Are these two dresses dated for workwear?

[CoastOfXmasPast]

I know “if you like it, wear it “ but also I was loved the era of a power Galaxy dress, and would live in them for the rest of my working life, so need some perspective.

https://www.hobbs.com/product/meera-dress/0125-5237-9045L05-ZINNIA-PINK.html?utm_source=google&utm_source_platform=google_ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NEST_Hobbs_UK_EN_BoF_Shopping_Brand&utm_id=22300217733&utm_content=agid_171138532490-ad_736662908342&network=g&device=c&targetid=pla-293946777986&utm_tpl=live&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22300217733&gbraid=0AAAAADC5o-KwGWjelOitcXVX5sd7rkULg&gclid=CjwKCAiAzOXMBhASEiwAe14Sac3hzLKfFRuXOlOBqVaIJQVk1lrUH-RBsTvlRqGi-flYMFJ-RP3vIxoCkeIQAvD_BwE

https://www.hobbs.com/product/hallie-dress/0125-5635-9045L00-HYDRANGEA-BLUE.html

And these are more summery. The style with a little 40s-style puffed top to the sleeve is more authoritative somehow? Maybe because it has slight Joan Crawford vibes ...?

Maybe if cardigans were renamed as ... Jumpers with buttons (or bows)? Might that fool some of you cardigan-haters into taking a second look??

Sezanne & Reiss "jumpers with tie fastenings" shown ... perfect workwear!

Might something like this Arket dress work for summer? Linen & a very simple straight cut, so although not petite it would be easily tweaked? I know it's probably casual by your standards, OP - but it's quite easily dressed up smartly?

https://www.arket.com/en-gb/product/linen-shirt-dress-bluewhite-1261690002/

Reformation is also worth looking at. Again, limited right now but new items arriving regularly. If you search by size you can see SP, MP etc where there's a petite option (think a UK 8 is a S-M in their sizing!). There are others, but these are the ones I think most work-appropriate by your standards right now for spring to summer dresses. (That is to say, IMO - as this is quite a tricky brief!!!)

https://www.thereformation.com/dresses/midi

Karen Millen is so unpleasant to look through - so much horrible fabric! Could this be toughened up a bit with heels/belt/blazer? Cotton/linen blend which is a rare find on there!!

https://www.karenmillen.com/product/karen-millen-petite-floral-embroidered-cotton-linen-woven-prom-dress_bkk23241

Another ivory one .. A really nice shape I think? And linen blend.

https://www.karenmillen.com/product/karen-millen-petite-tailored-linen-wrap-tie-waisted-maxi-dressbkk28153

Another Karen Millen linen-blend one, plus the previous one as the photo hasn't loaded. You'd have to continue with the bright lipstick/footwear in the meantime though!

https://www.karenmillen.com/product/karen-millen-petite-tailored-viscose-linen-strappy-pleat-detail-midaxi-dress_bkk22745

Palest pink ...

https://www.karenmillen.com/product/karen-millen-petite-tailored-linen-tab-waist-detail-full-skirt-midi-dress_bkk28019

Now this is bright! I like it.

https://www.karenmillen.com/product/karen-millen-petite-linen-viscose-colour-block-plunge-neck-woven-maxi-dress_bkk25108

Another bare armed-one in petite in cotton from KM. Personally I think its a bit too exposed, whereas the previous one isn't.

https://www.karenmillen.com/product/karen-millen-petite-bold-stripe-cotton-strappy-peplum-woven-maxi-dress_bkk27919

I find this pattern a bit dated somehow, but it might suit? Also cotton.

https://www.karenmillen.com/product/karen-millen-petite-marble-print-cotton-collared-halterneck-woven-midi-shirt-dress-with-dropped-waist-detail_bkk28104

The one I'd choose to take me through spring though, would be this one. I'm a big fan of dark denim shirtdresses. No doubt I wear them much more casually than you, OP - but they're easy to make look polished & modern & smart.

https://www.karenmillen.com/product/karen-millen-petite-tailored-denim-full-skirted-midi-shirt-dress_bkk28206

I really need pictures of the pigeon bags

In my last full-time job we had a uniform - and it included at least two different cardigans. I saw one of the staff yesterday, wearing the same cardigan they had as a uniform option when I worked there.

I always really like shirt dresses on others but had to accept the fact they look terrible on me...I'm just completely the wrong shape !!

@Itsallsostressful , shirtdresses need to be the right cut for your figure IMO.
Some women look great in a man's shirt, some look great in a fitted shirt, plus there are the hips and bottom to consider.
Only lean angular types with not much bust look good in a straight up and down shirtdress with a belt.
These 3 are different shapes:
Women's Lorelle Belted Midi Cotton Shirt Dress - Navy - Community Clothing
Women's Full Skirted Phoebe Trench Dress - Black - Community Clothing
Long Shirt Dresses | Shirt Waist Dresses | Jasper Conran London

I’ve got a couple and love them! Thanks for explaining the lore, really interesting 😊

I really like this dress!

I’ve also enjoyed the tangents on this thread 😄

That's a little bit sad, isn't it ... 😞

Thank you for this...makes sense !

I think a key word here is belt. I'm no longer skinny, but can wear straight-ish or slightly A-line shirtdresses as long as I don't belt them in, as the excess fabric just bunches around my middle & my (lack of) waistline. I could possibly also wear the Karen Millen one above as I'm busty but have narrow hips.

I have a dark denim, short-sleeved Toast shirtwaister that comes to just above calf/over the knee (I'm tall), is slightly A-line, & that I wear unbelted. It is a great dress. I can't find a picture of it online but I think it's a similar shape to a cord one they did. Other brands do lots of similar ones eg COS, Arket & so on. See attached photo & imagine without the belt!

This really helps as my issue is very much a lack of waist. Im much shorter than you though...barely 5ft !

I actually resorted to diagrams on another thread for someone who described themselves as short & fat with no waist ... as the difference being an apple shape, or being more hourglass/pear shape ie with some waist definition, even if overweight, can make a huge difference to what suits you IMO - & whether you can wear a belted shirtwaister or not! (And yes, I know we can of course wear anything we like, before that gets mentioned ...!)

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5493117-what-on-earth-can-i-wear-to-a-40th-short-and-fat?page=4&utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

@EleanorMc67 , the belt bunches the dress often in a unflattering manner.
The Lorelle dress I linked looks ok on the model because she isn't curvy.

Which was my point re carrying weight around your middle - just don't belt them. I remove the belt & any loops.

The model in the Lorelle Comminity Clothing dress also wears it belt-less in other photos - & you don't need to be tall or thin to do that (though that particular shirt dress does then start to look a bit like a nightshirt ...!). And I think it also very much depends on what type of curvy you are. Apple, generally no to a belted shirt dress of any type (lose the belt & it's a different story). Hourglass, yes you can usually belt a shirt dress. A fitted one would be best, but if the person's bust & waist take up & add shape to the surplus material, that could work too.