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Problems with summer dresses in the shops right now

383 replies

Clotheswoe · 14/05/2024 00:27

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
32
SwissArmyRomance · 14/05/2024 19:39

I have got to the point where I bought 3 of these Brave Soul Otto dresses in black, and wear them with black Converse and sunglasses. Basically Summer Wednesday Addams. But the cut is amazing!

Problems with summer dresses in the shops right now
CurlyhairedAssassin · 14/05/2024 19:40

BigMandsTattooPortfolio · 14/05/2024 13:19

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

I find this a huge issue too. I can't work out if the sizing is just wrong or if it's supposed to be an empire line bust and not a waste band.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/05/2024 19:40

Sleeves are awful - they're either non existent on so called workwear (sorry, in exactly what professional environment is it appropriate to see my armpits and bra?) or godawful 3/4 that actually means 'we decided to skimp on the fabric and do a crappy tight stitched gather job instead of finishing it properly or giving you enough fabric to push it to your elbow'.

Necklines - nobody wants to see the gap between my tits. NOBODY. And I might just spontaneously combust with the frills, flaps, ties, bows, strings, ruffles and kerfuffle all around my throat if I don't want to get my tits out for the office.

Flounces and tiers, uneven hemlines (like fuck is it waterfall, handkerchief, curved up like you're wearing an old man's nightshirt or whatever you call it. You mean 'we can't be arsed to pay for a straight seam'. Piss off with your assumption that everybody also wants splits and shit when they've looked for something below the knee. After all, the only other choice would seemingly be barely covering one's arsecheeks and I'm way past the stage where I'm going to wear something that requires a full leg and bikini wax before setting foot in a public space.

And pattern. Seriously, just FUCK OFF NOW with the ditzy floral and animal print.

I just want to cover what I want to cover (which is pretty much all of it), not get a migraine from a pattern shrieking at me and look relatively respectable for work. I found one frock two years ago. One. And that's black - looks bloody marvellous on, but I can't wear just one black frock every day for the next two decades (although it is, like everything that isn't a crumpled mess in ten seconds after ironing for hours - oh, sorry, I mean 'high in linen' - entirely synthetic).

MillshakePickle · 14/05/2024 19:44

SwissArmyRomance · 14/05/2024 19:39

I have got to the point where I bought 3 of these Brave Soul Otto dresses in black, and wear them with black Converse and sunglasses. Basically Summer Wednesday Addams. But the cut is amazing!

Getting this, thank you! This makes a change to the racer back midis and minis I have. Seems to be my summer uniform now

BigMandsTattooPortfolio · 14/05/2024 19:45

Yeah, I have a seething dislike of thigh slits in maxi or midi dresses. If I want to show a bit of leg I’ll wear a short skirt. Looks cheap too.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 14/05/2024 19:49

FaeryRing · 14/05/2024 19:31

Yes I’m so sick of the Bavarian Milkmaid look! Stupid puffed sleeves, immature ‘ditsy’ prints, everything an awkward midi length and waistless.

I agree. We went to Rome last year and the local women wouldn't have been seen dead in that kind of fashion. They were so stylish.....It's really hard to find clothes like the Italians wear.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 14/05/2024 19:51

CurlyhairedAssassin · 14/05/2024 19:40

I find this a huge issue too. I can't work out if the sizing is just wrong or if it's supposed to be an empire line bust and not a waste band.

Ooh freudian slip with the spelling of waist there...

LadyHavelockVetinari · 14/05/2024 19:52

I'm a shortish size 8 and all the clothes drown me. Can't wear a size below as then everything hangs incorrect. I just want a nice knee length dress.

user1492809438 · 14/05/2024 19:52

And then there's the dresses with ric rac trim sewn on, last seen on me aged 5 in 1960. Why, just why?!

ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees · 14/05/2024 19:54

Totally agree that dresses this season and even over the last 2 years are awful - especially for short, hourglass shaped people - just drowning in excess material, looking like a child raiding an adults wardrobe!

Sugarhill has to be one of the most frustrating ever - they seem to put the worst patterns in their most flattering dresses and the patterns I like are all in dresses that wouldn't suit me. So much potential bit delivers nothing!

lavenderboux · 14/05/2024 19:55

I couldn't agree more, OP. It's so frustrating and makes clothes shopping very difficult. I can't remember the last time I bought a summer dress that really genuinely made me feel good!

