Please help me find a dress for my lovely mum

[Dressstressed]

She’d like a summer dress that’s perhaps empire line, with short sleeves, and comes below the knee. She’s only 5’1” so anything designed to sit on the knee will be below on her..
She suits purples, pinks, white, some blues, maybe some reds if not orangey. Definitely not dark green, dark yellow, orange, grey or anything drab as it just drains her colouring. She likes pretty, floral, possibly pastel, but can get away with bolder shades too.

She has short grey hair, is 87 but doesn’t look it and dresses young rather than “old lady” style. She is not blessed of bosom and wouldn’t want a belt. She’s slim and petite all over really.

Everything I’ve looked at so far looks drab and dreary and tent like if it’s got sleeves. Or the prints are too big and would swamp her.

She has to wear trainers due to mobility issues and wears white, sparky Skechers.

Budget of no more than £80.

Any suggestion much appreciated!

Viscose not cotton but comes in a petite and a nice floral/soft colour palette.
My Mum is mid 70’s and wear a few bits from Joe Browns
www.joebrowns.co.uk/watercolours-printed-floral-dress-wf460?___store=GBP&glCountry=UK&glCurrency=GBP&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23353778137&gbraid=0AAAAAD5kyI2GIy7wU6nJEdek9uJvSR-Fy&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw9j2sIrTlQMVDJtQBh1BZQC1EAQYBSABEgKUZfD_BwE#colour=613&utm_campaign=&utm_adgroup=&utm_kwd=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=&utm_cid=EAIaIQobChMIw9j2sIrTlQMVDJtQBh1BZQC1EAQYBSABEgKUZfD_BwE

That’s lovely.

I love "blessed of bosom" 💕

This is really pretty and I think she’d love it although it’s probably too long. If I can find a seamstress that would come to the house to alter it for her, that might work. I think
this one is my favourite, thank you.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and research efforts. I’m going to show her all the suggestions today when I see her. I think Joe Brown’s might be the winner.

I'm of similar build and height (just under 5ft).

I buy dresses from Blue Diamond garden centres Cerulean range.
My shorter upper body means dresses from most stores have the waist in the wrong position, and the necklines are too low. The dresses are usually much too long, but they fit well on the body, the neckline is in proportion, and the flare on the empire line isn't too voluminous for my height. The fabric is usually a light stretch jersey cotton, so very comfy.
I just take up the hem (either hand-sewing or iron-on hemming web). If occasionally the neckline is a little low, but I otherwise like the dress, I utilise a piece of the cut-off hem to create a little insert into the neckline and sew it in..

Mountain Warehouse (yes, really) “Orchid” dress. Cotton jersey, lots of nice patterns. Pockets! I’m tall but it comes above my knee (i.e. below knee for your mum but not too long) and the “waist” is just under my bust.

Which is exactly why old lady fashion doesn’t work. @mydamnfootstuckinthedoor explained exactly why.

Weird Fish is worth a look, I’m 5’4” and many of their summer dresses are above my knees, although a lot shorter on the models. Body is right as well- ie the waist is in the right place.

Well yes, you are right. Still, do we have to lean in to the cliché?

@BIossomtoes , I think it does if it's used (or reworded) as elderly lady.
A dress for an elderly lady to me means a dress for a woman who happens to be of advanced years.

'Old lady' as an insult is dreadful. Most women want to look presentable, regardless of whether they are 20 or 80.

Small boutiques are often good but prices might be higher than £90.

I’m 5’ 3”. My clothes come from Gudrun Sjödén, plus Seasalt and M&S. GS things are not too long for me.

I buy their tops, tunics, cardigans, coats and dresses, though, not trousers.

It’s the end of the sale now, so most things are reasonably priced but frequently go in and out of stock. They have a shop in Covent Garden.

Thank you all. She’s gone for the Joe Browns one and also an M&S one from Vinted.

Try Blue Vanilla, Apricot, Crew Clothing. Even search Next filtering by petites.

My mother is 80 and wouldn’t be seen dead in SeaSalt. She’s not quite 5 foot my mum, and no boobs.
I got her a kaftan, it’s a bit short for people my height(5.8), above the knee line, but it sits just below on her. I offered to take it in at the hem for her, but she quite likes it where it sits, but her legs aren’t short (proportionally).

@BuddhaAtSea , My mother is 80 and wouldn’t be seen dead in SeaSalt.
This type of post actually makes me more inclined to look at SeaSalt.