Is this dress a bit dated?

[CerealPosterHere]

I like it but am aware that apparently floral dresses have “had their day”. I am in my 40s so probably fat face target audience

https://www.fatface.com/style/su397065/e79200#e79200

I love this and would wear it. But, then, I don't give a shit about being 'on trend', so I wear whatever takes my fancy!

All of my jumpers are mega old and I have many so can usually find something. Also some plain sweatshirts. I am a bit casual though and don't really care if it looks like a proper outfit. It needs to be reliably warm for me to go out in a dress, otherwise I will go for jeans/culottes so that I can wear socks and trainers. So a jumper would generally just be for when it gets cooler later. Where I go on holiday in the summer, only really light dresses in cotton or linen would works as it's mega hot so nothing else would be required.

We live in a tricky climate for summer dressing.

I own these two cardigans which might go with it?

Me too!!

I wore ditsy floral tea dresses all through the 90s and into the 00s. My teenagers love them now, but I tend to wear plain fabrics these days. Nothing to do with fashion though.

I think that even though wearing a summer dress is actually very easy it feels like you've made more of an effort than if you're wearing jeans and a tshirt and there are fewer rules about what shapes are fashionable so dresses are kind of timeless and it all comes down to the accessories.

I'd give both of these a go!

Floral patterns are still about but it's a case of getting it right, otherwise you look like you're wearing your Aunty Joan's curtains.

Both cardigans are lovely

Floral tea dresses have been a thing for a long time, but the midi dress with voluminous skirt or tiered skirt is a recent thing. The material isn’t the issue for this dress being dated, it’s the cut. You could get that fabric on a different cut of dress and it wouldn’t look quite so dated - but it’s going to take a few years away from floral midis everywhere to make floral dresses in other cuts to go back to being a neutral.

I always think when something that is normally a “classic” or “neutral” suddenly becomes a big trend, it needs a couple of years gap to go back to being a neutral/classic, and/or needs styling differently to stop looking like you dressing for an era at a fancy dress night.

(Breton tops are another one that comes to mind, was just one of those things some women had, then every where you looked women wore them with skinny jeans and ballet pumps and then they stopped being fashionable, so looked dated. Now it feels like they’ve come round to just being a classic.)

I stand corrected!!

Just looked on fb, I've got photos of me in floral dresses going back to when I first joined it, i.e. 2006, so not sure where you've been living!

Yes there were probably times when it was more popular, and specific 'styles' of floral dress - i.e the midi with white trainers and denim jacket combo pre/during covid but it's not like they were unseen before then.

The potential danger I see in this dress is exactly where on your body that dropped hip line is.

Depends on your overall style, I cannot wear floral midi dresses at all, as I look like the vicars wife on her way to a tea party in the village hall no matter what I wear with it 😅

other women wear floral midis and look cool

it’s hard to know. Try to trust your own judgement

i think most people wear a selection of on-trend and off-trend clothes. In my village in the sticks women still very much wear floral midi dresses, and it’s just me who sticks to deeply deeply unfashionable knee length fit and flare dresses (almost impossible to find)

so if a style suits you, just wear it.

Love this dress ❤️

I think the dated look is the floral dress, white trainers and denim jacket look! With a nice pair of sandals or balled pumps this would look gorge imo

I like it and I'd like it with your cardigans. Maybe a red vest under for a pop of red in the V neck area.

It’s a lovely dress.

You know everyone does this don’t you? You’re not somehow morally superior. Even though you post as if you are?

It's a pretty dress but it depends on your colouring. If you are a classic 'cool' summer then it won't look the best on you.

Totally agree about Breton tops, same thing.
I do feel “mumsy” but they’re just so handy…

Also agree about the type of floral dress.
Remember reading in one of those How To Be French books how the wrong floral dress can age you ten years.

Dunno… It’s a minefield. Every one has different style.
My BFF does cold shoulder tops & wet-look leggings.

I’m in my 60s and it looks like something the matronly women would wear in 1981

I think it's quite a dated floral dress to be honest - the colours are unflattering and the style and pattern are old fashioned. Floral dresses are still lovely but are being done in more delicate and classic colours/prints, with a milkmaid style rather than the tea dress style, like this www.next.co.uk/style/su643119/e35986

Having said that, if it looks better to your eye then wear it! Opinions are just opinions and yours is as important as anyone else's.

@takehischipsandputthemonmyplate i do like that Next dress but it’s more of an occasion dress. Would be far too fancy for work or lunch with friends. For a wedding, great. Though I’d worry that I’m tooold for that style, I’m nearly 50. To me it looks more of a younger persons dress but I accept that could be my daft opinion.

I think it’s quite safe and a bit frumpy. It would make anyone with any curves at all look super mumsy, even with the beloved black chunky ankle boot, or those wretched Vejas.

But that’s my opinion and if you like it, that’s what matters.

It's gorgeous!