Finding Your Most Flattering Dress Silhouette #iwillwearwhatilike

I’ve worn this white midi dress several times since buying it last year: quite rightly so, as it’s my current Number One Favourite Dress I Own.

The reason for it being my favourite dress? The answer is very straightforward… I think it is the most flattering dress I have.

Finding your most flattering dress silhouette is like the holy grail of fashion. This was one of those dresses that as soon as I tried it own, I looked in the mirror and went WOW.

(And then straight after that I ran downstairs, made Keith shut his eyes and, telling him to ignore my unwashed hair and no makeup, stood squarely in front of him doing my best blogger pose, told him to open his eyes and then went TA-DAH! When I make him close his eyes he knows he has to say WOW… otherwise, divorce.)

Aaaaaanyway that’s not just because the dress itself is wonderful (who can resist that warm white colour, a gathered neckline or those puffy sleeves?), but because my woes about the extra pounds I was carrying didn’t matter one jot.

Once you find that dress – the one that makes you feel a million dollars no matter how you’re feeling about yourself and your appearance, DO NOT LET IT GO. Buy it in all colours if they’re available (mine sadly wasn’t). Look after it and treasure it, for it will bring you great joy when nothing else seems to work.

 

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links which means if you click through and buy I may receive a small commission at no cost to you (click here for my full disclosure).

 

SHOP THE LOOK:

There are a few reasons why I think this style suits me so well. Firstly, I am long waisted (long body, short legs). Therefore as well as needing* to cinch in my waist, it needs to be cinched in high to make my legs appear longer, so no drop waists for me.

*I say “needing” – no one really NEEDS to do anything when it comes to style. Do whatever the hell you like.

Secondly, the gathered neckline and loose fit flatters my big boobs (plus the neckline is simply divine anyway). Thirdly, the balloon sleeves are the right length to visually “shorten” my extra long arms.

Lastly, the skirt is loose enough to skim over my ample hips (I don’t want ANY clinging fabric to those beauties!) and the length stops right where I want it to – on the calf. Not too high up to make them seem bigger, and not too low to mess with the proportions of this dress, which just wouldn’t work as a maxi (and I love me a maxi dress). Together with a pair of mid-height pointed heels, my legs are flattered as much as they can be.

And right now, it takes A LOT to get me to show off any leg.

Oh, and I nearly forgot: pockets. Just, POCKETS!

So with ALL those things in mind, and ALL those features put together in one dress, I’ve found my holy grail of dress silhouettes. I still love me a full-skirted shirt dress, but this is another level. Every time I’ve worn it I’ve not had my trusty manservant Instagram Husband with me, so photo shoots have fallen by the wayside every time. I’ve worn it with slouchy knee high boots in the winter and with flattering pointed flats (like these) in the summer.

I actually bought the dress last June(!) – this one from Mango is the most similar (Mango has some of the best midi dresses anywhere IMO).

It was also what I wore for the Avon Perfect Nudes campaign (you can see it in the video here, or skip to the end past the photos).

 

The fashion scarf

Here I’ve shown you the way I’m going to style it the next time I wear it; now is the time to mention the AMAZING Karen Mabon fashion scarf, don’t you think?

It’s the one I featured in my Whatever happened to individuality in blogging post the other week… a loved one saw that I was gushing about it, and duly got it for me as a gift (they know who they are, thank you again you naughty person!). So I’m TOTALLY in love with it – the colours are divine and the pattern is, of course, absolutely fabulous (there’s no other description that can be used in this instance).

I also got myself some giant pearl hair clips as mentioned in my April Best of the Blogosphere roundup. I did wonder whether pearl hair accessories + white dress = too bridal, but that was why I added the bright scarf, a turquoise clutch and coral heels (all old/previously worn, see below for alternatives).

Adding some bold colour to a white dress is a good idea to avoid any wedding comparisons, though I didn’t this time and didn’t care. Still got told I looked like the bride ; -)

Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured in my bi-monthly Women Who Wear What They Like post!

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR DREAM DRESS SILHOUETTE? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS…!

Dress: Mango (this one is the most similar, I also like this one and this one)
Scarf: Karen Mabon (a personal gift)
Shoes: Asos (similar)
Clutch: Asos (similar)
Hairclips: Asos

 

OTHER WHITE MIDI DRESSES AND PINK/RED HEELS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

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Thank you for joining the #iwillwearwhatilike link up! This started as a campaign on Instagram in August 2015 where women over 30 wore everything on a journalist’s list of “inappropriate” items for 30+ women (including leopard print, short dresses and oversized sunglasses. Yes, really). It was so popular that I decided to carry it on weekly where women of all ages link up their fabulous style, never mind what anyone tells them not to wear!

The link up goes live every Tuesday at around 3pm UK time and will stay open for a week. Whilst the original article was of course aimed at the 30+, you can be ANY age to link up. The only prerequisite is that you’re wearing whatever you damn well like!

Click here to receive an email reminder for the next #iwillwearwhatilike link up as soon as it’s live!

Linking up etiquette…

CLICK HERE to read the rules of linking up (and to grab the #iwillwearwhatilike button). Basically it’s just good manners to link back to here – to leave a comment is even nicer!
Click here to enter

PLEASE NOTE: This is for linking up WHAT YOU’VE BEEN WEARING ONLY. Non-outfit links will be removed and you might be blocked if you turn out to be a repeat “offender” (and no one wants that, do they…)!