Summer dress to suit big arms/shoulders?

[Moonlightfrog]

I have very broad shoulders and large upper arms. I am a size 10-12 so not big, my arms and shoulders are just big, my lower arms are skinny with tiny wrists. I have a few summer dresses mainly sleeveless and I look awful in them due to my arms and shoulders. I am trying to diet but it’s pretty hard to loose my upper arm fat unless I go down to a size 8 and then I look ill. I guess it’s just my body shape and I need to learn to dress it appropriately.

I don’t often wear dresses but due to the warmer weather I have been wearing them, I don’t know what style I need to wear to make me look less like a butch shot putter. I want to look more feminine but I find most dresses aren’t flattering when you have such broad shoulders and arms.

Can anyone recommend a style of dress? Ideally just a casual summer dress? Ideally in a petite size.

Puff sleeve and a v neck to balance with the bottom.

I'll post an example. I'm the same.

https://www.baukjen.com/products/mariella-printed-midi-dress?country=GB&tmsrc=googlead&tmcid=20555597977&tmsid=151879278605&tmid=673933293505&tmkw=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20555597977&gclid=CjwKCAjwpqHTBhAcEiwAj2AfugFwNssCl_tXEYA-ZUZdgesPgtFus9y7f_HamrBJSieBbbSR6u9btBoCf2QQAvD_BwE

https://www.boden.com/products/women-draw-waist-cotton-dress-multi-floral-field-d1742mul?variant=43148087853265&tc_ch=ps&tc_ve=goog&tc_so=pmax&tc_me=cr&tc_campid=21221764987&tc_adgroupid=&tc_targetid=&tc_locphys=9045862&tc_matchid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21218304686&gclid=CjwKCAjwpqHTBhAcEiwAj2AfujhU1RqWKhFBqtLSslRUuneyVWwNUAz5SCjeBgC5B8S2MVfFYirUYhoCZzIQAvD_BwE

https://www.boden.com/products/women-tala-tiered-jersey-maxi-dress-bright-blue-ornate-floret-d1500lbl?variant=42914116337873&irclickid=!FN0BAEagwEeC2RHxupClcrXRV54xJZF5isIR8ZhIEwY8XnFABFryG9-FiHYITTqCSWaDExDHgyEwHQAAoPJH3g&tc_ch=affs&tc_ve=iruk&tc_so=RedBrain%20Ltd&tc_me=cr&tc_ca=na&tc_au=na&tc_cr=2175005&tc_campid=na&tc_adgroupid=na&tc_kwid=na&tc_matchid=na&im_rewards=&irgwc=1&impqs=AAAADHu--XxLdaBHl7xVIZKLW-Ze8bmRR9MX-pfeVw_hBelzhQAnj6E6ishcXeOvxW3X5h93mABQLwon4_fHa7yuIPBR7DJfARKYQvOIFR04u-ZNeUk1GWyGg46aRQ2qHPIAxt9La79Xe3TbrjyoLMAKxsFmOoBlwwnpAewPraLezieLESJfL4PWdt2iLegAmn1WQkuBaWQUabefCuhSm9Cawnp4&im_program=18790&im_ad=2175005&im_partner=1249479&afsrc=1

https://www.johnlewis.com/hope-ivy-petite-the-sonnet-floral-print-midi-tea-dress-white-multi/p115292972?size=6&s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20151164127&gclid=CjwKCAjwpqHTBhAcEiwAj2AfuiHLtCl8O-w86PrPAiU7rYxe-A-zDbVVq82dwsVJ2IvhWS5PqU6-rhoC1isQAvD_BwE

Just examples but look for things like flutter sleeve etc. If you want sleeveless then look for more shoulder coverage like Scoop neck, high apex v. Rebecca Adlington is a good celebrity example.

V neck yes, but puff sleeves accentuate broad shoulders and chunky arms.

I am a size 8 and still have quite chunky upper arms!
I don’t own or wear anything sleeveless because it makes me look quite bulky, all the clothes I wear have sleeves. Not much help, sorry, I hate my arms so keep them covered. Plenty of lovely summer dresses with short sleeves though. perhaps controversially, I like a puff sleeve as I have quite narrow shoulders so the bulk added there just follows through to my arms and they feel in proportion.

Would you mind if I ask what height and weight you are? If you’d prefer not to say, no probs at all. I also have big upper arms and I’m broad shouldered. Wish I wasn’t.

I am 5ft 3 and weight just under 9 and a half stone.

I am slightly heavier than I would like, I have gained a little weight since having a hysterectomy. I am 44, but my arms have always been big, if I work out they just get firmer, if I diet my arms are the last things to shrink. I have small breasts which just makes me look out of proportion.

God I agree - the very last thing I’d be looking at is puffed sleeves!

I am a skinny upside down triangle shape as others have shared their weights I am 175cm 62kg, no waist. Boy figure , shoulders wider than hips, long legs. V necks are my friend, my arms are awful even if I do weights (back in my 20s they were great) I went through a period of not wearing sleeveless tops. Just recently I have started with singlets, sleeveless midis etc and have been complimented so I have just kind of thought F. It.

I will wear what I like. I do realize am not 20 anymore so I wear hems knee or below. Just wear what you feel comfortable in. Look at your body shape and colours. I would go for knee or midi length a plain colour that suits you. Try to get a nice fabric linen if you can. Either sleeveless or cap sleeves. Order & Post some dresses on here if you feel brave enough, so we can tell you what suits. Have fun.

Something like this? https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/black-frill-sleeve-v-neck-midi-dress/p/944835701

Such hate for the the puff sleeve 😂. Look at dolman, 3/4 length, elbow length, flutter, etc.

It is a bit more complicated than puff sleeves.
sleeves that are set in before the shoulder line and have volume taken up by the large shoulder (first dress) can be flattering.

Have you tried looking at Scamp and Dude? A lot if their dresses have a v neck and half/three-quarter length sleeve…

Thank you. Funnily enough scamp and dude came up in my Fb feed today and I thought there dresses looked good. I am going to take a closer look. I like when of the dresses from Sugar hill Brighton too but I am waiting for it to be in the sale.

I think I need something with short floaty sleeves as I don’t like anything too tight on my arms. I also thing V neck or a bigger scoop next could work.

I like this.

Also forgot to mention that I don’t really do floral and would prefer a non patterned/plain colour so the newlook dress ticks those boxes.