The annual hunt for a dress like this that doesn’t exist

[Usernamenotavailabletryanother]

Honestly, been searching for a dress like this for about 10years… any help you can give is very much appreciated.

I want a dress that is:

Roll neck (proper high polo neck)
Maxi length- no splits
Knitted- in some sort of wool/natural fabric, not polyester or acrylic that gives off sparks
Not ribbed- you’d be surprised how many this rules out!
Black or brown

Is this the year I finally find one..? Probably not 😂

@Usernamenotavailabletryanother I found it! Surely this ticks all the boxes.. uniqlo, black and only £39!

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E470885-000/00?colorDisplayCode=09&sizeDisplayCode=004

Except it’s not wool

You CAN buy knitted fabrics for dressmaking 🙂 Here's a selection, some of them are wool and there are thicker cottons as well.
www.croftmill.co.uk/search?keywords=knitted&filter=mSHSb+iaab

OP, there is a TREAT20 code with will bring the Nili Lotan down to £548, if you wanted to take a punt on a size M

Nili Lotan's own size guide says M is a UK 10-12

I’d rethink the wool as without elastane it’s going to sag like a bastard and be like a sack within the hour,

I have one from Anyday @ John Lewis I got last winter. It has a small slit either side, a few inches rather than leg showing.

That.

and then sell it. Looks like it doesn’t exist…yet!

Have you tried Woolovers. They might have something suitable.

Do you have a budget?
https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/nili-lotan/dresses/maxi-dress/jo-merino-wool-and-cashmere-blend-turtleneck-maxi-dress/1647597348986669

Also in burgundy https://www.johnlewis.com/polo-ralph-lauren-turtleneck-wool-blend-dress-harvard-wine/p112267555

Vinted?

I have this from Paige (I didn't buy from that website but couldn't find it to show you). I love it, and it is very comfortable. I'm quite short so it is longer on me.

Stitch it up?

I got one exactly like this from Cos last year except it’s teal! It was only £115 - maybe they’ll do it again later in the season in another colour? It honestly fits every one of your other criteria!

www.freepeople.com/uk/shop/pescado-maxi/?color=001&quantity=1&type=REGULAR

I have a dress extremely similar to what you describe but it's actually dark brown not black. It has a matching very long cardigan, as long as the dress. However I bought it from a charity shop. It was labelled as vintage, it was quite expensive really but maybe have a look at some vintage/second hand sites. I actually didn't wear it last year because I was too warm under all that wool.

www.arket.com/en_gbp/women/loungewear/product.cashmere-wool-roll-neck-dress-black.1202891001.html

It has splits and isn’t very high necked so not what op wants.

Basically you need to travel back in time to the Victorian era and tell a dressmaker that you require the drabbest frock possible to attend a funeral.

Well, can you recommend a time-machine then?

I'm not sure that skirts can be knitted in A-line. A-line skirts have to have the hem made curved in order for it to hang level all the way around. Knitting always has straight hems. When have you ever seen a knitted jumper with a dipped hem? They don't exist because knitting can't be made that shape.

Just get that one and dye it, then.

BINGO

https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/nili-lotan/dresses/maxi-dress/jo-merino-wool-and-cashmere-blend-turtleneck-maxi-dress/1647597348986669?srsltid=AfmBOoooIQJhiMjT07FG0VLsQiO5H5x1Ppjj9WbtdL8Q4X8m9fLnJrUxe4

Max Mara

This one is very nice and I’m trying to justify buying it myself. Can’t tell if there’s a split though?