[purchase/affiliate] The beauty well is dry! I just felt a bit ‘up to here’ with it this week so I’m doing a bit of an awkward, self-concious ‘what I bought in the sale’ post – opinions welcome on the red dress; lovely as it is I am not sure it is lovely on me but I’ve got a wedding to go to and I’m struggling to find anything even vaguely right.
This pastel sweater was just a chance buy from Oliver Bonas. It’s never seen a thread of wool but nonetheless seems like the perfect cool holiday evening or summer’s end top to throw on over jeans, shorts or white linen joggers.
I like a pastel jumper and they’re few and far between – even in winter they’re good to just break up the grey. It’s exactly half price at Oliver Bonas – RRP £50 but now £25 HERE. Mine’s a size 12 because I like them loose and there are still a few (at the time of writing) in all sizes left (not many).
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To replace my most beloved pair of jeans (in the pastel jumper pics) it will cost £280 and I cannot!!! So I took a chance on Frame jeans from Yoox and I’m very glad I did. These are the jeans for you if you’re curvy – and short!
The denim is super soft – if you’re anything like me, your weight is fluctuating and these have the right amount of stretch, hold and softness to be kind on all the days. Net-a-Porter has Frame Le High Skinny cropped jeans in all sizes (miracle) that were originally £241 and are now £108 HERE. I know, it’s a lot (I got mine from Yoox for the slightly more reasonable price of £82) but I feel I’ve spent so much time looking for my original (AG) jeans and I wear jeans so much that it feels like money well spent at this point. The freedom of putting them on every day and they just fit right is worth its weight in gold.
So, at the moment this is my only wedding option. I feel like I’ve looked at a thousand dresses. I am just not sure – this smocking trend doesn’t suit me really but maybe it’s me being self-conscious. I feel a bit booby in this. It’s £39.50 HERE in a size 12.
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32 comments
Isabella Blow had this great phrase : ‘if you put the goods on the shelf, they won’t stay on the shelf for long”- the thing with the red dress is that it ‘widens’ your assets rather than celebrating them ; ) A V neck would be the cut for you IMO . Colour is good though, but you should trust your instincts- it’s not ‘the one’
Good feedback, thank you so much :-)))
Jane, LOVE that red dress on you! You need red lippie and sunglasses! Perfect for pub garden nights etc!
thanks so much Mandy! I’ve got the perfect lippie for it but I feel too booby!
Yep. I really fancied a smocked top dress and I sent for one in the Boden Sale. I discovered that it looks like an easy, flattering wear but it’s not. Too booby for me. Go with your instinct Jane.
thanks Lynn – I’m already wrapping it up to return.
Jane you look so stylish in the orange dress.
Really suits your olive skin tone, a bright lipstick and you’re done
thank you Joy :-))
Wow, nice stuff! Totally love the pastel jumper – color and cut – perfect for anything… Jeans – yep, if you wear them often then PPW (price per wear) gets down 😉 They look great on you! The red dress I rather like on you, but to me it seems more of a picknick occasion than wedding (but I’m not British and it can be more what I used to see on weddings around me than really the truth). Although fascinator + shoes + clutch can dress up anything 🙂
Anna I think the dress is going back to where it came from… you’re right it’s not particularly formal but it’s not a very formal wedding – supposed to be the hottest day of the year and it’s in a garden… I was trying to go as light as possible but I do hear you on that 🙂
Jane, the colour is lovely on you but the style is too ‘serving wench in a beer Keller’ ! Very hard to avoid at the moment what with all the puff sleeves on everything. If you are feeling stuck, go and see my friend Kim Undy who is a personal shopper/stylist at Peter Jones on Sloane street. She will find you something perfect that you’d probably never even bother trying on. She’s a proper grown up stylist with years of experience on magazines and celeb shoots as well as personal clients, highly recommended. Best of luck x
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Oh thanks Sue – yes, I totally hear that vibe .. I really think that it’s heading back to shop. I just feel booby and blocky in it. Noted re Kim, thank you so much for the suggestion x
I think the dress looks fine but that means nothing if you don’t feel right in it – found this dress with a v-neck, in a slightly more neutral toned red (plus looks like it has pockets – always a bonus!) , although not in a sale, but I think it would look lovely on you and would be something you would wear to more than “just” a summer wedding
https://www.johnlewis.com/whistles-hilda-tie-dye-floral-print-midi-dress-red-multi/p6227744
Whatever you end up wearing, I hope you have a lovely time 🙂
You’re right – that is a much better shape for me – thank you so much for looking 🙂
To be honest I love a dress that gives me some curves and this gives you some which is lovely. I don’t think this looks boobie at all, it gives you a great shape and the colour is fab
thanks so much Helen!
Red is your colour, Jane! Even if this style isn’t turning your crank, I hope you’re able to find another fab red dress that you love. 🙂
I’m looking… thank you ever so much xx
I think that the red dress looks beautiful on you, but the worst item of clothing is the one you feel uncomfortable or self-conscious in. I also think it’s (always) worth asking yourself if you think you would really regret returning it – it usually helps me decide on clothes purchases when I’m struggling to!
Very wise words, thank you Hannah x
Personally speaking, as a ‘well endowed’ person, I would pull the neckline down until it is almost off the shoulder. Have you looked at Bombshell HQ? Loads of ideas if the clothes themselves are not for you.
Ooh thanks Antonia.. off to have a look now.
Morning Jane, have you shopped with Aspiga- got a great dress for a wedding. Oh and also Ro&Zo
Xx
I haven’t looked at Ro & Zo and will do so now but I thought all Aspiga’s dresses looked a bit staid somehow. Thanks for the tip!
Yep, if the style of that dress isn’t right for you, the colour certainly is. Absolutely gorgeous shade on you!
Thank you Susie – yes, I really like the colour too.
You should wear your tops tucked in with those jeans. You have a great bum
Why thank you! I just like wearing things loose so don’t, er, get my bum out very often :-)))))
Sorry Jane, really not keen on the red dress, makes you look far too busty and a bit frumpy!! Love the jumper, though
I hear you – I feel too booby in it.
You’re not comfortable in the dress so it’s not for you. The colour is great but the neckline is a bit too milkmaidy for you.
I agree – that’s the consensus so it’s already gone back to the store 🙂