Are shirt dresses frumpy?

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

Trying to find nice practical dresses for work to make a change from jeans.
I seem to look nice in shirts so would a shirt dress be ok?

I have quite a good waist so with a belt would it look ok?

(you see I know nothing about style).

thanks.

My friend pulls them off. Not literally or she would be cold and people would stare.

Me, they look like hell because the time I get them to fit the norks, they are huge everywhere else, and if I go with everywhere else fitting, I get porno norks.

I think they are great - belt is essential

(but i know nothing about style either tbh)

I have a lovely one from H&M which is gently smocked under the arms so is waisted already. Its dead flattering.

Thanks all.
I was worried everyone would go 'shirt dress, noooooooo'.

Style v confusing.

they can be frumpy
denim for example - no
elasticated waists - no
with flat shoes - no
with aline skirt - no

otherwise they are very stylish

can be stylish but look better with small norks IMO ( but then most clothes do, unfortunately for me), belt essential with nice heeled shoes or boots and striking accessories.

yes if they are stylish (think slightly 40s or 50s, or a bit military, or a bit safari)

not if they are long, full and/or mumsy

cool
cool
cool

not cool
not cool

treading a fine line

No they can be very sexy indeed.

I had a fabulous Chloé shirt dress (S/S 2001) that was one of my best ever buys - it was expensive but its price-per-wear must have been one of my lowest ever... I just wore it (with gold sandals) to death

RIP

goo d searching there mrsB!

sometimes i think white or blue can be a bit uniformy/nursey though

in the eightiesi had a white one with pink vertical stripes. very lady Di

i wish i still had it i would wear it to schools sports day for the mothers race ( and win, natch)

Thanks.

accessories.... sounds bit complicated for me....

I do normally wear flat shoes but if they are girly I presume they would be alright?

would flat boots be very bad?

flat boots would be ok if the dress was a heavy material
girlsy shoes for eg pumps would be ok

pumps = ballerinas

That denim one is hideous!

rofl @ the first Cotton Traders one. That made me feel less frumpy as I would not ever never wear one like that.

The purple Boden one is at least a nice colour, but I'm trying to avoid Boden as it never seems that well cut.

personally i avoid linen ones too
they just crease too much
and can be see-through

I think shirt dresses are much, much better with flat shoes or boots. Heels get you far too close to the frumpy suburbanite danger zone .

Metallic flats (gold sandals, silver or purple ballerinas) are pretty, comfortable and not mumsy.

As usual with the Boden pictures, it is IMPOSSIBLE to see what the clothes actually look like. They are the worst photos !

Noooo - they can be really, really cool but agree that belt essential and can't imagine them looking good with anything other than flats.

I agree about the nork fitting problem .. sometimes that can be overcome by wearing camisole/vest underneath and leaving many buttons open at top ....but it depends on fit/cut of the dress and how the waist sits ....(this look is best with cinched (spelling?) in waist)

Agree also about linen ones getting too creased - but good as cover up on beach where crumples don't matter too much - especially in strong colour

This is very helpful. Thank you all so much.

I think shirt dresses are best for Spring/Summer. I prefer a sweater dress for Autumn/Winter (one with a nice cosy roll-neck). The same simple accessorizing rules still apply - flat-but-glamorous shoes, perhaps a belt (this really depends on your body type) or a long/large necklace and a nice but not overly ornate bag.

You can get some lovely ideas from here.

I love shirt dresses but HATE buttons on shirt pockets, y'know right where your nipples are...

Ooh yes Kay, and me and dd can match!