Dresses - where to buy?

Depends on where you're going and what your budget is, Polly, and your own personal style.
Fatface? Monsoon?

I'm going to the canaries, so it'll be warm. I like long or short, but not too short. I like colour and floaty, nothing drab and clingy.

I will have a look at Fatface and Monsoon. In the past I have tended to shop at M & S but their dresses look really drab.

I love Whitestuff for casual dresses pollyparrot they are so easy to wear. Phase Eight for posher dresses but they are quite expensive. Although there is a 20% off coupon in the current (March issue, the one with Mary Portas on the cover) Good Housekeeping magazine which can make quite a difference.

You'll find a huge range of prices and styles at Debenhams - on line and in store. My best tip though, is to set aside some cash to buy something in your resort, where you will find a great selection geared towards the climate. My favourite 'holidays only' clothes were bought in Ibiza and Lanzarote.

Thank you for the suggestions.

Seasalt do cotton dresses in sensible lengths and you can choose the length on some Boden dresses.

Next also usually does good summery dresses. Though not sure how much choice you'll have at this time of the year. Monsoon probably your best bet, they have holiday things year round. Have a lovely time wafting around in your new frocks in the sun! Very jealous!

Hi I use a site for clothes called zulily. It has loads and loads of exciting clothes to suit every age. Some are really boho but some are more mainline. I have bought loads of things for me and my daughters. I am off to tenerife in Feb and have got some lovely new summer clothes..

I either make my own or look in the supermarkets. I have found some stunning garments there.
Usually wear skirts and various tops - including the lovely men's shirts in Matalan...

Have a look in charity shops. Lots of choice, bargains, and you are doing someone else some good.

Look at Joe Brown- they do dresses all year round. I love their stuff. Their sales are very good too.

Just tried to look at Zulily & they seem to have a lot of stuff I'd like but you can't browse without signing in & then presumably getting loads of emails daily- is there a way??

I look at Patra they have dresses from 40 to 44 ins. David Neiper have dresses Length 42" or 47". This is an English firm making the dresses themselves. They cost money but if you get the right one it will be a classic you can bring outor retirement time and time again. As they make the dresses, you can discuss length with them on the phone and I think sizing.

I did a quick check through Asda, Debenhams, John Lewis etc and they seem to be going for the mini or the raised front hem line with knee exposure.

you don't say if you want sleeveless. That is quite different. As Granny23 suggests getting a dress on holiday may be best.

You can also look at google images for the type of dress you want and see if you can locate a supplier for the image you like.

Good luck. hope you get your dress.

Some great suggestions here, thank you. I'm loving the look of Joe Brown's dresses. I've looked them up and they're in Debenhams which we have in town.

I know what I like but I can't buy online as I always get it wrong.

Do you have an EAST near you? They have lovely light cotton dresses.

I am a dedicated frock lover and head straight for Monsoon, White Stuff, Joules, and Boden
especially the latter for holiday dresses.

Funny that so far no-one has yet had a good word for M&S. They really seem to have lost the plot, don't they.

For example last week I put in an online order for what looked like a lovely, floaty M&S summer dress but when it arrived and I tried it on it looked absolutely ghastly.

Monsoon, White Stuff, Joules and Boden are all good, "Teetime". Thanks for the reminder.

I never wear dresses, only trousers...... except on holiday, and then the dresses are ankle length. No worries about showing leg, just nice painted toenails peeping out.

Ebay is great, and pp has suggested Charity Shops though it's a little early yet for them to have summer dresses on sale.
I just looked on the Very site and there are 788 dresses across the range.

Also I quite like M & Co and they often have local stores - totally not expensive.

It depends what you are looking for. Sleeves/no sleeves, calf length, ankle length.
Over the head and down to the ankle. If sleeveless then I sometimes use a very very very lightweight large pretty scarf to drape. Often secured to the dress straps.

I never take really good stuff on holiday.

I found this on Amazon.... cheap as chips and good reviews.

www.amazon.co.uk/Dazzling-Ladies-Length-Sleeveless-Holiday/dp/B014F7EU72/ref=sr_1_10?s=clothing&ie=UTF8&qid=1454

I usually buy one or two from M and Co each year!

I too agree that M&S have lost the plot. For summer dresses I like Next, Dorothy Perkins and Monsoon. But buying at the resort can be one of the best and there's loads of choice in the Canaries

I like Adini (adinionline.co.uk) for summer dresses. If any are your style there is currently a 10% discount (+ free returns) with code, 7XGX.

GrandmaH - You could set up a dedicated remote email account (e.g. gmail/hotmail/yahoo). I have set up a separate gmail account just for signing up for websites like Zulily when I don't want to be bombarded with messages into my normal inbox. I check it occasionally and clear out the inbox or unsubscribe.

I like Denehams and especially the Maine range- i no longer even bother to look at M&S, their quality has gone downhill whilst the prices have gone up.
I also like supermarket ranges and M&Co.