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Dress for evening wedding reception - honest opinions please!

27 replies

littlecupcake · 22/06/2012 11:29

I love reading your advice about clothes and accessories for special occasions, now I've got an invitation to an evening wedding reception and hope you can help me, too!

I'm 34, 5'5" and just under 9 stone. Usually wear a big 8 or a small 10. I have a decent cleavage (with the right bra!), quite wide hips, and the classic 'mum tum'. If it's any help, I've had my colours done recently and am a 'winter'.

So.... I have a couple of dresses and I'm wondering if you can give me a yay or nay, and any ideas for accessories to make them feel more 'weddingy'?

www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33053&storeId=12552&productId=5997786&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=228005&parent_categoryId=226988&pageSize=200 (got this in bright red, looks great on, but I don't think it's glamorous enough for a wedding, but hubby disagrees - who's right?)!!

www.clothingattesco.com/all-dresses/f+f-seam-detail-shift-dress/invt/br212261/&bklist=icat,4,shop,catgwomens,womens-tailoring (feel amazingly slim in this, but is it too 'worky'? Might I be able to jazz it up with accessories?).

I love the idea of an infinity dress like this tartcollections.com/lookbooks/the-infinity-dress and have found instructions to make one, but I'm running out of time, and would need to order fabric ASAP. Worried it might look home made though.

Money's pretty tight at the moment, so I'm on a bit of a shoestring budget. Can I accessorise something I've already got (have got about £40 Accessorize vouchers I could use) or can anyone suggest something lovely that's not too pricey (and not too short either!)??

You ladies are superstars, looking forward to your ideas!

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HuwEdwards · 22/06/2012 11:35

Love the Dorothy Perkins one, colour is lovely and very flattering style.

Second one looks more like a work dress and the third one is just too fiddly - can imagine that you'd be adjusting it all through the evening.

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trikken · 22/06/2012 11:48

like the DP one. with pretty earrings and a necklace it would be fine for a wedding.

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UML · 22/06/2012 12:14

I prefer the style of the DP one. But I do understand what you are saying. You want something a little fancier?

Have you tried the hosue of fraser sale?

Or even the house of fraser ebay outlet for dresses? They have a quite a few there.

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BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 22/06/2012 12:23

I like the first one. The second one resembles and sack and the last one looks like too much hard work. I bought a similar summer one and never got the hang of it!

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ProcrastinationAteMyMorning · 22/06/2012 12:33

The DP one is the best of the two you linked to IMO - but indeed rather plain for a wedding. BHS (of all people) do a some infinity dresses in great colours for a 'winter' in their bridesmaid collection but TBH they don;'t look at all bridesmaidy to me. 70 quid though so probably more than you want to pay.

Do you have shoes / bags that you might be able to use?

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ProcrastinationAteMyMorning · 22/06/2012 12:35

I'm always linking to this because it's so beautiful and such a bargain. No one else seems to like it though!

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ProcrastinationAteMyMorning · 22/06/2012 12:36
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ProcrastinationAteMyMorning · 22/06/2012 12:37

Right - it wont link properly to searched terms. Search 'Twist and Wrap dress' and they'll come up...

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BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 22/06/2012 12:39

Sorry Prictast - I dont like that dress, the sleeves are too puffy for me! Looks a bit puffy, I prefer something a bit plainer.

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BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 22/06/2012 12:39

Procrast I meant!

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ProcrastinationAteMyMorning · 22/06/2012 12:41

Ah BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack didn't realise you were the OP. Always handy to mention when you namechange 1/2 way through a thread not that I ever remember to mention it myself

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shrimponastick · 22/06/2012 12:43

I think the DP dress will be fine.

Get some nice jewellery to go with it -and you are set to go.

A bold necklace will fit the low V neck nicely. You don't have to spend a lot. Infact, look in BHS they often have a good range.

What shoes are you wearing?

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littlecupcake · 22/06/2012 12:49

Wow, loads of responses - thanks ladies!

Looks like the Dotty P dress is the favourite - I've got the red dress (still with the tags on, waiting for some decent weather so I can wear it) but am preferring the purple colour I linked to. Do you think sparkly silver accessories would liven it up a bit? Might pop into town nice I've dropped little one off at nursery and see if I can swap my red one for a purple one!

Huwedwards - you might be right, I could end up fiddling with it a lot! Thanks for the link procrastinationatemymorning - i didn't know BHS did them, perhaps I could try one on before I make up my mind. Not keen on the Ghost dress though, sorry! Bit too shiny for me.

UML - I found this in House of Fraser which I like, but again, not sure how to accessorise for a wedding. www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Linea+Ruched+waist+wrap+dress/163546896,default,pd.html

How do I find the H of F eBay outlet? Searched but nothing comes up.

Thanks everyone :)

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littlecupcake · 22/06/2012 12:50

Not sure re shoes. Something silver maybe? Have some nude heels, but not very dressy. Suggestions welcome (and for jewellery, to - am useless really)!

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BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 22/06/2012 12:57

Nope not me, just sticking my oar in Grin

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ProcrastinationAteMyMorning · 22/06/2012 12:58
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formerdiva · 22/06/2012 13:11

Procrastination - I love those BHS infinity dresses! Thanks for the link (now where's my credit card...)

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UML · 22/06/2012 14:31

Here is the HOF outlet on ebay

stores.ebay.co.uk/House-of-Fraser/Dresses-/_i.html?_fsub=1247951013&_sid=988005993&_trksid=p4634.m322

Just put in what you are looking for, your size, and budget :)

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UML · 22/06/2012 14:47
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ProcrastinationAteMyMorning · 22/06/2012 14:48

Nice UML - IIRC they've got somethign similar in a pink and maybe another colour too (blue?)

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UML · 22/06/2012 14:50
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UML · 22/06/2012 14:55
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UML · 22/06/2012 14:58

Dont know if you like this style?

www.johnlewis.com/328943/Product.aspx

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UML · 22/06/2012 15:07

If you are already happy in the dress, and it looks great on (the red/purple DP), maybe you could just get shoes and jewellery (if you want to budget)

Some more silver strappy heels - you didnt mention what kind of shoes you are into?

www.johnlewis.com/328496/Product.aspx

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littlecupcake · 22/06/2012 17:44

Thanks everyone, I'm spoilt for choice now! I love the red Mango dress, and the aubergine John Lewis one - both complete bargains, too. I think I'm going to have to buy something new because the quality looks so much better than the Dotty P one (the red one I have is quite thin fabric). I really like the blue TKMax dress with the Diamontes at the front - love a bit of sparkle! - but I think the more fitted skirts suit me better than the fuller skirts (which is why I preferred my original navy shift dress to the red Dotty P one).

I love both of the shoes that have been suggested. If I go for the red, navy or purple dress I think silver will look nice with any of them. I also have a silver clutch somewhere which looks a bit glam that would go nicely, too. I am just a bit worried that they are both a bit scrappy, given the weather, and I can't see how high the heels are in the John Lewis ones but they do look quite high. Another bargain though - not sure I'll be able to resist! Does anyone have any suggestions for shoes that are more suitable for the wet weather (just in case)!

As it isn't looking likely to be a balmy summer's evening, what would you wear on the top if it's a bit chilly?

I am feeling so much more confident about this now, I wish I'd posted sooner. You ladies are AWESOME!

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