Smarter dresses for those allergic to Little House on the Prairie!

[Midlifestylecrisis]

Please help me find a dress that will look smart for work over the summer. I absolutely hate flounce/frills/tiers so am at my wits end with clothes at the moment. Added to which I am 5’ 3” with a 32F bust so anything I even vaguely like won’t even button up over my chest. I’m a 10/12, fairly curvy but short waisted too.

I’m in my 50s and pre-covid needed to be smart for work so lived in structured dresses from Hobbs etc. Everything has gone a bit more casual now but I still like to be fairly smart for some things. I’ve attached a couple of links to give examples of recent things I’ve tried on that fitted until I tried to do up the buttons over my chest!

thanks for any help.
https://www.phase-eight.com/product/willow-midi-utility-dress-222163693.html#navAjax=true&is=true&cgid=clothing&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&prefn1=clothingType&prefv1=Dresses&prefn2=color&prefv2=Green&pid=222163693&pos=8

https://www.hobbs.com/product/tarianna-dress/0123-5543-9083L00-RED.html#navAjax=true&is=true&cgid=sale-clothing-dresses&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&prefn1=refinementColor&prefv1=Red&pid=0123-5543-9083L00-RED&pos=50

Honestly, might be worth sizing up then getting a seamstress to fit it to you 🙁

I think I’d need to size up quite a bit on anything that fastens across the chest! I remember the days of Pepperberry and while I didn’t like much of their stuff, the concept of clothing fitted to accommodate a larger bust is what I need really.

i’ve kind of given up on the idea of shirt type dresses for this reason but struggling to find alternatives in the sea of flounce at the moment.

I am almost the same size as you and find Hush Kensington dresses in a 12 are perfect. The long sleeved ones with the sleeves rolled up slightly are perfect for work and I always get compliments. You can also seriously dress them down at weekends with flip flops but it’s the versatility I like most TBH.

I have also discovered 2 perfect boiler suits that I dress up/down as well, if those are your thing.

Second this. I bought this dress from Zara and has a local seamstress fit it to my shape and made the sleeves bracelet length which feels a bit more summery. I’m a similar age but for context, I’m further up the bra alphabet than you 😭

Massimo Dutti have good workwear as does Cos.

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/zw-collection-animal-print-dress-p03288163.html?v1=368679933&v2=2352798

@AgathaMystery just googled the Hush dress and I like that style, I think I’ll give it a try

@Netaporter someone recommended Massimo Dutti lately and it forgot to look into them,thanks for the reminder!

I might look into the alteration route, it’s just the additional cost. I might see what I can get reduced as a way of seeing what a seamstress can do.

https://www.riverisland.com/p/black-spot-belted-button-up-midi-shirt-dress-909307

Have you looked at mint velvet? Usually my go-to for simpler shapes and styles

I seen a recommendation the other day on here for Fairlie curved which seems to be somewhere that caters to those with a bigger bust. Might be worth looking if you haven't already.

Boden
Scamp & Dude

This style looks like it has a bit more give round the bust

https://www.laredoute.co.uk/ppdp/prod-350279676.aspx#headerSearchContainer&searchkeyword=Anne%20weyburn%20dress&shoppingtool=search

For a larger bust and short waist, I would go for some form of wrap dress just a few examples… or a v neck. Jolie moi do loads. Can get them from next / silk Fred / direct from JM. Most of the clothes from JM are patterned and I’ve just added a couple of plain black ones. A lot of the fabrics have added elastane and I have to size down myself as I find them quite large on the bust so could be useful for you…

https://joliemoi.co.uk/collections/little-black-dress/products/plain-wrap-front-buckle-shirt-dress

https://joliemoi.co.uk/collections/midi-dresses/products/plain-long-sleeve-jersey-midi-dress-1

A couple from Next. The former has elastane, the latter not. But the latter is a true rather than false wrap dress. Idk if it will be too long in the body or if it’s too frilly for you… both dresses come in another colour.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su308641/b04787#b04787

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su257822/n20888#n20888

Watching with interest as am in a similar boat OP.

I'm still buying peoperberry from Vinted as it's the only way I can get dresses to fit me that have any structure

Can you not wear the first shirt dress unbuttoned with a cami underneath? It's what the young people in my work do with baggy vintage 90s shirts so I don't think you'd look odd

Thank you all so much for these ideas, I feel a bit better now that I have some other places to look - I was on the verge of tears last night staring into my wardrobe!

@StamppotAndGravy i used to wear a camisole under wrap dresses several years ago but I wouldn’t really want to do that with a shirt dress as I’d feel like I was drawing attention to the issue. The thing is, larger boobs are often welcome (and shown off) by the young but by the time you get to mid 50s they’re just making me feel dumpy and matronly.

Yup. And a camisole is just the worst. It’s screams ‘look at them!’ Gah. I feel your pain!

Dresses are tricky when you're busy and short waisted (me too!) I usually buy from white stuff or seasalt - easy care fabrics and not too frilly!