Is it possible to find true "princess line" dresses any more?

[Vaguelyclassical]

By which I mean dresses with no waist seam or belt but cut in a line that has fairly fitted bodice and a gentle waist indentation before skimming the hips and flaring a little in one continuous sweep. (It's a flattering line to an older woman who still has a hint of balanced curves but rather more stomach than she'd like.) I'm 5'7" and size 14 and I like my dresses mid calf length or long calf length--not maxi and not just below the knee. This may be a hopeless quest because the manufacturers like styles where you can save costs and work with smaller pieces of fabric nowadays (hence waist seams). But if any brilliant Mumsnetters can make suggestions, I'd be truly grateful! Summer, between seasons, winter dress ideas all welcome!

Watching with interest because they are a flattering cut for me too and I always receive compliments when wearing this style of dress

Nobody’s child has one called a lupin dress.. do you mean like that?https://www.johnlewis.com/nobodys-child-lupin-sleeveless-midi-dress-cream/p113632643?size=10&s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20158969807&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1xmA-ghG2_xDxLqwEI_izOQm

I think Camilla wears this style? I think I’ve seen them on the Aspiga website.

Sort of --but ideally (unlike this one) there would be no interrupting seam at the waist to potentially draw attention to stomach at all! (I should probably have mentioned that sleeves, even if short, are non-negotiable!)

This is quite plain but I think princess line

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su791875/h70782

Some interesting options but so many flounces! I'm really big on the one continuous line thing. I am indulging a crazed fantasy, I realize.

Plain is good. Plain is really really good. That one may be bordering a wee bit on too much body con but getting there.

OK, ancient Butterick pattern for dressmakers has illustration showing what Princess seaming looks like....

There isn't a plain option unfortunately, but this one has proper princess seams. I was worried it was a bit 'old lady' but then I am! I've had lots of compliments on it. https://www.cottontraders.com/women/dresses/soft-touch-jersey-knee-length-swing-dress/AG10953Navy.html?dwvar_AG10953Navy_color=Navy&cgid=womens-dresses#eventName=Filter%20Items&params=%7B%22type%22%3A%22clothingSize%22%2C%22value%22%3A%2214%22%7D&start=9&list=product%20list&p=4

Ah, if only it were cut longer!

Ghost do a few in this shape

Maybe try looking up a line dresses as well as I think they have that fit and flare style.
I actually thought princess style dresses generally came with a defined waist TBH.

I think 'swing dress' is a useful search term for these, like the Cotton Traders dress shown above by a pp.

or try 'skater' or 'fit-and-flare', but with those terms you would still have to filter out dresses with waist seams.

I like this one;;

https://www.johnlewis.com/jigsaw-curved-sleeve-midi-dress-auburn/p114229359

Any good?

Ghost
Hobbs

I think Roman Originals might be worth a look for this kind of thing? Not an easy site to search though, you have to plough through everything.

Does it have short sleeves and a sleeveless option? I think I made it - twice - back in the day with Rose&Hubble fabric.

Is it 6850? I think I made three on reflection 😆

So do I!

For some reason the image didn't show up in my post but yes it did, midi length, shorter length, long sleeves and short sleeves! And a jolly pep talk on how to do princess seaming!

OMG you are brilliant! yes; I just found it doing keywords and google images.

Thank you for the vocab hints for future searching!

It's cost, manufacturer and fabric op. To get that fit you'd need more time on garment construction and a fabric with a heavier handle, because the measurements would need to be more exact for each size made...in the lower to middle end of high street, the waist seam and the dreaded flounces detract from poor construction (turn over any hem on the high street and you'll find wonky overlocking and uneven hem allowances, trailing threads etc) and the tiers are easier to adjust for petit, tall ranges etc

If you look at the side seam on any patterned garment the pattern is never lined up

Tailoring is expensive and skilled, I think that's why that shape isn't so easy to find, but looks lovely when on

I had suspected something like this was the case. The sad thing is that I remember the high street chains selling dresses with this line when I was a young woman and even a 30something woman. I am still in mourning for a summer cotton dress from M&S in a soft aqua and a lightweight knit fabric I bought in London in the 90's that somebody spilled an Indelible Drink on . . . .

Also with synthetic super thin fabric which is usually acrylic these days, you aren't going to get the drape, in the 90s and earlier, the dresses were lined so they skimmed and hung in the right places. You can wear a slip dress under but it's not the same as a sewn in lining. The weave or the knit needs to actually be lined up with the top shoulder seam for it to hang correctly and there is no shoulder on most garments now, it doesn't sit on the actual end of the shoulder, if it has sleeves at all 😭