Business formal dress help needed please.

[NellietheNumpty]

I need a dress for a job that is a semi legal. It could involve court appearance and formal interviews.
It needs to be modest. Really I need not distracting to the interviewee or court. Hour glass figure normally love spring colours and pattern but that is no good for this job.
Any thoughts?

Depends of course on your budget but I would head to one of the following and see what they have. I’d buy a classic dress in a classic colour. You can always add different jackets or shoes to change the look if needed.

The Fold, Reiss (depending on how hourglass you are), Hobbs, LK Bennet, John Lewis own brand have some good work options, M&S have classic dresses.

I would look at Reiss, Whistles, Cos. Choose something that you can pair with a jacket

Thanks@SaltyGod . You are so right classic is what I need. I have been in store in a big city and have drawn a blank.
Lots of more casual dresses. Lots with exposed backs or above the knee.

@scoobiedew Thanks for the make recommendation good places to look. I do have a few jackets. Interview rooms are stifling and I seem to always take off the jacket.

How about booking a personal styling appointment at a John Lewis ? Tell them in advance and I'm sure they will find more than out suitable outfit. Enjoy xx

Great idea @FinallyHere
Can some kind person link me the type of dress. I am looking for. The rest of my team are men and where traditional suits and shirts.
I Started this job in the winter and winter womens formal is a breeze. The heat has me stumped. The effect of taking off my jacket and rolling up my sleeves takes the interviewee off their train of thought. I don’t want to look menacing but stern and formal.

What’s your preferred budget?

I’m often in court and buy a lot from The Fold and Libby London but both are quite pricey. You can also get nice formal women’s clothes in Boss and Tommy Hilfilger.

At the middle end of the market, you should be able to find something suitable in places like Theory, Next, Hobbs, LK Bennett, Whistles, Reiss.

At the cheaper end, you could try Roman

Generally speaking, darker colours are better in court and a fairly conservative cut and pattern works best.

Here are some idea

Almost all of these would work www.libbylondon.com/collections/dresses

Or maybe something like this?

www.hobbs.com/product/harmony-dresses/0224-5451-9845L00-BLACK-IVORY.html#gclid=CjwKCAjwhvi0BhA4EiwAX25uj6hB0CZY6i_vzbr21xWLQzy_qBCvizBxbiLEtZ9qpoYbtqub-7wK2xoCoGUQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADC5o-LyeOxWMa3F6P-cy19WSypBy&gad_source=1&utm_term=hobbs%20dresses&utm_content=135352452428&utm_campaign=14504394902&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&cq_plt=gp&cq_net=g&cq_plac=&cq_term=hobbs%20dresses&cq_cmp=14504394902&cq_src=google_ads&cgid=workwear-clothing-dresses&is=true&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=0224-5451-9845L00-BLACK-IVORY&pos=5

At the cheaper end,

www.roman.co.uk/textured-stretch-cap-sleeve-dress-14534808

I could go up to £150 @Katrinawaves . Libby London are perfect but spendy considering how few hot days we get.
It is the humidity this week. Hobbs sale might work. Marks had surprisingly few options.

What about one of these two?

https://www.hobbs.com/product/cathleen-dress/0123-5510-3655L00-BLACK.html#cgid=clothing-dresses-shirt&is=true&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=0123-5510-3655L00-BLACK&pos=4

https://www.hobbs.com/product/brielle-dress/0124-5255-9083L00-MIDNIGHT-10.html?utm_source=linkshare&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Redbrain&utm_content=15&utm_term=UKNetwork&ranMID=38595&ranSiteID=pfxNKSnglIM-2PmMsEnjHr2Xy1THsNkg5Q&siteID=pfxNKSnglIM-2PmMsEnjHr2Xy1THsNkg5Q&PubName=Redbrain&SID=3354356

They have loads of shirt dresses (51), lots with patterns as well but I went totally plain in this selection here.

Any of these?

https://www.marksandspencer.com/v-neck-midi-waisted-dress/p/clp22581493

https://www.arket.com/en_gbp/women/dresses/midi-dresses/product.cap-sleeve-rib-dress-black.1233797001.html

https://www.jigsaw-online.com/collections/dresses/products/linen-waistcoat-dress-brown

https://www.jigsaw-online.com/collections/dresses/products/textured-jersey-shirt-dress-black

https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.oversized-silk-midi-shirt-dress-black.1238227001.html

https://www.hobbs.com/product/maura-dress/0124-5217-1185L00-MALACHITE-GREEN.html

https://www.hobbs.com/product/petite-mia-dress/0223-5419-9845L04-NAVY.html

Thanks @Ineffable23 and @potplantsinparadise . I will go through the links. I needed a nudge in the right direction. I think the finery one is what I am looking for. Something classic and neutral that can be worn with a jacket but is good without too.

I wouldn't go sleeveless - short or mid length sleeve is fine, sleeveless if its hot is sweaty pits out to me, plus showing top of shoulders I would have thought a no no in court myself - both men and women need to cover up and be formal in court.

Rumour London have some lovely more formal dresses, but they are pricey.

OFFICE EDIT – RUMOUR LONDON

If there is a particular brand you like it's worth looking at Sale sites like Brand Alley where they often have Hobbs, LK Bennett, etc with big reductions.

[edited as I posted the wrong link]

@RB68 that is really helpful to know. It is a new job and I am training and gathering evidence. No court work but it will happen. Hopefully back into winter.
@CaveMum That is a make I hadn’t heard of and lovely things sadly out of my price range currently. I am in a training contract. Will get a pay rise once that is finished but it will take 2 years. That is 2 summers.

What about a shirt dress? I'm in court fairly often and like a shirt dress and brightly coloured heels/flats

I have things like this, I wear in the office but have also worn in court, I'm not there as counsel usually expert/prosecution witness but no one bats an eye

Next online have dresses that are suitable at different price points, plain black or navy with cap sleeves in summer, sleeveless can work in winter as a pinafore too

All from next under £100

That is great info @MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira . I haven’t been to court yet just interested under PACE. @mitogoshi I rarely buy Next stuff anymore the quality is not great a lot of the time but the dresses you chose are perfect.