Flattering wedding dress suggestions please

[thebrideishighbutimholdingon]

I'm middle-aged, short (5'4" with short legs) and on the flabby side (size 16-18 currently, hoping to lose a bit of weight but can't guarantee that I'll succeed.) I don't think I could do strapless. Wedding is next summer, low-key (venue = a country inn with steep narrow steps, so no wide skirt, and any train would have to be small.)


I don't want to look like mutton dressed up as lamb but I do really want to wear a wedding dress. (N.B. It doesn't have to be sold as a wedding dress, as such - a suitable cocktail or evening dress would be ok.) I love the look of some of the Monsoon retro-style wedding dresses online but they're all pictured on skinny giants (I have nothing against skinny giants but it doesn't give much idea of how it would look on me.) Also the one I liked best seems to have been discontinued. And I don't know anyone with good enough dressmaking skills to take up a lacy dress that was too long for me; my sewing skills are basic at best and I think I would ruin it. I'd like a long dress but a shorter one might be more sensible.

I suppose the best thing would be to go to a shop and try some on, but I'm scared of getting pressured into something by a skilful sales person. Budget – ideally under £1,000 but could stretch to maybe twice that for the right dress. I'd also be happy with second hand but couldn't (say) bid for something on ebay without knowing it was the right style for me. Are there any second hand wedding dress agencies where you can go and try them on? (I live in south London.)

Also any ideas for shoes - any shoes that look smart normally cripple me. I live in walking sandals in summer and flat boots in winter. So something low-heeled and very comfortable would be great, if such a thing exists. I'd like to look elegant but I don't want to suffer too much for the privilege, and I want to be able to boogie on down at the party, not hobble and shuffle around.

[FiloPasty]

Gillian Millian ?! Spelling. In Teddington re sell dresses, I do think you should go and try some on, it's so hard otherwise as often what you like in theory doesn't work in practise x

[tethersend]

simple and elegant

[tethersend]

vintage dresses to browse

[tethersend]

lace

[TheHouseatWhoCorner]

I an 5'2". Size 18. Didn't want strapless.
I wore a tea length dress for my wedding in April. Was sleeveless and a beautiful lace back. Google Bali by Romantica of Devon.

As my dress was short I felt I needed stunning shoes. I was recommended Rainbow Club for comfort and they were fab all day.

[FlossyMoo]

Got to a wedding shop and try on some dresses. I was a bridal assistant and you really won't know what suits you until you try. There are so many styles, fabrics, lengths and accessories you need to have a good idea of what will suit you.

Don't take any bank cards with you and only a small amount of cash. That way you cannot be pressured in to buying anything or putting down a deposit. If there is something you fall in love with you can always ring the shop from home and do a telephone payment if there is an urgency.

Good luck and congratulations.

[moominmarvellous]

Nothing in the way of brands of dress really, but when I chose mine I thought of a dress I'd worn to an evening do once and although that dress was black, I really felt nice in the style which was a halter neck.

I googled halter neck wedding dresses and found my perfect dress :) Maybe you could do something similar you might come up with something that you know suits you already?

[thebrideishighbutimholdingon]

Some lovely suggestions and good advice; thanks everyone.

FiloPasty thanks for the Gillian Million suggestion - checked out her website and the dresses all look like small sizes, although I suppose she could be getting "new" ones in all the time. I absolutely love the headdresses, though, so that's a real find.

Tethersend some lovely dresses and that Greenwich place looks good.

[strawberrysplit]

Cutting edge brides do tea length dresses and if you're not near their London showroom, a lot of their styles can be posted out for you to try as a sample at home for £25 (I think) I had my heart set on a big poofy 50's style dress but when I tried as a sample it swamped my 5'1 frame...my idea was to try a sample from here then have it made at a cheaper place.

In the end I actually won a wedding dress, ironically with cutting edge brides and picked an A-line tea length dress which was actually just floor length on me when I took my heels off!! worked out perfectly as it was lace and didn't even need hemming!!