Another "what dress to wear to this wedding" thread

[Alethea]

Yes, another one.:o

So this year it seems every single relative or friend of DH's family is getting married, and I've completely run out of things to wear. I hate shopping for stuff like this, so I've left it to the last minute, thinking I could find something decent online somewhere. But I'm so unispired by everything I'm finding. Normally I can usually find something at Nordstrom's or Anthropologie, with Banana Republic and Ann Taylor as back-ups. But ugh, nothing is jumping out at me. This is largely because I can't stand the current trends of mod or baby doll dresses.

So anyhoodle, I have one casual, afternoon wedding and one dressier evening wedding. I'm more worried about the evening one; I have something I could wear to the other wedding if I need to. Here are a few things I liked from Nordstrom's, but have rejected for various reasons.

Sort of liked this, but it has a big bow in the back that I don't like.

http://content.nordstrom.com/ImageGallery/store/product/MediumLarge/12/_5385912.jpg

Really like this, but obviously the color's a no-go. (And it has a yucky bow in the back. What is with the bows? That's another thing that should NOT have come back.)

http://content.nordstrom.com/ImageGallery/store/product/MediumLarge/16/_5438896.jpg

Also really like this, but it's similar to a dress I already own and have worn to one of the aforementioned weddings. That dress had cap sleeves, but they have the slight netting effect and simple ribbon belt. But I do like this a lot.

http://content.nordstrom.com/ImageGallery/store/product/MediumLarge/7/_5423227.jpg

Okay, so this is clearly not wedding-guest appropriate (too dressy, satiny, and bridal-partyish), but I tried this on for fun and am wishing I had a reason to buy it. It looked really (surprisingly) great on; the shoulders don't droop as much as in the picture and it's a nicer, darker color. Oh well.

http://content.shopmay.com/images/ltgifts/product/detail/405/24312399_D1.jpg

So clearly I like black and white (and BCBG apparently), but I do wear color sometimes! Honestly! But I don't gravitate to things that are really bright or have stong patterns. And I'm a definite fan of fitting through the waist and skirts that aren't super "swishy." Any ideas? Please please please.:) :) I hate this kind of shopping. :o

[SusanMac]

If it *is* really a formal wedding, I totally think you could pull off the last one. It's a knock out! The big question for me would be where the heck would I wear it again? (but that's mainly b/c I have no occasion to wear any of these dresses :-)

My fav is the top one. It's beautiful, feminine, and would have a lot of uses. Is the bow something that could easily be removed?? You might need to add hooks or something.

The middle one doesn't do much for me. it also looks like something that would be dated very, very quickly.

The all-black one is beautiful, but I'd share your same concern if you have another that's very similar.

Not sure I helped :-)

[Meganator]

Also really like this, but it's similar to a dress I already own and have worn to one of the aforementioned weddings. That dress had cap sleeves, but they have the slight netting effect and simple ribbon belt. But I do like this a lot.



I'd wear the one you already have. So what if you wore it to another wedding? Everybody's supposed to be looking at what the bride's wearing, not what you're wearing. :)

[foodfiend]

I agree with SusanMac's comments. I like the first one, and you could get a decent tailor to remove the bow. The last one looks great, but be careful with that type of dress -- you likely won't be able to lift your arms above your head because of the sleeve style. If that's cool with you, then I'd buy the last one. So long as you're not wearing white to the wedding, it would be fine.

[suebear37]

I like the first one, too. I think I'd investigate having the "butt bow" removed.

Oh Lordy, why do designers think that we like having huge bows attached to our backsides? I'd love to shoot the one who designed the hot pink number that I had to wear in my sister's wedding...

[cocoa'smom]

I'd wear the one you already have. So what if you wore it to another wedding? Everybody's supposed to be looking at what the bride's wearing, not what you're wearing. :)

Do you remember what anyone else was wearing at that wedding? If not, why would you think everyone would remember what you had on? That is always my test for myself when I worry that I've already worn something to an event with the same group of people. If I can't remember what others were wearing, I doubt they would remember what I was wearing. Unless what you wore before was something that was TOTALLY memorable (maybe out of character for you or overly sexy or loud), I doubt most people would even think about it.

[Alethea]

Thanks for the feedback.

I should have clarified about the dress I already have that resembles the third one. I wore it to a wedding this past Saturday, and the upcoming wedding is in two weeks. (Yes, I really did leave this to the last minute.) And last weekend I managed to snag the skirt. We were walking down a poorly lit, wet stone path to get to the reception area, and I offered my arm to DH's great aunt who was walking next to me. I was thinking she would just take a light grip of it for balance, but instead she sort lunged at my whole right side and we both promptly slipped and fell into a rose bush. Well I did, she ended up sitting on me. And this was before the champagne. I'm thinking I can get the skirt repaired, but I doubt it will happen in time.

Thanks for the idea of removing the bow from the first one. I hadn't thought of that at all!

Or what about this? Is this too springy for an October wedding? I would swap the braided belt for a vintage, black velvet belt that has some small jet beading at the buckle and take a black shawl.

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/products/mp/NMT171C_mp.jpg

[Robyn1007]

I don't think that last one is springy at all, I love it!

[ChristyMarie]

I am in love with the first black and white one. That is gorgeous! I'd get it.

The bottom off the shoulder dress would be fine for the evening wedding - especially with a wrap if it got cool.

The red/black says winter/fall to me. Not summer.

:)

[SusanMac]

Love the black & red print. Not too wild about the strapless part. Not sure why. Maybe it's the model :-)

You still have 2 whole weeks?? That's not last minute in my book at all :-)

[miller88]

LOVE the last dress you posted. It definitely stands out and the rusty color is lovely for the fall (at least it looks rusty on my screen). I wish I could afford it for the wedding I'm attending next month!

[Kristilyn1]

I really like the first one. The last one, unless your boobs and chest are absolutely perfect........and maybe they are!......that style is usually not that flattering for most people. I do like the color though.

The first one though, says pretty and feminine and sexy without being slutty. That halter style is usually very flattering.

Kristi

[SusanMac]

He, he -- ya know, "slutty" could come in handy at the right wedding if you're single :-)

(sorry, couldn't resist)

[Kristilyn1]

He, he -- ya know, "slutty" could come in handy at the right wedding if you're single :-)

(sorry, couldn't resist)

LOL!

Kristi

[Alethea]

Ugh, now I'm torn. I think I may end up ordering both patterned dresses to see which one fits better and return the other. I was originally lukewarm on the first one, but y'all have changed my mind.:)

Kristi and Susan, I agree with you about the cut on the strapless one. Aesthetically I prefer strapless dresses to have a straight edge at the top, not a dip, but that's sometimes a style that works for me. (Gives me the illusion of curves that I don't have in real life.) But it's definitely hit or miss, so that may be the deciding factor. And the first one is a helluva lot cheaper.

Though now that you mention the potential slutty factor if it fits poorly, I'm tempted to go with that one just to tease DH. When we had just started dating I was invited to a good friend's wedding and the invitation was clearly just to me. I don't think he understood that this isn't something you can really ask to change and was very hurt. I tried to explain that it wasn't at all personal, she'd never met him, she had a headcount to manage, etc. But we ended up in our very first fight, wherein he implied I was some kind of wedding tramp, when nothing can be farther from the truth. We laugh about it now.:cool:

Ugh, I'm still coveting the black and satin dresses too. This is why I hate clothes shopping; I either like everything or nothing. It's better never to look.

[mbrogier]

I love the satin off the shoulder one, too.

Check out Marshalls and TJ Maxx. I've noticed a lot of dresses there lately. (They also have wraps for $20 that are gorgeous)