“My friend has organized a posh dinner in a local restaurant for her birthday and the dress-code is cocktail dresses.  I am 50 years old, a size 14 and absolutely hate my arms!  I have a very fair complexion but dark hair and eyes.  Please help! ”

So many women hate their arms so thankfully most designers take this into account.   The best part is however that long-sleeved dresses are never ‘out’ so here are some long-sleeved suggestions we think would work perfectly with your complexion…

Diane Von Furstenberg-Queen of the wrap dress and a woman’s dream for timeless classics no matter what your age, weight or if you hate your arms 😉  The trusty wrap dress will always be ‘in’ and her quirky designs will ensure you can always turn to our trusty DVF!  One of our faves is the Belia Wrap Dress.  Team it with heels or knee-high boots depending on the weather and if you feel daring add a bright coloured pair of tights as illustrated below.

Or, what about compromising with Temperley London‘s Shola Dress?  Another wrap dress, however this time with three-quarter sleeves.  With its statement brown giraffe print, dress it up with gold jewellery and some heels for an ultra glam and contemporary look.  No one will ever suspect you have any arm inhibitions!

Finally, we love our Miu Miu Silk Lily Dress.  With its fun yellow and pink print and flattering self-tie belt to cinch in your waist, this dress is perfectly pretty and easily dressed up or down.  Team with a cream or black elegant clutch and some delicate silver bangles and you’ll be the life of the party with this stunning yet simple dress.

For further style advice you can always email enquiries@girlmeetsdress.com or call 07867 785 814 for our stylists’ expert advice.  Happy hiring! x

By Caroline Dawe

White Summer Dresses to Solve your ‘Where-Can-I-Rent-a-Cream-Dress’ Dilemmas

There was no question about it; cream, beige, nude and white dresses (in other words, the NEUTRALS) were having a moment in the fashion stakes at the Grand Prix last weekend.  Nicole Scherzinger lead the way in her strappy cream dress, with its fold detailing, not unlike that of the front of this Zimmerman vanishing strapless maxi pictured.  (Rent cream dresses like the Zimmerman nude dress from our neutrals section.)

Looking the picture of cool as she watched what was a disappointing performance from her beau (the usual front runner went on to finish 6th) from the salubrious heights of a private box, Nicole’s cream dress was the perfect antidote to the dizzy, petroleum riddled, scorching heights of the F1 car action below.

White Summer Dresses Spotted on Jessica, Tatiana & Kim

Other celebrities spotted baring all, (well, not exactly, but they were in nude dresses) were the Ecclestone sisters and Jenson Button’s latest love-interest, the stunning Jessica Michibata.  Jessica’s white dress was not dissimilar in style to this fabulous Isabel Marant cream dress. (To rent: £89. RRP: £290). It seemed neutral / white dresses really were the A-lister colour palette of the weekend.

Kim Kardashian to be ‘papped’ at the Amber fashion show in a white halterneck gown, while Columbian beer empire heiress and girlfriend of Andrea Casiraghi (second in line to the Monaco throne) stepped out on the prince’s arm in a floor length white maxi dress, (pictured below).  Look chic in one of our Ducie cream maxi dresses, available to hire such as this one, in beige.

Tamara and Petra Ecclestone Look ‘AllWhite’

Then of course, their presence a ubiquitous one at racing circuit events, Tamara and Petra Ecclestone were spotted in short chic cream dresses with polka dot detailing (accesorized with heels and a Birkin- what else?!)  It seems it wasn’t just in Cannes but at Monaco too that white made a huge appearance.  Will the same be the case at Royal Ascot? We can’t wait to find out! In the meantime, herald the arrival of summer and rent a white/cream dress from our designer dress collection.

‘Princess of the High-Street’.  That should be the Duchess’s real title.  It was expected upon joining the FIRM, Kate would go from high-street shopper, to designer clothes covetress.  How wrong we were.  It seems Kate’s ongoing high-street love affair is as strong as ever, even now that she has embarked upon royal married life.

Kate’s Non-Designer Dress Choice to Meet Fashion’s First Lady

We refer to Kate’s choice of outfit she wore to meet Barack and Michelle Obama yesterday, at a reception in Buckingham Palace.   While William and Barack were deep in discussion, Kate chatted animatedly to Michelle in, (cue: designer name,) err, wait a minute, a REISS dress!

You certainly have to admire the Duchess’s sang-froid in not opting to wear ‘designer’ when you consider that Mrs Obama is something of fashion icon- a true first lady of fashion; she arguably gets as much coverage as her husband thanks to the attention her outfit choices bring her.

Michelle Wears Tom Ford for the Banquet

We should add, that yesterday was no exception – Michelle wore an outgoing ensemble by California designer Barbara Tfank.  But for the first lady of fashion, it was only the beginning, with Michelle surpassing herself and her earlier outfit later that evening when she arrived at the photo-call in a criss-cross halterneck white floor-length gown by Tom Ford.  Teamed with white opera gloves, Michelle’s gown really stole the show.  (Queenie looked radiant as ever, we hasten to add.  Goes without saying really!)

The Duchess of Cambridge: A Style Icon in the Making

But back to Kate: we are growing fonder of the Duchess by the day! Long live the Princess of the High-Street! Or the High-Street’s Princess.  We’re not sure which one we prefer.  So, now that Reiss’ website has crashed due to the influx of orders placed for Kate’s Cream bandage-esque, capped shoulder number, just where is there to turn for something similar?

We have come up with the following solutions. And what’s more, they might well have cost more to start with than Kate’s but these designer numbers come with high-street price tags!

Kate really is missing a trick here; she would be a brilliant brand ambassador for GMD! (Get in touch Kate, if you’re listening).  On-line designer dress hire and the Duchess are simply a match made in heaven!  What’s more, we love the Duchess’s choice of a nude colour palette, so very now!  Which is why, we’ve chosen our favourite GMD designer dresses to hire, all in a lovely tone of nude a la Kate.  A style-icon in the making in our opinion!

What dresses to wear to a Wedding

Do you have a wedding coming up and need to start looking for the perfect dress?

Why not try something new and rent a designer dress for the day. Here are are top picks for wedding guest dresses which will take you with ease from the ceremony to the reception – and onto the dancefloor!

We also stock beautiful hats and fasinators, perfect to complete your outfit >

Wedding Guest Dresses:

Designers left to right – 1st row: Halston Heritage, Proenza Schouler, 3.1 Phillip Lim, 3.1 Phillip Lim, 3.1 Phillip Lim. 2nd row: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Jasmine Di Milo, DVF, Ossie Clark, Suzannah. 3rd Row: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Basso & Brooke, Zimmerman, Miu Miu