Dresses with sleeves

I have noticed that M & S do seem to be at last making some dresses with sleeves although they are still quite skimpy short! Prima magazine had a big campaign to bring back sleeves so hopefully there will be a lot more to come. I usually make my own dresses but would be nice to find some ready made for a change!

I have invested in a few coloured shrugs which cover the dreaded 'wings' - very useful.

Phase 8 seems to be quite good - not too young but not too old and frumpy just somewhere in the middle - the dresses often are a flattering shape designed to cover disaster areas and good selection of tops too.

I agree there is limited choice but at the end of the day why not just face the world as you are.Maybe then it will just be accepted and no one will be bothered. After all our daughters and daughters in law are likely to have the same problem in years to come.

Was just getting on famously with M&S's Portfolio range when they went and cancelled it!!! Honestly they are daft.

Of course manufacturers are saving lots of material (money) by making garments with skimpy sleeves.......

Oh, I so agree. Have been searching the catalogues and shops for ages, trying to buy a dress that's a) not above the knees and b) has more than cap sleeves. Why can't they make dresses for anyone over 50 - it's a nonsense, when we are such a large part of the population and with some so called spending power? It's infuriating. Do you think we could get up a petition so that the manufacturers take note of us?

Well, this is the place to get one going!

I have been searching for ages for reasonably priced and reasonable quality t shirts to wear under suits for business meetings. The other criteria is a sleeve that comes either to, or just above the elbow. Not much luck so far!

Hilda, you are so right! The portfolio range had exactly the t shirts that I was after, I saw them in my local M&S outlet shop. Unfortunately the colours I wanted, and the size I needed were not there.

I did do a website comment to M&S re the withdrawal of the portfoliio range, but as yet no response.

Primark are especially guilty on this one!

Answer to jeans in the West Country is Mole Valley Farmers. For sleeveless dresses a collection of jackets, which also hide hips, or those strange light cardigans with pointy bits! Or even a nice long sleeved shirt. I am not fashionable as you can see.

Why don,t you try wearing a sleeved Tshirt under your dress. it is a fashion look that works, it is called the layered look and hey! no need for a cardigan

Per Una at M & S have some lovely linen dresses with sleeves this season. Just bought 2!

I'm still searching for quality t shirts with sleeves that come to (or just above) the elbow.

T J Hughes sometimes have nice t shirts with decent length sleeves. I emphasise sometimes as it's very much hit and miss. You do have to do some searching but they can come up trumps. Bon Marche can also be quite good too, if you don't have an aversion to sequins!

absolutely agree on all counts. My upper arms are too big for loads of nice things, and if you get something big enough for the arms, the rest of the top swamps you.
Also would love to hear from anyone about good fit jeans - not low rise, they give me 'builders bum', apart from being incredibly uncomfortable. And I'm only a 14 - 16; yep, M & S is sort of bland and the materials they use now feel cheap and flimsy. harrumph.

.......I agree with much of the above, so I've decided to make my frocks, shift with cap sleeves...fab! And if not there are some really lovely cardigans out there now.....short, lightwieght, great colurs, good quality, Hobbs, Boden, Phase Eight. And on a bit of a rant ......why the hell do we call them that still, horrid name!

As for jeans- would you believe Peacocks do brilliant jeans at a bargain price, including skinnies that aren't too skinny.

So thankful to see that other people have the same problems buying clothes that I have. I have never ever liked dresses without sleeves, even when I was young and skinny. I was too skinny then with matchstick arms !
I am 'petite' - not so slim now but get swamped in t-shirts and smock type tops, anything with a v-neck shows my bra unless it is a petite fitting, I find that Precis or CC petite range are the best for me but choice is so limited when you are older and want to look smart but not 'muttony'.
Marks and Spencer are really letting us down, Portfolio 'short' trousers were good as they actually had waists,now they have gone.
I used to enjoy shopping for clothes but now find it quite a trial particularly as I have more disposable income than I have ever had in my life - one of these babyboomers who is wrecking the country but don't start me on that !

Dorothy Perkins jeans are the best fit ever, I may be in my 50's but the jeans from DP are a brilliant fit even for someone like myself who is not short of "belly fat" or "the muffin". They are high enough waisted and they stretch.. so don't be afraid to be a yummy granny shopping where the yummy mummys shop. You know it makes sense!

The fashion compagny "TOAST" have produced a lovely summer dress and some great tops with a great sleeve length! could it be that the owner are close to the fashion needs.
I agree about M&S, alternating between high fashion trends or frumpy!!

Just checked out the "toast" website.. but prices far too high for lickle old me!

Try Kettlewell Colours website. I've said it before and I'm not an employee ( honest ) but the quality is superb and they do sleeves that come down to the elbow. Good for all age groups and perfect for looking smart under jackets. Took me ages to find them, and now go nowhere else!

I have a few strappy dresses which I wear with an open chiffon/silk blouse.