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?

Puffley, smockety, ankle length nonsenses in awful synthetic fabrics. No. I like to wear dresses. It saves me the trouble of coordinating tops with bottoms. But I'm a short, fat-arsed woman clinging on to my fifties. I don't want to trip over a hem going up or down stairs. I don't want my knickers on view through needlessly diaphanous fabric, or my tits falling out of the wrap dresses that are supposed to suit my kind of figure.
Yes, it's tricky.

I am hourglass shape and look 9 months pregnant with anything like this, https://www.sugarhillbrighton.com/collections/clearancesale/products/claudette-shirred-mini-dress-green-winter-starbursst

I have started making my own clothes as there's literally nothing I like in the shops

Boden sell lovely shirt dresses

Are the 1950s style ones more flary in the skirt?

I am always on the lookout for a good shirt dress. Which brings me to my next complaint: why do women's shirt dresses have breast pockets? Just why? What am I going to want to tuck in there to make my G cups look even bigger??

I have never managed to find any tbh, they used to have a v neck, collar and buttons down the front. A flared skirt and sometimes a belt. Could be any length. Sometimes pockets at the sides or front of the skirt. Elbow length sleeves.

I just bought this dress today. Looks really good (without the belt - I can't do belts as they make me look like a sack of spuds). Comes up large, I went a size down, Lovely colours and hangs really well from the shoulders. Just looked online and they do it in black as well.

https://www.whitestuff.com/p/3826/marianne-linen-blend-dress/ORANGE_PR

It’s a nice colour but terribly unflattering at that length

Dress lengths just below the knee look frumpy to me. I like a midi which ends amid calf or a couple of inches above the ankles , more elegant !

All the nicely shaped dresses are bloody leopard print. I have never and will never wear leopard print, whatever colour combos they come up with next!

I've got this recently, I'm 5"2 so it comes to just under my knees and fits in at my waist and flares nicely to cover my arse and thighs

https://www.whitestuff.com/p/3732/ria-jersey-shirt-dress/NAVY_PR

I'm generally a 14, and all the milkmaid, puffy sleeves, over sized etc might look lovely if you're tall and willowy, but on me I look like I'm wearing a sack.

That white stuff dress was the only thing I found in an entire afternoon of shopping. I know what works for me, a v neck fit and flare dress that hits just under the knee made of decent material. It's just finding the bloody things in amongst a sea of schmaltzy billowing cheapo fabric tent styles!!

Abigail's party!! (Previous poster) Spot on!
Luckily I've shopped in sales a lot in the past, so stocked up with clothes then, although as I've got a little more rotund, some have had to go to charity.. I haven't liked much of what I've seen on here, although Roman seems to be one of the better suppliers - thanks.

Yes yes yes and yes. We were off to a BBQ the other day, I am 5' 5" and a size 12 and looked like I was wearing a bin bag in EVERYTHING when we went shopping. Horrendous at the moment!

Who is wearing all these awful puff sleeves as I never see anyone in real life wearing them yet it's 80% of dresses in shops. Just why?!

I've not seen anything this year but Dorothy Perkins previously had

Knee length dresses with straps that cover your bra and no gaping armholes, nice shape

Maxi dresses with defined waist and long enough

Influencers on Instagram! The only people I see in them

I have the same problem with low necklines. I don;t have a big bust (34b too) but I hate it when it gapes too much. Anyway I bought these the other day, they are basically brooches which can hold a low neckline together. Haven;t tried it yet but might be worth a shot?

https://www.temu.com/goods.html?_bg_fs=1&goods_id=601099537288178&_x_msgid=210-20240516-02-B-733029757054349312-427-oJB0r7ay&_x_src=mail&_x_sessn_id=vobslhbyn6&refer_page_name=bgt_order_detail&refer_page_id=10045_1715872186181_zmuijehlns&refer_page_sn=10045

Polyester - hate it especially on a hot day. Makes me boil.
Shirring - hate the rubber in the elastic touching my skin on a hot day.
Extra long sleeves that end mid thigh.

Puff sleeves. Tiers.
Surely the Little House on the Prairie look is so over.

I've seen a few people wearing them, on tiered dresses and they really don't seem to look good on anyone.

I'm 5'8 and all the shops cut for 5'5" so all the waistlines are on my third rib. 🙄

Also too much polyester - sweaty & horrible for summer
Flounces - We are not in Little House on the Prairie

I make my own now. I want cotton, long enough in the body and straight cut enough that I don't feel like a 4 year old.

I was in a shop the other day and I saw this dress which I thought was lovely. https://www.stories.com/en_eur/clothing/dresses/midi-dresses/product.flutter-sleeve-midi-dress-beige.0840188041.html
I didn't try it on because I'm broke atm, but there is a tie around the waist and it looks like the waist sits low enough as well. No puff sleeves either.

Boden has a fairly ok selection, but agree with PPs in that a lot of what on offer this year is tiered, balloon sleeved, has no shape

Yes why is this fashion still going

I won't wear or buy polyester

My main issues with summer dresses are that they all seem to be sleeveless,or too long. I hate the tops of my arms and NEVER wear anything totally sleeveless,it must have a short sleeve at the very least. As for length,I'm 5 ft 5 in,so not exactly tiny,but find that maxi dresses swamp me and drag along the floor. Inevitably,the model in the photo is 5 ft 10 in tall so it looks perfect on her!

That shape would probably suit me too @MummBRaaarrrTheEverLeaking but I don't like any of the prints .

I’m 5’1 but ordered this (not collected yet) as the reviews are good.

It’s the only dress I found which I think might not look too horrendous on me

https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-cotton-square-neck-midi-cami-shift-dress/p/clp60675331