At 54, I Had a Waist Again and Nothing Was Tight

I spent four hours at a garden party in a long floral dress, and it never once clung to my tummy. I had stopped thinking a dress could do that.

For years, every summer invitation started the same way. I'd stand in front of the wardrobe and choose between a fitted dress that clung to my tummy and a loose one that hung off me like a sack.

Florals were worse. Either they looked a bit tired on me, or they were so loud I felt I was wearing the tablecloth. So I'd end up in plain navy again.

I've been buying from Scott and Daughters for years, so when the Julia dress came up I ordered it in the green. It arrived quickly, and I had it on before I'd even put the kettle on.

The moment I put it on

I lifted it out of the tissue paper and went straight to the mirror. The neck sits high, so there was nothing to fuss with up top. It comes in at my waist and then just falls all the way to my ankles.

And that green. With the soft pink flowers it looks a bit like a watercolour.

It was the waist that got me, though. I had shape again, nothing was tight, and the skirt simply fell away instead of clinging on the way down.

I had a waist again, and nothing was tight.

One dress, three very different days

The first time was a garden party for a friend's sixtieth. I wore it with my Marcella heels, because that wide heel doesn't sink into the lawn. Four hours of standing, chatting and sitting on low garden chairs, and I never once pulled at the front of my dress. Two women asked me where it was from.

The week after, it came to lunch in town with my sister, with flat sandals and my straw bag.

The third time was dinner with my husband for our anniversary.

→ Read about the Julia dress

Three things I love about it

If you asked me why I keep reaching for this one, I'd tell you three things.

1. Nothing to Pull at, Nothing to Hide.

The neck sits high and closed, so I'm not holding my hand to my chest when I lean forward. I don't tug it up, I don't tug it down, and I don't stand with my hands in front of my tummy.

At our anniversary dinner I sat down and forgot what I was wearing. That's the best thing I can say about a dress.

2. A Floral That Doesn't Shout.

The flowers are soft and a little blurred, blush pink on a gentle green. Romantic, but not over the top.

It's the first floral in years that I actually want to keep wearing.

3. It Moves When I Walk.

The skirt is long and light, and it follows every step. Walking along the water at sunset, it swayed with me instead of sticking to my legs.

That little bit of movement is what makes me feel dressed up.

Now, about the price

I paid $84.95 AUD for mine. The page shows $209.95 AUD as the earlier price.

It's on sale because Julie, who started Scott and Daughters, is handing the shop over to her daughters Emily and Charlotte. Once a size is gone, it's gone, so I didn't think about it for long.

What I'd tell you if we were friends

If you have a summer wedding, a birthday or a long lunch coming up and you're tired of choosing between clingy and shapeless, this is the one I'd point you to. It comes in green with the soft floral print, in sizes S to 3XL.

I went with my usual size. Have a look at the size chart on the product page first, so you know exactly how it sits at the waist.

And if you like the heels from the garden party, get them together. I bought the Julia dress with my Marcella heels, and combining items gets you up to 25% extra on the whole store.

— Carolyn