The M&S Long Sleeved Dress - Perfect for AW13

We’re truly into Autumn now as the cold weather sets in. So it’s time to pack away our little summer frocks and start unpacking (or buying) warmer long sleeved equivalents.


 In the summer we love to show off our tanned arms in sleeveless dresses, but in the colder months when the tan starts to fade so does our confidence as we become self conscious of our not so toned upper arms.


 Long sleeved dresses bring back that confidence and keep us warm without hiding under bulky knitwear.

However sometimes it is hard to find a sleeved dress but M&S have come to the rescue and increased their range of sleeved dresses by 80% this season.

And now it’s which one to choose from the wide selection of choices? Decisions, decisions!

Finally I chose the M&S Collection abstract print dress with ¾ length sleeves. The colour is navy and beige, but the navy is so dark it would also go well with a black jacket or cardigan.

The fabric is 92% polyester with  8% elastane for that perfect fit.
The price is a steal at £39.50

Direct link to the M&S dress

I love the length of the sleeves as any bracelets or watches are still proudly on display whilst arms are kept warm and covered.

This dress also has front pleats which are great for camouflaging the tummy area.
And the abstract print is good for hiding any lumps and bumps.

The length of the sleeve is important as the eye is drawn to where the sleeve finishes. 
Short sleeves will bring attention to the bust area, elbow length the waist and 3/4 to the hips.
So keep this in mind when choosing your sleeved dress.






To see the full range of M&S dresses click on:

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Dresses-Womens/b/43091030 

 

Watch out for future posts to show how I wear my new long sleeved dress for different occasions

How To Choose A Long Sleeve Dress (Skirts & Dresses)

;How To Choose A Long Sleeve Dress (Skirts & Dresses)
A long sleeved dress gives a woman a sense of elegance, so personal shopper Karen Grace explains the different shapes and styles of long sleeves and which you should wear to give your image the perfect balance.
Now, I'm going to talk about how to choose a long sleeved dress. A long sleeved dress is great for the winter months for warmth, but also if you don't like showing your arms, it's great for that. Like, you can, you don't have to wear a thick sleeve.
You can have diaphanous sleeves, such as this one, which still gives you the coverage that women like over their arms. So, choosing something like that is great if you don't want a thicker sleeve. Also, the type of sleeve adds interest to a plain dress.
This is a bishop's sleeve which is fuller at the bottom, and this one is a, also a bishop's sleeve; it's just a bit wider. It's good for the larger busted lady and also for the inverted triangle because it brings more attention down to the bottom of the arms, where the fullness is. The inverted triangle is the lady with the broad shoulders and the slimmer hips so these are ideal for them.
There's also the wide, the bell-shape, the wide bell-shape here, which is again great for the larger busted lady and the inverted triangle because it draws the attention away from the shoulders. This is what we call the leg-of-mutton sleeve, where there's more detail is up at the top of the shoulder, and it tapers down to the bottom. Now, this isn't good for the inverted triangle because it actually broadens the shoulders.
It's good for the pear-shaped woman where the hips are wider, and so it balances the shoulders out. Also, detailing on the sleeve, such as this one, it can be anything, it could be lace, it could be just a different color than the rest of dress, actually draws away from the bust and the tummy area, so if you want to conceal your tummy, or if you're concerned about your bust, try to get a sleeve that is contrasted with a higher contrast with the rest of the dress. And that's how to choose a long sleeved dress.