Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Do you just order lots of dresses?

64 replies

Mathsdebator · 19/09/2025 19:24

There's hardly anywhere to shop in my local town. There's a New Look, River Island, Yours and Primark. That's it!

I'm going to a wedding soon and need a dress (none of mine fit - thanks Mounjaro!)

I've no idea what will suit me now so do I just order loads and return lots??

I'm 47, size 14, big boobs and mum tum. 5 foot 2 if anyone's bought anything fabulous lately?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
PeanutGallerist · 19/09/2025 19:59

No, I do about 95% of my clothes shopping online and I’ve never ordered multiple things at once with the intention of returning most of them.

Obviously you have the pleasant complication of weight loss, so the first thing you need is a good tape measure. And time to spend on careful browsing. Don’t bother with any site that doesn’t give clear and comprehensive garment measurements - and preferably videos of clothes in movement.

Do you have a budget? And what’s the wedding context?

PermanentTemporary · 19/09/2025 20:02

What kind of wedding?

Mathsdebator · 19/09/2025 20:17

Posh wedding on a boat hotel in Edinburgh. We'll be there all day

I'd love to rock up in an edgy version of a tulle skirt (i have pics in my head but can't find what I'd love) but fear I'm too old, too short and still too fat so may need to go for a more predictable number.

Hundred quid ish budget but that's not set in stone.

OP posts:
Mathsdebator · 19/09/2025 20:18

Like an older lady, more cool, short arse version of this!

Bit too try hard though I think.

Do you just order lots of dresses?
OP posts:
PeanutGallerist · 19/09/2025 20:26

Why would anyone not want to try hard to look good at a wedding, though?

PeanutGallerist · 19/09/2025 20:35

Depending on proportions, this could be magnificent:

Mango dress

mamagogo1 · 19/09/2025 20:38

I order 2 or perhaps 3 and keep what fits, I never order more than I’d be prepared to buy though so if I only want one dress I order one dress

UncharteredWaters · 19/09/2025 20:40

Try coast for that style if it’s still online or on Vinted?

and yes I and many people order lots!

Mathsdebator · 19/09/2025 20:44

PeanutGallerist · 19/09/2025 20:26

Why would anyone not want to try hard to look good at a wedding, though?

Eh?

OP posts:
Mathsdebator · 19/09/2025 20:45

PeanutGallerist · 19/09/2025 20:35

Depending on proportions, this could be magnificent:

Mango dress

It's gorgeous. I struggle with high necks though - I'm a 34h ish now so look like I'm smuggling cushions!

OP posts:
babasaclover · 19/09/2025 20:46

Yes I order 8-10 dresses at once if looking for an outfit. Hate people hate changing rooms and also like you have no shops locally anyway.

hope you get something lovely to go with your weight loss :-)

flobbynomore · 19/09/2025 20:52

I am between sizes now after Mounjaro. I needed a new dress for a funeral this week - I ordered several styles in 2 sizes, kept one and returned the others. I do worry a bit about parcels being lost on their way back when there is a lot on my credit card to be refunded - but it hasn’t happened yet! Good luck with your shopping, enjoy your new figure.

Confuzzleduzzled · 19/09/2025 20:55

I ordered about a dozen for the last wedding I went to. It’s frustrating as they all now charge return fees but it’s that or pay for parking in town so it balances out.
I bought something from girl in mind in the end.

Summersend4 · 19/09/2025 20:57

In a similar position a friend of mine used vinted to order a few dresses cheaply - she’s enjoying having lots of nice new dresses , only one of them was a big fail

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 19/09/2025 20:57

Yes I order loads from ASOS mainly and return most of them.

Mathsdebator · 19/09/2025 21:58

I'd look really, really awful in this 🙈 🤣

OP posts:
CinnamonCinnabar · 19/09/2025 22:07

A tulle skirt at a wedding could look a bit bridal/ bridesmaid. Could you get to a city for the day to try stuff on, maybe a John Lewis personal shopper? With delivery & return costs it might be cheaper to just go to the nearest city in person.

Mathsdebator · 19/09/2025 22:14

CinnamonCinnabar · 19/09/2025 22:07

A tulle skirt at a wedding could look a bit bridal/ bridesmaid. Could you get to a city for the day to try stuff on, maybe a John Lewis personal shopper? With delivery & return costs it might be cheaper to just go to the nearest city in person.

Yea, that's true. I'd like maybe an animal print one but can only find Shein whixh definitely isn't what I want. I think what I'd like only exists in my head!

I could have gone to a local city if DH hadn't accepted the invitation months ago but only told me this week - the wedding is in 3 weeks and I'm away the next 2 weekends!

OP posts:
Homegrownberries · 19/09/2025 23:26

Mathsdebator · 19/09/2025 19:24

There's hardly anywhere to shop in my local town. There's a New Look, River Island, Yours and Primark. That's it!

I'm going to a wedding soon and need a dress (none of mine fit - thanks Mounjaro!)

I've no idea what will suit me now so do I just order loads and return lots??

I'm 47, size 14, big boobs and mum tum. 5 foot 2 if anyone's bought anything fabulous lately?

Yes. You have to order lots. There's nothing in the shops.

It's an expensive business.

LostWithoutDottyP · 20/09/2025 00:32

Yes I order 6-10 at once or what my credit card will tolerate, if possible at the right time of the month so the returns can be refunded prior to my statement being generated. At least I’ve found a go to shop now where I know what dress size they think I am, before that I would have to repeat multiple times across multiple shops.

I remember a shop assistant in Next appearing quite disgusted/disdainful when I collected a click and collect of about 8 pairs of shoes, took them into the fitting room, and came out to return seven. What do they expect me to do when my feet are wide and different shapes/sizes and they don’t stock any wide shoes in store? There is no knowing which will fit until I try them on. No shop in our town had any suitable shoes in stock that fitted me- Clark’s measured and said sorry we can’t help you! This is reason #567 why I want a time machine so I can go shopping in the 1990s. Good luck OP.

CinnamonCinnabar · 20/09/2025 05:06

have you looked on the Outnet - tons of options, filter by colour & size & price & see what you can find - much less likely to end up in the same dress as another guest!

IDontHateRainbows · 20/09/2025 05:20

flobbynomore · 19/09/2025 20:52

I am between sizes now after Mounjaro. I needed a new dress for a funeral this week - I ordered several styles in 2 sizes, kept one and returned the others. I do worry a bit about parcels being lost on their way back when there is a lot on my credit card to be refunded - but it hasn’t happened yet! Good luck with your shopping, enjoy your new figure.

I think generally if you use a tracked service the retailer covers any losses.