Any hope for this dress?

[Levelten5]

I've had this Esprit dress for years and have never worn it. I'm going to a conference next week and can't find anything to wear (most of my clothes seem too tight). Could this be an option? Or is it really frumpy? Or funeral-y all in black?

I like it, it doesn't look funerally to me. I might try a white shirt under it, but that's because I like a school maam look at the moment.

I like it!

Love it!

I like it, would be nice with some knee high or ankle boots

It's fine. A perfectly normal work dress.

There's too much fabric at the waist, or your waist is lower than the waist on the dress.

I find fabric belts like that can be tricky. Have you got a leather belt you could try with it?

Tan leather belt, preferably quite deep, round the middle?it’s a nice dress and I would be comfortable wearing it at a conference, with belt and boots.

Oh I'm glad! You've saved me from wearing overly tight, uncomfortable clothes. It feels really comfy to wear so I'm glad it doesn't look too bad.

I have ankle boots but they are these flat ones, I suppose they are too clunky/casual?

Agree with this. Fabric belts rarely look good.

I would go with a leather belt also.

The dress is nice though! If you feel it’s too much black you can always push/roll the sleeves up and add a nice watch and/or bracelet.

Yes I do agree I'm not sure it does my waist any favours, I'll see what I can find in terms of belt

This would look lovely with bright pink lipstick and a gold necklace and boots.

I like it, it’s perfect for something like that

I think it would look much better with no belt.

Agree with others, nice dress, but the fabric belt isn't great. Looks like it could be a good dress that is easy to change with different accessories, or what you wear under/over it.
Love a good dress, tights, boots outfit

I like it, even with the fabric belt. It's elegant.

I wouldn't worry about looking "frumpy" at a conference - it's work (or work-adjacent) and unless you work in the creative industries it's fairly standard to be dressed fairly conservatively and modestly for work, IMO.

I like it but I'd undo the button at the cuff and roll the sleeve up a couple of times, just enough to show your wrists. Would be less of a solid expanse of fabric, which slightly swamps you, and would look v element with a nice feature bracelet

Change the belt. And if you're feeling daring, change the tights. But I love coloured tights.