A thing I’ve never really got the hang of is wearing dresses. Or skirts. I kind of have to force myself to, and always feel a bit like I’m in drag when wearing them. But I have in the past had some good summer dresses, (I think… or I may have confused my past with an episode of The Wonder Years), and they are very useful and nice to wear when it’s a bit warmer.
I am rather pinning all my hopes on this one, which I have been eyeing up on Boden Kids for the last few moths and finally caved in and bought it as otherwise any minute now I will hop onto the site to have a little looky-look and it will be sold out. Wear with denim shirt or jacket. I got this in a 16yo+ which is too big, (I am a large size 10 or a small 12), so I am waiting for my exchange for a smaller size – but in theory it is a very good dress if it was the right size.

Sleevless check dress, Boden, £37.50 for a size 16yo+
This next dress, which is a pinafore, will not suit me and I also cannot afford it, but it might suit you. It’s from Clary and Peg, who usually only do maternity wear and the most marvellous baby bloomers but they are branching out. If you’ll like this sort of thing you’ll LOVE it.

Summer pinafore, £115
I thought you had copy to file? What are you doing perving around here. ps PLEASE don’t write that runners column I can’t bear another scandal
Love both dresses. I’ve been coveting a Boden girls playsuit but assumed the 16+ size would either give me deep vein thrombosis or thrush… I might go for it though. Which equivalent adult size do you think the 16+ dress you returned was?
it is a loose-fit dress but even then I reckon size 16yo+ would easily fit a large size 12 so long as you were not more than 5’9” ish tall
Brilliant, thanks. A child’s playsuit may be a massive error, but I’ll give it a go…
nah, it works. I tried it on and the big check works well. in the right size, with a denim jacket and ice white trainers it will be verily the ting xx
I have a pair of dungarees from Clary & Peg that I love, which I bought straight before giving birth. My husband actually brought them to the hospital wrapped in tissue paper as they arrived the next day. I am super tempted by the seersucker play suit but also scared that if I order it and it arrives I won’t like it as perhaps stuff like that only really suits Eddie Elek.
Boden update – the 16+ child’s playsuit was a massive mistake. Quite possibly the most unflattering thing I have ever purchased. Never again.
I’m always amazed that people can actually wear smock dresses and get away with them. I think it must be a body shape thing, as I look horrific; like some horrible Whatever Happened To Baby Jane knock off (complete with hideous smear of lipstick). But the grey pinafore cheered me up as it put me in mind of Prisoner Cell Block H and Sound of Music Maria, before she snagged Captain Von Trapp, which are two viewing treasures.
yes. it rather recalls a time when people didn’t have that many clothes, just a work dress and then another for best – unlike the 14m items of clothing we all have now.