How to wear a dress without feeling you're in fancy dress

[ITSJUSTBRIDGET]

I appreciate this is probably a very specific problem for me, but whenever I wear a dress I just feel like a fraud, like I'm wearing fancy dress.

I'm 5ft 1in and a size 16. Nothing seems to suit me. I have a hourglass figure with a big tummy (thanks to my Twins and my C-section overhang)

if you're a similar shape what kind of dresses do you wear?

https://www.marksandspencer.com/printed-v-neck-midi-dress/p/clp23034622#intid=pid_pg1pip21g4r1c1%7Cprodflag_New

this is what I'd really like to wear but I just don't know whether I could pull it off

I'm the same height as you and size 12/14 with a stomach too. It depends on the occasion obviously, but for more day to day dresses I wear shirt waist dresses (knee or below knee length, I prefer midi) with trainers, knee length boots or ankle boots, or tunic dresses (knee or very slightly above knee) with opaque tights and brogues or loafers, or knee length boots.

The trick (for me) is to avoid the big shapeless dresses which drown me.

I’m not quite your shape, but I can think of plenty of dresses you might look excellent in - if you actually want to wear dresses?

Have you looked at Aligne? Flick through all the ways you could wear this dress, for instance:

Aligne dress Lots more in the sale section.

Or:

Community Clothing dress Move the belt loops if necessary.

Or:

Stories dress

All of these would be fabulous with knee high boots.

I just don't wear dresses.
I like the idea, buy something nice for an event, and spend the whole time feeling like I've raided my mother's wardrobe. Sorry.

Yes, this is exactly how I feel. I try dresses now and again but mostly just feel like I'm not 'me' when I'm in a dress. Skirts and tops I can do but dresses make me feel very exposed and self conscious!

Me and my mam have the exact same shape, height, c section overhang, everything. And I absolutely love dresses whereas she feels the same as you, she's give up buying them. She always compliments me and says I look lovely and why can't she look like that, I said I honestly think it's about personal style as well as body shape. She looks beautiful in a pant suit, whereas I think I would look ridiculous in my eyes, personality definitely plays a part. If you feel like you're in fancy dress maybe dresses just aren't for you? X

thank you everyone

I have a knitted dress that I wear and feel very nice in, but anything else "fancier" I just can't get my head around.

I do have a lovely animal print skirt from Rixo which I wear a lot and feel good in. Maybe you're right and dresses just aren't for me.........

I wear dresses most days as I just find it easier. I feel odd when I wear jeans! You probably just need to get used to the ‘novelty’ of it. I used to only wear dresses in summer and felt a bit funny when I started wearing them in winter (with tights and boots, obvs) 🤣 but now it feels totally normal. You won’t look odd to anyone else.

I’m your height and size and love dresses. I only wear the big shapeless ones that drown me! Toast, Cabbages and Roses, Ewa I Walla, Plumo, Alexandr Manamis - The more theatrical the better and I wear them with cotton bloomers, petticoats, socks and boots. I’m not interested in looking smaller or ‘flattering’ my figure.

Dressed like this I feel like myself. In jeans, t shirts, trousers and athletic wear I feel like a fraud.

If dresses are not for you don’t try and wear them. Do you know what you would really like to wear? Pinterest can be very useful for looking at pages of stuff and starting to see a theme.

@ChelseaDetective would love to see some of your style. Any photos you’re happy to share?

Me too! @ChelseaDetective

Me three @ChelseaDetective

I think some dresses are harder than others because they are more out there.
Someone said to wear a new look around the house and to short outings or where you won't be seen by anyone you know to trial it out in the wild.
I'm a little bit taller than you and find A Line dresses flattering.
I can recommend White Stuff Petite dresses for quality and fit:
https://www.whitestuff.com/browse/collection/petite-dresses

As a fellow shortie I sympathise. The last couple of seasons have had a lot of really boxy dresses and I’m afraid sponge bob square pants is not my fashion idol.

I am happier in simpler shapes. Plain, knee length (or shorter) knitted dresses with tights and boots or loafers work well for me, as do shirtwaisters with platform trainers. Jewellery wise, I wear long pendants with knitted dresses to elongate my body a bit, and a simple chain with buttoned dresses, but leave a couple of buttons undone if I can.

@shiningcuckoo @ChocoChocoLatte @Plastictreees I’d love to my clothes are not just my clothes, they’re my hobby - but I’ve fallen for that before. It would derail the thread and probably end up getting it deleted and discussed on Tattle like the last time. Such is the divisiveness of a middle aged woman wearing an ‘unflattering’ dress.

My point was @ITSJUSTBRIDGET perhaps wearing a dress is not for you and that’s fine. There’s no need to at all. If your clothes are not doing it for you at the moment ask why and have some fun looking for clothes that will. Good luck!

That’s such a shame @ChelseaDetective I can understand your concerns in that case! Well I think your dresses sound fabulous, regardless of age.