Just been to website and seen the price........it should carry a health warning! 
William and Catherine’s Anniversary Photo
Bought the first a few weeks ago, wearing it for the 1st time today. It’s not far off ankle length, sleeves just past elbow length, not the most flattering ever but so cool and comfortable! (Very warm here today.) It’s cotton and linen seersucker but doesn’t crease! So I thought sod it and although it was on the pricey side I’ve ordered another in a different colour.
So if the rest of the summer turns out to be rubbish, you can all blame me. ?
I’m now sitting in the garden with the first G&T of the year, so cheers all! ?
Just been to website and seen the price........it should carry a health warning! 
Witzend.
You were right. I think it does look like a sack for potatoes. If you're happy in it that's all that matters so enjoy wearing it with a big smile ?
Sawsage2
Witzend.
You were right. I think it does look like a sack for potatoes. If you're happy in it that's all that matters so enjoy wearing it with a big smile ?
It absolutely does not
Tish
It’s a new style called “the Buffet” dress and worth its weight in gold!
Is it called that because you can eat all you like and your spare tyre is hidden??
It looks comfy and cool for the garden Witzend just right for relaxing with a G&T.??
Witzend
That is really nice, LadyStardust - I just wish they’d make more non-fussy summer things with non-tight 3/4 sleeves.
It was several years ago now, but we were playing I-Spy with a young nephew in the car, when he said he spied ‘something very old and wrinkly’.
It was my elbow! ? ?
That’s so funny!? children eh?
Lucca
Sawsage2
Witzend.
You were right. I think it does look like a sack for potatoes. If you're happy in it that's all that matters so enjoy wearing it with a big smile ?It absolutely does not
How rude and definitely not true!!
Unless it was a really searing heatwave, I don’t think I’d wear it to any sort of ‘do’, even a buffet! - but for round the house and garden, or for anything casual - so comfortable and practical (non creasing!) I can see myself wearing them until they fall apart. Maybe they’ll even see me out! ?
Yes, definitely pricey, but I don’t buy many clothes, and often keep things for ages, so cost per wear will work out reasonable enough.
LadyStardust I bought the very same dress today from QVC!
Why are Buffet dresses called Buffet dresses? And what features must they have?
FannyCornforth
Gudren Sjoden is definitely worth a look
It is worth a look but I think you have to be careful not to go Full Clown if you wear it all at once like the models!
Full Clown! ?
I know what you mean. The way they style everything, one outfit alone must cost around a grand!
Paperbackwriter
I am wearing a gudren sjoden skirt today, but I don’t think I could wear some of the combinations their models are wearing in the catalog,
I wouldn't be able to move in all those layers. It must be very hot.
I did once look at Gudren Sjoden (a Swedish friend mentioned them though they’re def. not her style) but I found them sort of upmarket ex-60s-hippy-ish. And even more sack-of-potatoes-ish than mine.
But that was years ago now, maybe I should look again!
I agree Fanny, and I’d look awful in all those layers making me look even fatter!
Lucca and DannieRae
Witzend said it looks like a 'sack of potatoes '. I was agreeing with her.
^I do still find the odd thing, but mostly I think their buyers/designers have had a taste bypass, or are colour blind, or both.
Or else they just think, ‘Well, I wouldn’t be seen dead in it, but it’ll do for M&S.’.^
That did make me laugh ?
I actually saw a dress a couple of years ago that was almost identical to my Gran's curtains when we lived with her fifty years ago. I do still buy things at M&S (fifteen pairs of high waist jeggings for example) but in general I don't think their stuff has any flair any more.
I wandered through M&S at lunch time, and there were several things which were nearly nice, but something is always a bit off. They seem to skimp on fabrics, and one dress which could have been pretty had a ridiculously high neckline.
Apologies for banging on about M&S, but you do have to wonder whether they’re bent on self destruction - at least when it comes women’s clothes.
Some years ago in a tiny independent shop near where my sister lives in Cape Cod, I found a lovely plain, unlined, linen jacket - with nice buttons! - in fuchsia pink. It wasn’t very expensive and I wondered then why M&S, with their economies of scale, couldn’t produce such things in a few different colours, at M&S prices.
But of course they’d probably have to ruin them with fussy ‘bits’, wouldn’t they? They just can’t seem to help themselves.
Those Poetry dresses are a helluva price for something you say you wouldn’t wear ‘out’. I wouldn’t even spend over £200 on a dress to wear to, say, a wedding! Each to their own, I guess. I’m not a great seamstress, but they fon’t look difficult dresses to make?
People on GN often mention different clothes labels, but I somehow feel out of line with you all!
Seasalt ~ expensive, boxy, unflattering shapes, mumsy
Fatface - I like their styles, but probably too young for 60 / 70 yr olds?
Boden - boring, stiff, prim
M and S - frilly, silly dresses. Trousers ok
Hobbs - ok for posh do’s
White stuff - used to be good, but gone a bit OTT with their prints?
Sahara - very expensive.
I’d like interesting clothes to wear on a daily basis, for gardening, playing with GC, cooking, going for a coffee, etc
I'm a baggy linen person, summer and winter alike so that limits my choice.
Fresh ideas welcome!
What’s influencing our choices of clothes now? When / why we’ll wear them / price / fashionable / comfortable / eco materials ?
I wouldn’t wear it to a smarter do, Polly12, but I go to so few of those anyway. I’d def wear it to anything casual, e.g. a barbecue in someone’s garden.
For contrast, the dress I wore for a dd’s wedding in 2015 was also from Poetry - IIRC it cost about £120 - but since I usually live in jeans or cotton/linen trousers in summer, I’ve never once worn it since.
I know I’ll wear this dress absolutely loads, probably for the next few years, so although it was certainly expensive, to me that makes it worth the price.
FannyCornforth
LadyStardust I bought the very same dress today from QVC!
Why are Buffet dresses called Buffet dresses? And what features must they have?
FannyCornforth I hope it wasn't much cheaper!
I know I’ll wear this dress absolutely loads, probably for the next few years, so although it was certainly expensive, to me that makes it worth the price
I guess that’s fair enough - cost per wear, etc. I have a Masai green and black silk dress, which was bought in a sale, but which was still expensive. But I love it, and often wear it - dressed up or down.
Well Witzend I may never forgive you for introducing me to that site! So many beautiful clothes I want, but can I justify the prices
I spent an inordinate amount on an outfit from John Lewis for son's 2 days before the first lockdown emergency rearranged wedding, which I thought was fine until I saw the photos............ that will never be worn again! I've always gone for very easily affordable until now. So disappointed with M&S, they have to over embellish everything..... I don't want frills here there and everywhere! I may have to bite the bullet and order some of their lovely linen garments 
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