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 like the mountain warehouse dresses.
Cotton so they breathe. Just below Knee length on me (5'6") and stretchy.
Waist line where it should be.
They have fake wrap dresses and they gave a press stud to keep the bust line bit where it should be.

And they have pockets!

I also make many of my clothing for this reason.

However I don't have much time to sew - but I'll make a couple of new dresses (always with pockets) every year. I have more problems making trousers - I need to work on the fit.

Having said that I have got a coupe of great dresses the last 2 years from This Is Unfolded (love their business model) and Manners London - small woman led buiness who does fantastic dresses with pockets.

I have several of these & wear with a top/shirt/cardigan depending on the weather, or as is in high summer. I love that I can wear with no bra (I'm a G cup) - it takes seconds to get dressed - perfect for the weekends. They are a bit pricier than I would normally pay but the fabric is fantastic quality and I get much wear from each dress.

https://www.mannersldn.com/collections/dresses/products/asri-dress-in-black

I think it depends on individual bodies whether the smocking squishes you in or not. Everything about the style of that dress would be extremely unflattering on me. (Puff sleeves, square neckline, minimising bust and ballooning out over belly!) But I'm 5'2" and size 16 with smallish boobs and a menopausal midriff so there are a whole lot of styles don't suit me .

I can do straight or A line, knee or midaxi, no flounces or puffs.

I'm off on holiday soon so I've been looking at dresses.

Everything either seems to have come direct from an Am Dram production of Abigail's Party, or a job lot of body bags.

I'm 5'6, size 10, I have big boobs and a tiny waist and I want the world to know, not to hide my hard-won shape in something that looks as though I'm just off to the operating theatre.

I like quite a few of the Boden dresses but argh the fabrics! It’s either crazy prints, BRIGHT colours or boring navy/black.

Why can’t they ever do softer plain colours? A washed/muted blue or green is going to be much more flattering to most than hot magenta or lime pineapple print, surely.

I do not think I should have to buy a belt to make a dress work.

I don't like smocking, tiered skirts or weird sleeves.

So next to nothing in the shops when you exclude those.

But I own plenty of clothes already, so happy to buy nothing right now

I'd love to find linen stuff. I swear I came across one garment described as 'linen' which was 7% (not a typo by me, SEVEN per cent) linen.

I'm old enough to recognise a lot of the current fashions as being from the mid- to late-1970s & into the Ralph Lauren prairie look. It was quite weird last week, on a rare clothes-buying foray, to see dresses exactly like ones I bought as a student (though mine tended to be cotton, not polyester or viscose). There were also OTT dresses which looked like they'd escaped from an overdone version of 'Abigail's Party' & belonged in the bizarre evening wear section of a charity shop.

I found the same problems as everyone else. Most dresses were hopless at the top due to too much shirring/ elastic-topped sleeves which sat too far to the sides so no bra could be worn/ V necks which went almost to the waist. I actually like the shape of some of the dresses as they suit my curvy figure, & I'm a sucker for a nice print, but I didn't find anything that was wearable. I managed to find two cotton, sensible V-neck T-shirts & gave up. I'll be sticking with my vintage cotton & linen skirts, which is a shame because I really fancied something new.

I'm another one who's eyeing up my sewing machine & wondering whether to make my own. Memories of inserting zips are stopping me atm, but does anyone have recommendations for dressmaking fabric suppliers?

Everything either seems to have come direct from an Am Dram production of Abigail's Party, or a job lot of body bags.

Oops, took so long faffing that I cross-posted!

https://www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-rich-ribbed-midi-skater-dress/p/clp60694590

I'm tempted by this one (size 8-10, 5ft 8).

The waist placement may be problematic for some, but I might have to give it a try. It looks flattering and would hide my untoned mumtum (I'm working on it 😆).

I've came on to say the same thing for every point you've made. I'm 5'2" and am happy with the length, where the waist sits and also how low the V neck part of the wrap dresses sit. Quality feels great. Some have pockets. Bought 3 in the sale for £12-24 each. They're still on sale. Very happy with them as every day dresses.

I have said this on here before and got some negative, rather snobby responses. I’m glad you like them, they have some lovely dresses at a good price.

Lentilweaver I received that dress in the black yesterday and it went back today.
Really disappointed. Fabric was decent quality and the detailing on the sleeves and yoke was nice, but there was something off about the cut. Even though it was loose on me, it pulled at the same time. I think it was possibly the way the sleeves were made. Did not do me any favours at all.

I recently bought this in black ( the yellow shows the shape better) . It fits really well, gives me a waist , I’m 36GG boobs, nice linen mix, good length I’m 5’1” & it falls around mid calf.
https://www.houseofbruar.com/linen-mix-bttn-frnt-drs-yellow/

I got this dress recently and really like it. I agree with most pp that flounces, puff and ruching are to be avoided. I also hate all the shapeless sack dresses about at the minute. May as well wear a bin bag 🤣
www.joebrowns.co.uk/unforgettable-swirl-print-jersey-dress-wf058

@Darklane that looks lovely, thank you.

These are the two dresses I've bought from Vinted, and I absolutely love them, just my perfect style and colours

Definitely and waists are too high on most dresses

Me+Em seem to have some nice, flattering dresses, such as:

https://www.meandem.com/cheesecloth-gathered-sleeve-maxi-dress-white

I tried one of their blazers and it made me look like a Year Seven whose parents bought a huge blazer to make it outlast growth spurts.

I often struggle with dresses. I’m 5’3, size 12, small waist but with a big saggy tummy, and short chunky legs. Nothing ever quite looks right.

However I’ve just got this and really like it. https://www.debenhams.com/product/izabel-london-denim-side-split-midi-shirt-dress_p-9810af38-ccbd-4e43-87d4-3dd270b4fe1f?colour=Blue&size=12&istCompanyId=76f7277d-6e78-4dc2-aaff-1eb77fae16b0&istFeedId=258a4886-8f3c-47ef-9369-d1eda8d84501&istItemId=lmwpxxwlw&istBid=t&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwupGyBhBBEiwA0UcqaC_X6fiXp6YluV79BREIAbLmyfH9H2pxG-485H0bXafLuDH8HGJPXhoC4rYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Also ordered some basic, midi length elastic waist t-shirt dresses from Shein which are much nicer than I thought they’d be.

TIERS. Hateful. I have huge boobs too so the waist of dresses never sits on my waist. Everything becomes empire line. Because of boobs I can’t wear button through dresses or dresses without stretch.

Given all this I’ve embraced puff sleeves - or rather, had to come to terms with them - and smocking actually works for me. So do midi/maxi/midaxi lengths. Which is lucky.

But clothes shopping is generally so hard. It’s supposed to be fun, right?

Sorry - neckline down to the navel, pouffy weird sleeves and oh, the ironing!

Thank you but sadly about 30 cm too short for me.

I pretty much always just go with 1950s swing dress style. Any other shapes just tend to not look right for my shape!