Please help an old, short, apple find a dress

[HurdyGurdy19]

I have no fashion/style sense at all. The last time I wore a dress was on my wedding day, over 40 years ago. I am 66 years old.

I have been eating more healthily and exercising daily for the last year. This time last year, I was pushing 17stone (108kg). This morning, I was 12stone 2lbs (77kg). This time last year, I was wearing size 24 clothes. Now, I can wear size 16 jeans, size 16 t shirts, but anything on top with buttons, I'm "safer" in a size 18, as otherwise the button line gapes.

I would dearly love to wear a dress when we go out for dinner for my husband's birthday at the end of this month. Currently, I only wear jeans and tshirt type tops. I still can't convince myself that I can/should wear anything that would reveal my shape.

I am only 5ft 2ins (1.57m), so everything I've even looked at in shops absolutely drowns me length-wise. My days of wearing high heeled shoes are well past me (and I have the deformed feet to show for it!), so wearing heels to lift the hem isn't an option. I can wear low heels - maybe 2inches?

Can anyone suggest a style of dress that I might cautiously try? I am an absolute apple shape - all boobs, belly and bum (hardly any of that weight has come off my boobs or belly🙁). I don't want to look like a sack that's been tied around the middle, nor do I want to look like Demis Roussos in a huge floating kaftan

I don't like animal print anything, and I'm not really taken with overly floral patterns

As I am still losing weight (want to lose at least another 2 stone), I don't want to buy anything too expensive in the shops, as I hopefully won't be wearing the item much longer. I am happy to buy from Vinted though

Am I a lost cause at the moment?

Edited to add - I only shop in Bon Marche at the moment, as that is the only women's clothes shop in our town, plus they do various leg lengths, so I can find jeans that are the correct length for my short legs (inside leg 27 in their jeans). Happy to venture further afield if there is anywhere that might be able to accommodate my shape.

https://www.yumi.co.uk/products/yumi-navy-and-silver-ombre-sequin-midi-wrap-dress?variant=52038043992411&currency=GBP&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23039695915&gbraid=0AAAAADr5gs_uqvl8grMG1khysVQvtIaXg&gclid=CjwKCAjwlY3WBhANEiwApsNrLT1uOzFJDnhhmIQn6SMYMbDa6orf-cQyPcTDt93PzS1FMMYR5c77SRoCJsIQAvD_BwE

https://www.wilsoncarter-london.com/products/verenia-dress?variant=63364146200945&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=23801441905&utm_medium=ad&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23791567662&gbraid=0AAAABDPgsPjtlURc4elksUWBfW-OBlJtr&gclid=CjwKCAjwlY3WBhANEiwApsNrLR5OmHEuZ8Frwg9jAnlzDLe7sUEs8g1AWqxmoxkxky9qnzSNeJGQURoClfIQAvD_BwE

https://www.anoncph.co.uk/products/margriet-lizard-metallic-goat-vintage-champagne?variant=56691811418496&tw_source=google&tw_adid=772519380925&tw_campaign=20395840250&tw_kwdid=aud-1929520307215%3Apla-2494082948121&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20395840250&gbraid=0AAAAADxa8RzY11BjZX4CgvF_e5xYerTMX&gclid=CjwKCAjwlY3WBhANEiwApsNrLWMpMni0syAnY-4V41bF6bL_mcQNnb3ur2LO5H2iQAPOHlp_qB7eOBoCLvAQAvD_BwE&shpxid=f300a479-2cc1-47a5-84c2-06db2e51a73a

https://www.laredoute.co.uk/ppdp/prod-350337299.aspx?dim1=1&dim2=3&cod=SHP00210105UK&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23199540939&gclid=CjwKCAjwlY3WBhANEiwApsNrLZfgw-kGE8-2Pa2qxDmOVFZSkRz9cCq02HYY6IPewJWhNhEwkl8_mxoCKR8QAvD_BwE

Thank you for the update OP.
Lovely comment by your dh.

That Wilson Carter dress is gorgeous @Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain
I’ve never heard of that brand.

What a lovely update. So glad you had a great time and that your DH was so appreciative.

This is a Chinese drop-shipping site that will scam you.

Plus the OP has found a dress & been for her anniversary dinner!

The Anonymous Copenhagen shoes are lovely though ... I would happily buy a dozen things from that site right now!!

I thought it might be @EleanorMc67
I don’t like ankle strap shoes.
They shorten the look of legs and unless you have very skinny ankles and long legs they give an unflattering cankle effect.

Are you anywhere near a John Lewis with a personal shopper?

So pleased to hear that, OP! And that's so nice that your husband was appreciative & complimentary!!!

I do have long legs & slim ankles - used to hate them as I was so skinny! (I'm not any more, but my limbs are still quite slim.)

They have many more styles though, & are designed to be comfy & balanced while still stylish. On the pricey side, but worth it.

I’ve done well over the years with a Scandinavian brand called Masai.

I’m in much the same boat as you. I’m down from a size 22 to an18 (sometimes 16, but have to be careful - different brands seem to have very different sizing), so have been tentatively trying to find a dress but am very confused by the lengths, they all seem far too long for me (5’3”) I bought a Roman dress on Vinted, that fits my top but is far too long. I’ve just discovered White Stuff who do really nice clothes and they do a Petite range of dresses (though even those seem quite long), is there a shop near you, to try things on? I tried on a dress with a shirred top, it was very flattering, and I like all their fabrics and colours.