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?

Have you looked at Phase Eight? I found a gorgeous orange midi dress earlier this year, belted, long sleeves, no fussy detail, and long enough for me (5ft 11).
I'll definitely check out their stuff next time I'm looking for a new dress.

I like the grey one actually - not sure how it would work with the breast pockets though? They do put me off!

But I think it would be without them 😊

@MargaritaPracticallyCan - thanks for the suggestion. I've had dresses from phase 8 in the past (20 years ago in the past!) but not looked there lately. Maybe need to look again.

@BigGreenCookieMonster - what's the sizing like on the Sezane dress? I've often looked at the website but never bought from there, largely because I'm not sure about sizing. Usually I'm a 12 but can be a 14 in some shops so never really sure, and have assumed - maybe wrongly - it's on the small size.

I'm also going to check out my local
Sainsbury's - thank you to those who've mentioned it 😊

I have bought great shirt dresses from whistles, sezane and rixo. None this year so I can’t link but definitely keep an eye on them.

I was going to say Community Clothing but people did before me. The shirt dress is in my basket.

I bought that exact dress from Uniqlo a couple of summers ago. They might run it again. Yes it is perfect!

@stringbean I'm usually a 12 too, although it can vary. 12 fits me perfectly at sezanne.

Hmmm, I am suspicious of that one because two of the three models have it undone really low, which screams ‘does not fit round the bust’ to me!

That’s just Sezanne styling. All buttons have to be undone as much as possible!

I actually think I have that dress but from a couple of years ago. Mine is patterned but it looks similar. If it is the same, it’s very flattering - cinches the waist and flows nicely. Comes up quite big though so would consider sizing down.

@GoingRoundThatBlockAgain such cynicism 😂. I'm not huge of nork, but I regularly bemoan the lack of darts in shirts as I hate it when they gape, and this dress fits very nicely on me.