AlpineMuesli · 14/05/2024 20:05

Jigsaw seems ok this season.

Somersetcallingme · 14/05/2024 20:15

DressDilemma · 14/05/2024 13:50

  • 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.

White Stuff is pretty good for apples but bloody hell their prints are ghastly. I went for the benefit of the doubt at the weekend - couldn't find any plain dresses so tried a few prints and yes, they were horrible. Don't know what they are thinking. Seasalt is the same. I reckon lots of people want a plain dress!

Emma8888 · 14/05/2024 20:23

Went on a dress shopping mission a couple of weeks ago. Failed miserably. Came out of the M&S changing room and made the comment 'It's a bit too "Little House on the Prairie" isn't it' and all the grandmas nodded sagely!

It is too much to want mid calf, with some sort of non puffy sleeves that keeps my boobs modest? Oh and no dreadful animal print that makes me look like a bar maid from Coronation Street!

Caravaggiouch · 14/05/2024 20:25

The waist is never, ever in the right place. I have a long body so it always sits far too high, and looks empire line which makes me look pregnant.

poppyslashtulip · 14/05/2024 20:29

Could someone tell me where these too long dresses are? I’m 5’8” with hideous ankles… I look so much slimmer when they’re covered. Have ordered this this week but I fear it’ll be too short.

Problems with summer dresses in the shops right now
Busybeemumm · 14/05/2024 20:42

Back bows with a cut above the waist-just why? Puffs, tiers, slots, frills, waist below the boob. Where are all the good quality simple cotton dresses that don't break the bank. Then you finally find a decent dress and extra unnecessary frill has been added. Like the days when your mum used to extend the life of a dress by adding a random extra piece of ( not matching) material!

Muffin101 · 14/05/2024 20:44

I’m tall with a long torso and huge boobs, dresses are a fucking nightmare which is a real shame because I feel beat in a good dress.
They’re too short, or too booby, or the waist is in entirely the wrong place or all three together. And don’t get me started on puff sleeves, shapeless blobs, random frills, tiered skirts, ruching, random splits that are either oddly long or strangely short and weird in-between lengths.

VictoriaEra2 · 14/05/2024 20:45

TheGirlattheBack · 14/05/2024 00:33

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

Yes. Can’t wait for the end of puff sleeves

MuchasSmoochas · 14/05/2024 20:46

I blame that Zara meme dress from around 2018, it’s a variation on a theme.
Big no from me to all this especially Bavarian milkmaid. My pet hate is gathered shoulders, have got big boobs and don’t want to look like I’m wearing a graduation gown.

Barney16 · 14/05/2024 21:07

I love a tier. I'm 5ft 6 and wear my dresses to the ground so I like the extra length. However I have to say there are some very peculiar patterns around and very odd sleeves. Tried a couple of summery dress on latest and I looked like a milk maid.

JennieTheZebra · 14/05/2024 21:19

I buy all my dresses from here. Don’t get me wrong, they are expensive, but no flounces, tiers or ruffles, and you can get sleeves in whatever length you want. They’re merino but as the micron count is so high you would never tell it wasn’t cotton, plus the dresses wash really well, dry quickly and don’t need ironing. https://eu.wooland.com/collections/shop-all

AngelinaFibres · 14/05/2024 21:20

Blueuggboots · 14/05/2024 00:45

fucking tiers!!! 😤😤😤😤

Tiers, puffed sleeves, smocking. I am 58, 5'4" and a size 12. In any of these dresses I look like I'm married to a vicar and looking for people to press- gang into helping at the village fete. Love them on the hangar/ 18 year old model in the photo. Hate them on my body.

Daisytigermay · 14/05/2024 21:30

Bignanna · 14/05/2024 18:54

I have curves, and I wouldn’t want to bend over in that dress!

Be proud of your curves 🥰 ha ha I will definitely be careful wearing this I always wear shorts under dresses that are short just incase the wind blows

Gherkingreen · 14/05/2024 21:35

My favourite summer dresses are from H&M, though I haven't bought anything this year. I have one blue and white sleeveless kind of batik print with v neck and drawstring waist - it looks brilliant on, no flounce or frills, no bloody tiered skirts or puff sleeve.
I'm 5ft 11 so most midi/maxi dresses fall at that awkward calf length.

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