The annual search for the perfect shirt dress begins

[stringbean]

Every autumn I search for a shirt dress. I'm looking for something simple, ideally with blue/navy in a brushed cotton or other natural fabric. Midi/calf length, tie belt, long sleeves that can be rolled back. I don't want puffed sleeves, gathered shoulders, tiered skirts: don't mind a subtle print or check but don't want garish or ditsy patterns. No breast pockets but side pockets would be good. Ideally not cord as too bulky.

It seems to be impossible to find such an item. Most of the stuff I've seen are prairie styles or autumn russet/mustard colours or cord. Boden has a lot of offerings but I seldom find the dresses fit me - 5'8'and long body so the waist is always too high. Prepared to pay more than high street prices for the right thing, either for work or just wearing at weekends. Anyone seen anything suitable?

I like Cos and Uniqlo but often find Cos a bit voluminous. I found a beautiful shirt dress there a few years ago which didn't have a belt but was waisted, so it was a beautiful shape and a perfect fit, exactly what I wanted, could add a belt to it - but it was a beige check which is a colour that just makes me look ill 🤣

I tried that Hobbs one, OP. Like you I'm 5'8 with a long body and I was expecting it would be an elegant midi length. But it's incredibly long, practically full length swishing on the floor long. The fabric is a bit slithery and I just felt drowned in it.

Not having bought from Boden for about 20 years I gave one of theirs a try and love it. Heavy jersey, long sleeves. Nice long tie belt in 'thread' belt loops which surprisingly were in the right place for me but could easily be snipped off if required. I'm usually a plain navy kind of gal but got the cognac and navy pattern which is warm and interesting without being garish.
https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/marcia-jersey-midi-shirt-dress-cognac-chevron-swirl/sty-d1033-mbr

House of Bruar has quite a lot of shirt dresses at a range of lengths including one in a brushed flannel fabric.

The Shirt Company. The Christiane dress is lovely. www.theshirtcompany.com/products/christiane-cotton-sateen-everyday-midi-length-shirt-dress-with-obi-belt-in-navy?_pos=3&_psq=chr&_ss=e&_v=1.0
https://www.theshirtcompany.com

M&S have a few that might work at several price points

I love a shirt dress but why is it so hard for manufacturers to produce a good one?

In the right one I look cool and elegant but not too 'try hard'. In the wrong one I look like a sack of spuds in a dressing gown.

That is exactly what I want. A Dior style wrap over shirt dress in cotton sateen. Except I want it in a size 20 and they stop at a size 18 (and are out of stock anyway).

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su279251/b35374#b35374. Nice print ….

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su279249/b33493#b33493 Not calf length though

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su248823/543124#543124 No collar but a nice shape

ant of these any good? I would look at white stuff as well for shirt dresses.

Tommy Hilfiger have some as well if you don’t mind spending a bit more…

uk.tommy.com/relaxed-pleated-midi-shirt-dress-ww0ww43033dw5

I thought that Hobbs Beaford one might be the closest. I think it's gorgeous

This is gorgeous! Just wish it wasn't shiny (and was in stock)

Oh no! Maybe not quite what I'd hoped. It looks so lovely on the model

https://www.houseofbruar.com/ladies-merino-cashmere-button-dress-green/

https://www.theshirtcompany.com/products/cuthbert-navy-comfortable-sculpt-knit-open-collar-midi-shirt-dress

I'm also 5'8" with a long body and I can't stand synthetic fabrics for non-sports clothes.

I love a shirt dress! I have bought them in recent years from Tu @ Sainsbury's (babycord), Crew Clothing (needle cord), Jigsaw (Linen) and Espirt (sadly no longer trading)

The Hobbs one is 100% polyester.

Yes, I like the shape of the Hobbs one but def don't want floor-length or polyester! I might give the Boden one suggested by @ZipperBlues a try as it's a lovely shape, but the russet colour isn't something I'd wear normally and I don't like the other patterns. Why are so many of their patterns so garish? I don't mind a geometrical pattern, but so many of them are weird colours or look like something a children's TV presenter would wear.

That one is lovely but I'd probably keep it for work only.

I don't know why @ZipperBlues - here's a classic case of manufacturers buggering up a plain and simple dress. I think the majority of women would agree breast pockets on a dress are generally neither flattering nor functional here

@Calypsocuckoo - the Ponte one was quite nice but a bit work-y. Probably depends how you style it though. Not a huge fan of White Stuff.

Quite nice - but aaaarrggghh! They've stuck pockets on the front of it! Just why?!!!

I’m on the same hunt as the OP, but can’t cope with buttons on shirt dresses as I’m an F cup and often find I just can’t get the buttons shut or the gaping is awful. I see that the description of this dress is that it’s suitable for big boobs - I’d love to know if that’s really case as I could be tempted.

I just bought this and I LOVE it. I find most shirt dresses promise a lot but are either uncomfortable or too voluminous. This fits the bill perfectly for me. Hangs nicely, well fitted, etc.

www.sezane.com/en/product/tea-dress/black#size-6

I recently bought https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.oversized-wool-blend-shirt-dress-green.1244539001.html, and it’s a really good fit but yeah, they’ve had a curious and very unflattering ‘oversized’ phase.

Ah, sorry, just saw no breast pockets so this isn't the one for you OP.