how do I make these summer dresses more 'decent'

[noideahowthesethingswork]

ok, they aren't 'indecent' but I dn't feel comfortable with anything low cut or sleeveless.

But I like these dresses. here

and here

So do I abandon the dresses or wear something under or over? If so what?

Or do you think they are horrible?

Or can anyone suggest any summer dresses that come under the knee are not too low cut and have at least a short sleeve?

Dresses with sleeves are my biggest bugbear as I have arms 'ishoos' and absolutely will not wear sleeveless ever without a cover-up (and cap sleeves imo do not count as proper sleeves!). White Stuff dresses have quite a few summer dresses and tunics with sleeves here for example. M & S do cheapish shrugs as well and I honestly don't think they make that much difference to feeling hot unless it is heatwave weather in which case you would be better off actually covering up with a sleeved white or light tunic/shirt. Try this but there are others on the site. My new thing to add sleeves is to wear a body under sleeveless dresses (yes really!). I think they are better these days, more comfortable and you can get half sleeves ones in black and navy blue in Top Shop for £14 (obviously they only work with certain colours but more and more shops and doing different coloured ones and I have seen a white and pink one in New Look). I also have a black lace one which adds sleeves to a 'LBD' or similar and, so far, people have been surprised when I have told them that is isn't actually part of the dress (and I have worn it so far with 2 different ones). I also have a plum lace one which I will wear with a sleeves plum (natch!) dress soon.

So whilst options are limited it is possible to build up a core summer wardrobe whilst looking out for that rare thing - a proper sleeved summer dress! How about this one Or this one although it is quite expensive. There are also some others at Phase Eight.

Lovely dress pagwatch

moonshine - some really lovely dreses there.

pagwatch - really nice, you sound v. stylish

I like the black and white dress in the op. Pagwatch - yours is gorgeous but way out of my league!

tesco

can i add that the best place for shrugs is Monsoon - they do tiny cotton things that are bolero style so they really only cover the arms to below elobw, and little bit of back (so really do not add hardly any extra heat and allow the whole line of the dress to be seen without revealing upper arms). i lots of lovely bright colours and only £36 a pop.

If you can afford it there is a really nice summer dress with short sleeves at Jigsaw online (everyday linen/cotton dress) which comes in a raspberry red, blue and white: it is exactly what you are talking about but not cheap (can't work out how to do the redirecting link thing, sorry). It is £112, but I think would last for years.

The search for summer dresses with sleeves continues ... Hobbs (v pricey but very well made) has some good ones here and Inis is worth a look too. They do some unusual & european labels.

I've never done shrugs but am inspired by this thread to try. Otherwise a nice summer dress with arms will be the holy grail of my shopping efforts.

agreeing with you again niminy.. I was in Hobbs this morning andthey have a few really nice ones. And LK Bennett have lovely ones for summer events
...nearly all knee length yipeee!

sorry
summer events makes me sound like the Vicars wife opening a series of fetes..
[who am I kidding]

Perhaps if we buy the dress the events will come ... I have one LK Bennett dress I scarcely have anywhere posh enough to go to wear, but what the hell, eh?

And raising a cheer here for knee-length with the state of my legs

How about 40s/50s style? Tend to have sleeves and be knee length.

Have a look on here and see what you think?
www.vivienofholloway.com/

40's ones look especially promising!
www.vivienofholloway.com/1940s-Dresses.html
Might have to get one myself!!

wow this is so difficult! Glad I'm not the only one.

niminy - those hobbs dresses especially are really lovey - I especially liked the 2nd one (clarendon) BUT they are all way way too short, by a long way, not just an inch or 2.

amelia, those dresses looked fab, but I think you have to be a certain type of person? I would feel stupid in one, I'd feel like I was dressing up for a fancy dress 40s themed party. I've met some v. glam women who could carry it off (probably the shop owner & her posh mates no doubt) but I'm afraid for me I'm too much of a shrinking violet to be bold enough to carry it off.

Maxi dresses swamp me, and are always much too exposing on the chest/shoulders.

Gah.

Will try to get one of those shrugs/boleros/ whatever they're called. Seen a few eg m&s & I think the tesco link one too that don't come in white grrr.

Anyone know any european retailers that have been hinted at here?

that tesco one in green is lovely, collision