Aw, Karie, keep up the effort. Dresses are so tricky to find, because of trying to fit the entire body with one garment. I'm a straight-ish hourglass and have an Eileen Fisher dress from last year that is very similar lines to this one. It might not be your cup of tea, but just a thought.

Karie, there are not many sizes of this left, but if you want to try fit and flare, might it work?

And another - in linen. More sizes. An A line rather than fit and flare.

Hi Karie, I have a similar build and for the first time this summer have found some dresses that fit. Suz is right, jersey and sheath are the magic words. Try knit dresses that fit like your beloved pencil skirts. The tapered hem will keep you from looking wide (I'm guessing you're elliptical like me, not round). They won't feel tight because of the stretch. I'm tall too, and it's hard finding knee length ones, but they are out there. I think I tried on at least a hundred to find 5 casual dresses that I could wear this summer. I'd link to them but they were all second hand. Good luck!

That's right, Claire - thank you - I was trying to remember that word. Elliptical! So we look wider from the front than the side. I think it's true about Karie, also.

High five to my elliptical quadruplets! Karie, I have found this post super useful because I was always wondering why I felt awful in dresses and you've shown me why they don't get us!

I have a terrible time with dresses, too, Karie, and I tend to wear only shifts as a result. I seem to have the same build as Ummilla: rectangle, small chest, wide waist. Ummilla likes elastic waists, and I can see why -- she looks fantastic in that photo she posted. But for me, shifts are the only style that make me feel modern (odd, since shifts are so retro!). Typically I avoid dresses -- and skirts too, since they are SO hard to fit. I wear a lot of pants.

But when I find a shift, I wear the heck out of it. I just bought one on sale at Anthro and it worked beautifully for an occasion this spring. It's longer on me than on the model, it's silk, and it's easy. Not sure how you feel about shifts but I love this one.

http://www.anthropologie.com/a....._-SUB_CATE

Oh ladies, you have all been so helpful, a million thank yous! Suz, that basket-weave J. Crew (I love J. Crew) was another item I was drooling over. Another stripe, just like the Halogen skirt! I should just give in and try them on. I mean, heavens to murgatroyd, I have one striped skirt and I think I can't have another striped bottom?
I adore that J.Crew floral dress as well - concerned about the length and looking twee, though.
I'm heading over to the J. Crew store in a few minutes to see if they have them (can't check store stock on-line, darn it - if not I will order - wish me luck!

so much good advice above, but just wanted to add that the pattern placement is way different on the model's dress than on the one you have on. the model's has a shortish dark horizontal line right at waist level which visually draws it in and makes her waist look tiny. the dress you have on has the dark lines way above the waist and way below the waist which completely changes the visual shape of the dress, making it look bigger and looser.

Hi Karie --

Great tips above. Another elliptical Rectangle here who avoids dress/skirts that need hips to fill them out lest there's Sad Fallen Fabric Syndrome. Back in the 50s, crinolines evened out the playing field....

Have you tried ordering Talls from the places that carry them (that's what -- J Crew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor?) to get the length and waist placement right?

Journey, I noticed that too - especially with the lines in the center of the dress. Vix, that's a good idea - regular sizes are usually for gals up to 5'7" and tall sizes start at 5'9" - I, of course, am 5'8."

I just came back from J. Crew - I purchased the striped one Suz mentioned above and ordered the floral one. I'll post a K/R later in a separate thread.