers!!! 😤😤😤😤

This dress is brilliant. On the hanger it looked shapeless but DD loved the pattern. When she put it on a waist appeared at her waist and wasn't shapeless at all.
https://www.fatface.com/women/womens-clothing/dresses/short-dresses/simone-detail-paisley-jersey-dress/0003291.html?cgid=women-clothing-dresses-and-skirts-short-dresses&dwvar_0003291_color=MULTICOL#filterIndex=4&prefn1=&start=9

Absolutely. I read on here that it’s popular because it means they don’t have to use long lengths of material or difficult patterns, they can just add on extra rows of fabric and it’s much cheaper. That made me hate tiered dresses even more.

Yep. Also 5'1" and most of the styles in store reach past my ankles. I complained in M&S the other day. They actually had some nice styles but many were longer than I am tall. No short/petite lengths available. I did find a Seasalt dress in M&S which is the right length.
M& S also currently think we all have arms like a gorilla. Even on an XS the sleeves on their jumpers extend way beyond my finger tips.

Yep, this is true! I'm so sick of them too. Reminds me of being a kid and my mum adding another tier or frill to the bottom of a dress so I could get another summer out of it.

My issue: lack of bust darts. Even expensive brands like Toast and Whistles are guilty of this. It takes more skill and expense to put them in. Hence the amount of shapeless dresses in the shops.

Material is too thin/lack of lining. I bought a lovely dress from M and S (white background - floral print) - look at myself in the mirror and I'm having a real "Diana in the nursery moment" - could see my knickers (pastel colour). Ended up having to borrow a "slip" from my Mum so it wasn't indecent.

Agree with this! The midi length trend refuses to die, and on me they are mostly long enough to look like a really ill-fitting maxi.

I love a wrap dress sometimes if it's really windy I will wear cycling shorts underneath. River island had some lovely maxi dresses which are 5'3 I just had shortened

I can't stand all the masses of completely shapeless shrouds dresses that are everywhere at the moment.

Completely baffled this season. I'm 40ish and 5'3 size 12 and 14 on the bottom.

No boibs to speak of and what was there has been trashed by pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Dresses are far too long, too big in the bust or too tight around my ass and hips or the contour for the waist vs hip contour sit far too low making me look like I'm wearing my sisters cast offs.

And what is it with all the fucking florals, polkadots, tiers and ass roughing?

Ass roughing?? 🤔

I have a long back. I would like dress waistlines to actually be at my waist not under my boobs. 😡

I don't tend to wear dresses but my 19 year old daughter does. The problem is generally if V neck they come down way too low in the front. She has to wear a cami underneath or stitch it together (which doesn't always suit the neckline depending on cut). She's a 34B at the most but doesn't want to feel exposed.
She's 5'6.5" and the lengths look great on her. I'm 5'10" and they are all falling mid calf which is ugly.

Indeed. Also fucking puff sleeves, huge principal boy sleeves, ruffles, bows, frills, yokes, and all of that stuff that only looks good on five year olds. Just give me a simple dress with normal sleeves and no embellishment.

They remind me of 1980s cutesy maternity dresses.

I have bought loads of summer dresses from Sugarhill last year and this. They are surprisingly flattering and fit nicely, but they are patterned which may not be to everyone's tastes. I like the patterns and bright colours.

I am considering this for my holiday. I know M and S is hardly fashion forward, but I just want a simple dress. without a waist under my bust. Maybe the orange will be less boring. And https://www.marksandspencer.com/linen-rich-v-neck-collared-midi-shift-dress/p/clp60644346?colour=FLAME&extid=ps_ps-pla-pmax_ggl_ww_ch__-UK-_-_bau_smec_counterfactual&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwl4yyBhAgEiwADSEjeNb6IsKrWq1aH2oOyRVYYITAX4Q6_iRdZdUvB3_UKKAVvDbRrd2v0BoCqsIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Ive just just received an order from Shein and loved everything in it. A fitted well too. Im quite short and busty so struggle. I sized up as recommended by a friend but was happy with everything

I've bought nothing so far this year because the weather's been so awful, but am also heartily sick of all the variations on the tiered/prairie/puff-sleeved etc dress that everyone seems to have been wearing since 2019. My wardobe's full of them and I really don't feel like buying any more.

• Nothing for apple shaped bodies
• Smocked, tiered, puff sleeved - not a good look on many middle aged women
• Gaping armholes
• All made of cheap polyester
• Busy prints
• Dresses with waists landing on my hips (I am 5'5)
• Stitching not aligned with threads and buttons already coming off while still on hangars in shops

There is nothing in stores that is making me want to buy.

Too many wraps (I'm a 32FF, not happening). Loads of spaghetti straps and straight-across necks. Weirdly, loads of brown and orange.

I've resorted to Vinted, mostly from Joules, M&S Ghost, Sugarhill and TU.

I had two puff sleeve dresses for last year that I really liked apart from the sleeves. I’ve taken the elastic out and ironed them and it’s like two new dresses now!