I am SO confused by dresses!
They are either too short or too long.
I just looked at the dresses at Target and the regular length frocks are being shown at mid-thigh length, and I don’t think so! Not for a minister, nuh-uh. Not even with tights or leggings. Sure, on my day off, sure. But I don’t need any more play clothes. I need to have options for the workday, Designer People! And I need you to design some dresses that go a respectable distance!
The alternative to tunic-length dresses is maxi-dresses. I have a few maxi dresses for the summer when I wear them with sandals and a denim jacket or cardigan on super casual beachy type days, but again — I’m a minister! This isn’t work wear! Maxi dresses are “put a flower in your hair and go to a party and stand around holding a drink with an umbrella in it” wear. Dear Designer People, when my life becomes mostly about going to parties and standing around with a piña colada in hand, I’ll be ALL OVER those maxi dresses. However, as a middle-aged community leader, not so much. Please tell me you can come up with some dress designs that aren’t Corporate Banker or Slim Socialite but are just, you know, nice and normal dresses with a reasonable hemline.
Is that so much to ask?
Love, PeaceBang
Hi Peacebang – I don’t know about US sources, but UK designers have very much woken up to the ‘work dress’ idea. You can get ones with sleeves (!) and reasonable neck and hemlines from places like M & S, Next, Monsoon, Boden, Wallis – some of which are available in petite and plus sizes. [I wonder if they ship to the U.S.? – PB]
Agreed about Target. I am 5-8 and lately it seems everything there is WAY too short. I’ve had two dresses in the past year I wore once and had to donate. Old Navy offers tall sizing for dresses that helps me with a longer hemline for casual dresses. I also really like JCrew, JCrew Factory, or Banana Republic for (real) knee-ish length skirts and dresses. Look at the online sales for those ones – I rarely buy in store and never full-price. Super frustrating w Target though I completely agree. [Too bad JCrew + BR don’t make Bodacious Sizes. I just got the Jessica London catalogue and they have actual grown-up woman styles. – PB]
PB, could you please post those Jessica London styles that you find appropriate?
Amen on the hemlines. On occasion I can find a shorty dress that is made for regular sizes (I’m 5’2) and get a decent length for me. But usually, that means they don’t fit proportionately. As you’ve said earlier, skirts and blouses are easier to fit. And where is the dress that isn’t Rev. Wall Street (not to mention Rev. Super-Boring) or isn’t Rev. Par-tay All Night Loooong Yeah Baby? Cuz that is not my name.
I don’t know how to paste a picture into a comment, but I love these dresses from Lands End: http://www.landsend.com/products/womens-sleeveless-ponte-sheath-dress-with-pockets/id_242219. I have one in a chocolate brown with polka dots, one in blue, and one in jacquard. I’m 5’4″ and the regular size hits me right at the knee. They are nicely fitted, but in a more casual fabric than a suit-type sheath.
In winter I wear a long-sleeved silk base layer underneath and a tailored cardigan. In summer I cover my bare arms with these short-sleeved cardigan type things that end just above my waist (don’t know what they’re called – they’re sort of like a shrug).
I’m 5’10”, and boy howdy, it is hard to find modest, chic dresses for work. They are now using the word “midi” to describe a length that’s meant to hit just at or below the knee, so you may try looking for that (although it may be too frumpy, depending on your height).
I’ve found more dresses of this length in European brands and very expensive brands. Which is very irritating, as I am neither European nor rich. ASOS isn’t bad though.
And yes, there’s no point looking at Target for classy dresses. I want to look “CFO” and their clothes all look “CFO’s administrative assistant”.
SO True! I ordered a box from StyleFix (which you should check out, even though it may not work for everyone) and after asking for a “modest” dress, they sent me something that barely covered my bottom. It’s no wonder none of the girls at my school can adhere to the dress code!
Goodness, I haven’t shopped at a Target in 2008 but I’m not surprised to hear that they don’t have much in the way of suitable dresses.
I’m a plus sized gal (size 20ish) and I love the dresses from Lands End, ASOS and the best kept secret on the internet eShakti.com. Ladies, go forth and find yourself a tape measure and a large glass of something slightly intoxicating (red wine, chocolate milk) and take your measurements. One can have a dress made to your specific measurements (or you can confirm your size) AND you can make modifications to nearly any dress on offer. The price for this custom dress is a mere $8 in addition to the very reasonable prices.
A few tips… with Lands End, the dresses are 0X, 1X, 2X, 3X and generously sized. (I wear a 1X in almost all dresses.) ASOS dresses run really big so go down one size. ASOS pants are almost a full size too small. Odd, but it anyhoo…
I have probably 30 dresses in my rotation. I’m the Executive Director of a nonprofit organization and I do a lot of media, public speaking and training so I have to be somewhat pulled together – dresses make that possible. (I might add that leggings make outstanding tights when the temperatures dip below 10.)
That tip on eshakti is really helpful! Like worth it’s weight in gold helpful!
Boden does ship to the US without an extra fee, and their sales are very good. I think they only go to size 18 tho’. They do have some petite and some long-ish sizes.
Stitch fix is a great idea, but I think it’s aimed at very slim people who are 20-somethings, because all of the dresses they’ve sent (and they have my measurements) barely cover what we refer to as my tushie.
I keep wondering the same thing – why is everything so short! But I’ve had luck buying the “tall” option in skirts, when it’s available. (I’m 5’2″ – so the tall option hits me just below the knee).