How do you know what looks best?

I think maybe your dress is a bit short. Wear a longer dress (not too long though) just below the knee, and it will elongate you and make you look taller and slimmer.

Agree mAddyone. Or wear it as tunic over slim trousers ?

Peasblossom
I see such a difference in the positioning in the two photos, that if a well nice dress btw!!

Scentia, oh how I can empathise with you. I have just tried on two dresses for a wedding, never worn, but bought before lockdown. I thought I looked nice, until I saw DH's face! It's my stomach which is the problem. I need help too! I don't think fat pants will help!

To make matters worse, the gash I got on my arm this morning, has just bled all over one, as I took it off!?

The trouble with tights is that dresses stick to them so don’t flow properly. Perhaps leggings would be less static. I also think a little longer would be more flattering.

Perhaps we should post photos of ourselves before commenting on someone else ? this is from someone who only owns one day dress ( too cold in Scotland so haven’t worn it for years.)

I have recently bought some v neck tunic type tops with quite large side slits. Wearing them with slim fitting jeggings is quite flattering especially over the tummy area.

Yes Mary. My tummy is a law unto itself to be honest. I am off for a bath and to try some clothes on and practice my positioning!

Tizliz

The trouble with tights is that dresses stick to them so don’t flow properly. Perhaps leggings would be less static. I also think a little longer would be more flattering.

Perhaps we should post photos of ourselves before commenting on someone else ? this is from someone who only owns one day dress ( too cold in Scotland so haven’t worn it for years.)

I agree, leggings are better.
I see that Sally has withdrawn her pic, which is a shame as I thought it illustrated well how a longer sleeve and length was more flattering.
Figure skimming clothes always look better than figure hugging ones, but not too large ( i.e. not your usual sizing) as we all need to avoid the Hattie Jaques look.

Plain colours are often more flattering than patterns too, and anything with large patterns should be avoided like the plague.

lemongrove. It was because it showed other photos on her screenshot I think.

Ah, I see.

I’ll try the pic again, edited this time . Longer dress, longer sleeves, a waistcoat style top = body looks longer?

I am certainly not the person qualified to give style advice, but agree with others that;
a) a dress that skims would look better, falling from below the bust and not clinging lower down and
b) a bit longer, just below the knee.

You could book in with a stylist at a shopping centre, or have Style Drs come to you. I had them years ago, they went through my wardrobe, came up with some great outfits, advised on how to wear them, accessories, and what to buy. Took a zillion photos. Was amazing!

I'm in agreement with the slightly longer look ! I also think how you stand makes a huge difference. One foot slightly in front of the other and tall and confident ( rich coming from me at four feet eleven but you know what I mean ) Confidence is everything.

If you go shopping for dresses, take a friend with you to take photos of you in each garment you try on. My GD has proved helpful in the past. I like what you've done with your picture. The length does make you look taller and in the right proportion to the dress. You're definitely on the right lines.

There are masses of websites where women show how they dress and I can spend hours looking at them. I don't always like their style but it's interesting seeing how they put an outfit together, what layering techniques they use to disguise tummies and bums, lengths of jackets/trousers/skirts that suit different figures, putting colours together. Look for websites where the women are the same sort of height and shape as you - not all the women are 18, 6ft tall and size 10

Other than that I agree with everyone else - get well fitted undies and clothes that skim the body

I would recommend knee length hems and boat neck necklines

Also, elbow length sleeves might be more flattering.

If I may say so, I think you look much nicer in the blue trousers and top than you do in the dress. Nothing wrong with the dress, it is just that the jeans outfit looks better.

A lot of how one looks lies with how you carry yourself. There was an article in one of the papers last week saying how older women tend to sag, letting our stomachs out and rounding shoulders. I know I do this, DH commented on this sometime ago.

The article commented that standing like this crushes our lungs and makes us more prone to heart disease, we need to learn to stand straight which automatically pulls our stomach muscles in. I do Tai Chi and I have noticed that I stand more upright as a result, now I am really working on it.

If you stand well and carry yourself confidently, you will inevitably look better dressed, whatever you are wearing.

I agree with the comments about posture Scentia I do daily physio exercises to help strengthen my core and enable me to stand ‘up tall’ as my physio says. It does make a difference

I’m no one to talk and I hope you don’t mind if I throw in my two penn’orth.
A photograph adds 10lb. I hate seeing myself in a photograph.
As other have said, body posture and a confident stance work wonders (note to self: remember this).
Do you have blue eyes? Blue suits you, so I’d focus on that. (I have, I do.)
A well-fitting bra can make a big difference. (Like my mum, I sometimes forget to tighten bra straps which have worked loose which is another thing to think about.)
If it helps, colour, underwear plus drape of fabric and length of garment focus my attention when I’m looking for clothes.
I’m your height and to hide stuff I don’t like I go for loose-fitting tops, preferably cut on the cross which fall to the top of my thighs. (Seasalt sold Risso tops this summer. Only sizes 8 and 10 are available. Hopefully they’ll repeat the style this coming winter.) I wear black from the waist down - leggings or tights. You look good in jeans, unlike me.
If wearing a dress, I have underwear which prevents it clinging to tights and I look for the hem to be just below my knees.
I hope I haven’t offended you.
One last thought: even if my DH isn’t keen, I’ll buy an item if it gives me confidence and is comfortable.

I agree with MOnica that you look better in the casual jeans and top.

Probably how you prefer to dress and feel more comfortable and confident in?

After hours scouring websites and also listening to your comments, I have come up with this today. DH was laughing as I cleaned the mirror “it’s not you that looks a mess, it’s the mirror, it needed cleaning?”
I am walking a lot today as I have to stay outside away from people (last day of my 10 day isolation) so need my walking sandals but I am hoping I have understood the brief?

Have a look at some pictures of Dawn French. She's tiny and has been much bigger than you, but always seems to look stylish.