Pretty dresses that can be worn after having children

[User95273]

Dear mums,

What clothing brands you use to buy pretty, casual but modest dresses?

I’m thinking no spaghetti straps, or décolletée cuts, or mini dresses.

No maxi dresses with deep above knee cuts that effectively make them mini dress in the wind.

Not baggy or shapeless, but somewhat pinched at the waist.

Many brands I see seem to cater teenage/young adult/ type.

Shirt dresses were not too bad, but many had buttons all the way down. Real buttons. Which can make wearing them “stressful”.

Any brands, most likely small or boutique, you know that makes beautiful casual dresses?

Also, at a risk of sounding too picky, the fabric shouldn’t bee too thin or stretchy…

I’d love to hear your suggestions!

thanks v much x

Are you buying, or selling?

If the former, what’s your budget? And clothing size?

I love apricot dresses

Buying. Budget I’d say around £150

Fat face
Sea salt
Both of which are also sold via M&S

Just go to M&S or any supermarket. There will be loads.

The wording of your post is a little confusing.

Do you mean you need to be more modest after having children? Or are you less body confident and want to cover up? Or do you just mean dresses that are more practical when you are crawling about with children so won't risk exposure?

M&S
sainsburys
fat face
seasalt

Try Popsy for dresses, loads of different prints, designs, shapes and made in the UK

H&M have some good ones

With such specific requirements why don’t you make your own?

Example of a pattern

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4309639217/beginner-sewing-pattern-easy-sewing?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_-craft_supplies_and_tools-other&utm_custom1=k_CjwKCAjwk7DFBhBAEiwAeYbJsXcbB5EkqzBiuU3qM_h6mJ6sS21YKkEZUWGPucx0DDJyR1oirbHBWhoC8_wQAvD_BwE_k&utm_content=go_22701471078_187037703488_759946773021_aud-1410217292831:pla-2314828009143_m__4309639217engb_102858184&utm_custom2=22701471078&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22701471078&gbraid=0AAAAADutTMf1nDSv9bh9hYQgVi7VtDTRL&gclid=CjwKCAjwk7DFBhBAEiwAeYbJsXcbB5EkqzBiuU3qM_h6mJ6sS21YKkEZUWGPucx0DDJyR1oirbHBWhoC8_wQAvD_BwE

I’d say all of those apply

Thank you

Thanks. I’m looking for something more upmarket, better fabric and dress design, but still casual. I’ve seen then about but not sure where they are sold.

They only sell them online, but new designs and prints get released every week. The cotton fabric dresses are great quality.

https://www.popsyclothing.co.uk/

You still haven’t given your dress size.

Assuming you don’t need anything outside ‘average’ sizes, have you tried:

Palava

I don't have any of the issues you report and buy from Whistles, Jigsaw, M&S, White Stuff and Seasalt, but often from Vinted rather than new.

“Modest”.

What an awful phrase. It reminds me of the Handmaids Tale.

It occurs to me you might like Toast. Most of their dresses would be beyond your budget full price - but they have regular and extensive sales and many Toast shoppers build up solid wardrobes that way.

Toast

White stuff, joules, saint and Sofia , verse, Aspiga, phase eight, reserved,

Also Cos has plenty of dresses without full length buttons, or slashes, or slits. They’re more workwear focused - smart casual if you like, with some t shirt dresses.

Cos

I love Saint and Sofia (saintandsofia.com). Lots of options within your budget and the quality is so much better than high st.

Aspiga
Pink City Prints
Dilli Grey

The John Lewis or M&S apps are your friend here as you can search multiple brands and filter by things like sleeve length, skirt length, pattern, style etc.

I think it sounds like you want midi length sleeveless or short sleeved dresses. Stretchy fabrics are practical and natural fibres are more breathable so maybe something in a cotton stretch? Patterns if you don’t like ironing as creases are more obvious on block colours.

I also wear dresses that fit these requirements. I have some from Joe Brown.

The trickiest thing, I find, is that so often you get arm coverage with low necklines, or high necklines with no arm coverage. So I've bought several plain, thin vests in different colours and just wear one underneath dresses with necklines that are too low for me. Mind you, finding plain, thin vests with high necklines is also challenging!