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?

These are so nice IRL! Super flattering. I’ve bought both. They’re a cotton/viscose blend. I’m 5’8” and they hit my ankle (perfect length for me). There is a slight ruffle but it’s not silly.

.... for all the many fans here of puff sleeves, frills and balloon shaped dresses , especially all combined into one lovely garment, do take a look at 'Sister Jane ' now stocked by John Lewis. I genuinely thought that the dresses displayed on the dummies were part of a Grayson Perry tribute.

I have been desperately searching for a new dress for my holiday. I am 5 3 and size 10. Everything drowns me and I look like a 7 year old playing dressing up in my Mum's old dresses.
I will make do with my usual stuff.

Sister Jane is always recommended on here by some connoisseurs of style. I really hate them. Absolutely Grayson Perry meets maternity dressing.

Uniqlo has some nice cotton dresses now, but I need to try them on in the shop because of their sizing.

Honestly thinking of starting a campaign to ensure that waisted dresses come in different lengths. My waist is not 2 inches below my boobs and far too many dresses are cut far too high. If trousers come in different lengths, the finished length of a dress can be offered for short, regular and tall, then why is there no recognition of the shoulder to waist ratio!!!!!

M&S used to do different lengths in skirts back in the day

Not sure about dresses

Yes waists are too high

The weather 😂

Dresses are high in waist and no zips so pulling it over head then huge deep v gaping

I see that H&M are doing a lot of drawing-waist dresses. Somehow they never look right on me though.

I guess they're cheap to make, because one size can fit many.

It's so,disappointing, everything looks dreadful on me

Is it terrible that this dress (in all 4 colours) is effectively my holiday wardrobe? I’m hoping no one will notice 😂 it’s so comfortable and flattering. I’m tall, would be too long on anyone under 5’8”.

Yes, it's terrible. You should send two to me (also 5'8").
Thanks.

Where is it from?

@nooneknowsmeonholiday so reverse image google tells me it's from Zara.
I like Zara.
Can you tell me though, is the dress quite gapey (is that a word? Does it gape?).
It looks quite floaty and flappy. I am pretty slim and wonder whether it would be cut too low at the front. And the back? You can't wear a bra. I don't really need a one but would need something otherwise people will see right down the front I think. Can you post a pic of you in it?
Is that enough questions?!

I wish they would make dresses for women in the very early 5ft range who don’t happen to be the skinniest of people

Yes shops do the Petite range but it’s like they think if you are short you are under 5ft 1” and petite all over and enjoy wearing mini skirts
No one makes clothes that are for a short size 16 older women with knees that need to be kept under wraps

Usually the dresses on line sometimes have in the description that the model is 5ft 11” and the dress is 149cm long which means my shoulders should be a couple of inches above my top lip

I often get told I just need a good seamstress to take the hem up but that doesn’t account for the top part which can be designed to show a little décolletage but on me, my navel is on display

I've found a couple of dresses this year and neither was cheap, but I am going to nag until someone sorts this - Why do dresses not come in a variety of body/ waist ratio lengths? If a dress has a waistline, 99% of the time it is far too short from neck to waist for me and I am only 5'6". Come on manufacturers, start properly cutting dresses with longer lengths of fabric, or, if to save material you insist on putting in a waist seam, then look at offering varying proportions. Men get body length, arm length variations, so why don't we?

Having ta few more measurements would be really helpful in minimising returns, also.

It's the neck to waist measurement, happy with lengths, just not the ratios, from top to middle and middle to bottom!

Yes I wish shops could offer a variety of trouser rises too. Length one can alter or call cropped, but rise is what makes or breaks a pair of trousers for me because of where my (unreasonably high) waist is.

I’m not finding them gapey (straps are adjustable). I’m not very slim at the moment but it definitely makes me look slimmer than I am, so I’m sure it’d be lovely on you. Size down if you decide to try one! Also a bralette is fine!
only a little bit shows at the back, nothing at the front. Not feeling brave enough to post a pic!

Username fail 🤦‍♀️

All wrap dresses seem to assume bigger boobs than I have. I wrap them as tightly as they'll go and there's still just a floppy excess of fabric up top that sags down and shows my bra.

Thank you. Good to know the straps are adjustable.
Do I need another long, flowing dress I wonder?!

@Robotnik , I have the same problem, I wish shops would remember , not all of us are busty !

This has been happpening for the past few years, since very cheap fast fashion via internet was more of a thing. I'm the same height and have the same issue. Waist lines sit too high so look like they're duff empire lines at the front and then sit badly on the arse.

I'm convinced it's a combination of being REALLY stingey with material to save costs, and lots of cheap clothes being produced in China where the average height of a woman is 5ft 2.5cm or something. They just don't make them for longer torso'd Western women.