I am old, large and short.

[seeker]

Can I get away with the floaty dress and jeans/leggings look, or will people laugh and point? And if I can, what do I wear on my feet?

Of course you can.

Just keep dress above the knee if wearing with jeans and perhaps some wedge heeled sandals to give you some height but comfort too.

how old - how large?

my instinct is to say "no"

I am old and slim, and I wouldn't.

I honestly believe that anyone can away with anything (within reason) if they have confidence. If you try an outfit on, feel good and believe you look good then go for it.

I am old, large and short too.

I do the tunic with jeans thing too, but think that, as concessions to age and maturity, one has to avoid anything too floaty and wafty (dangerously kaftanish territory for the larger lady) and definitely avoid ballet pumps, which look too flimsy beneath the more, ahem, substantial calf.

I think so... I love this look, though I know some people don't. And I think it is flattering - one reason I love it is that I'm self-conscious about my less-than-delicate knees, so it mean I can wear a little dress and not feel overexposed. But of course it will work best with a dress that suits you - v-neck for big norks, avoid empire line if you don't want to emphasise stomach, etc.

I find if I wear bootcut jeans and the dress stops just above the knee, this has the effect of making my legs look slimmer. When it's hot, cropped narrow jeans (or turn them up to mid-calf) can work too.

On feet, I wear birkenstocks or converse-style trainers but would be equally good with something more feminine eg strappy wedges or pretty flat sandals.

Hmm. I think I will go and do some trying on. At 11.00 in the morning so that all the beautiful young people are at school or work.

With a bag on my head.

In a town 30 miles away.

in the middle of a swine flu scare.

, seeker.

i, too, am of the old, fat and short variety! but i would avoid what you're suggesting - because i am ridiculously conservative in my dress sense.

very keen to know how you get on!

oops, large, not fat.