going to a wedding with stunning SIL

[cakeoholic]

I love my sil, she is one of the nicest people I know, but she is also one of the most stylish and beautiful. We have a family wedding in 3 weeks and she tried on her outfit to show me and now I don't even want to go! She looks amazing, sophisticated, completely stunning. At the last family wedding the groom's family were all asking if she was a model. She just has an eye for clothes and an amazing figure. She can do all the finishing touches to make an outfit and has gorgeous hair and so on.

I'm a size 6-8 and 5'8 so people are constantly telling me I can wear anything but I just look like a stick (25/26 inch waist, 30C/32B) and the dress i had in mind makes me feel like a child compared to her. I have spent the last 2 days scouring the internet for something nice to make me not feel so hideous next to her but having no luck and just getting more and more fed up. If anyone has seen any gorgeous summer wedding appropriate dresses please point me in their direction?

Looking to spend £50ish ideally but the way I'm feeling would go double if it made me feel like I could spend the day standing next to her.

[spiderslegs]

Show us the dress....

[spiderslegs]

& don't fret - your stats are amazing.

There will be women there wanting to shove cake down your chops & kill you.

& don't worry, it goes both ways, my sis is built like you, but smaller (5' 2), I'm 5' 9, a size 8-10 but feel like an ungainly giant compared to her.

Have faith.

What are you looking for?

[NunTheWiser]

OK, well I know lots of people will say the same thing, but with a figure like yours (good!), the real problem you've got is confidence. You need to start feeling like you've got more of a handle on your personal style.
What sort of clothes do you enjoy wearing? Are you a relaxed, natural type or sleek, well groomed, or boldly dramatic? The key to your SIL will not be so much what she wears, but that it fits her personality. They are an extension of her, so she feels good, comfortable and that is what people see.
What is your colouring? I'd bet any money that your SIL knows the colours that work for her. Are there any particular colours you wear that coincide with people telling you that you're looking really well, asking if you've lost weight (not that you need to!!!!) etc. etc.
Give us a better idea of your shape, colouring and the kind of things you like wearing and we'll be able to find something, I'm sure.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

If she has a flair and is as nice as you say - could you throw yourself on her mercy and ask her to advise/take you shopping/pick your outfit for you?

[cakeoholic]

I can't find a pic of the dress I was considering spiders, I will try to take a pic of it and add to my profile.

I know she watches what she eats and goes to the gym a lot whereas I am naturally this size and genuinely a cake/choc/anything sweet-aholic. She is really beautiful though whereas although I know my figure is ok I am not attractive which does lead to the confidence issue I suppose.

She is very into clothes/fashion/healthy lifestyle and spends a lot of time on her hair and makeup and clothes because of that whereas I am far more casual type person and don't feel I can justify lots of time/money on those things. I don't have a natural talent for it either, she is very arty and creative so good with all the finishing touches.

I am quite pale, have brown eyes and brown shoulderish length layered hair. I have quite a low maintenance look and always wear quite plain, simple, basic clothes-jeans with top+cardi, leggins and long top type things. I am way better at dressing for winter, I feel the nicest in jeans/boots/long sleeved t/cable knit jumper or boots/leggings/dress type thing. I wear mostly white and dark colours with some blue/purple/aqua.

[Jacksmania]

Aww, it's hard to show up next to someone who is "the whole package" and then, to boot, she's so nice you can't even hate her a little :o

I second asking her advice if you can bear to.

Failing that, let's see the dress. I bet you'll look beautiful in it - and I also bet people will look at the pair of you and want to hate you a little but won't be able to because you sound lovely, too.

[spiderslegs]

I concur with Nun, it's all about confidence. Ultimately.

[cakeoholic]

I'd like a dress to wear, prob just above the knee and not too high a neck as I don't think they are very flattering on me. I can't really pull off stylish. Sil is wearing this with an elbow length crochet cropped jacket type thing, gold wedges and gold jewelry

[Jacksmania]

Could you maybe think about springing for a make-up/ hairdo /mani/ pedi splurge for this wedding? Just to give you a little more confidence?

[Jacksmania]

Ok, post a pic of you, the dress and any and all accessories you have and we'll see what we can do.

Or, would you feel comfortable asking your SIL if she could loan you some accessories?

[spiderslegs]

Nothing wrong with low maintenance.

It works for me.

It is, all about how you wear it.

Don't feel lesser because you don't conform to the ideal you have of her.

I would maybe not ask her.

Go to a local independent shop, speak to them, if you find the right one for you, they will give you great advice.

[spiderslegs]

PS SIL's dress is v boring

[spiderslegs]

Yes - post a pic of you

[cakeoholic]

I am going to get my hair/nails/makeup done for the wedding I just need a dress that I will feel good in too really. The wedding last year I loved my dress and sil took me shopping for accessories and did my hair and I was happy and comfortable. I just don't feel good in anything this time round though, I want to like style/pattern/colour of dress and have it fit perfectly too! Sil has said she will help me but I'm off this week and would love to find something and stop feeling like this! I will gladly take her help though. I will try to get some pics now

[spiderslegs]

My tiny sis is very chic & always looks very 'done' as I suspect you SIL does.

It's not me, as I suspect it's not you.

Don't look to others & feel lacking.

You have to find yourself.

[cakeoholic]

spiderlegs thats the thing exactly though, I'd never look twice at the dress but when she tried it on with all her bits she looks amazing. I don't know what to wear other than a cardi over things but she has found this gorgeous little jackety thing and in the sale and her size and you get the point!

[spiderslegs]

I do.

But you know, really, undone is really more attractive.

As long as it's done with aplomb.

Find that & you're set.

[cakeoholic]

this is the dress I was thinking of wearing and I have these shoes Not exactly s&b!

[spiderslegs]

With that in mind.

What's our starting point?

You, dress, etc etc.

[spiderslegs]

Ok X posts will look.

[cakeoholic]

I think I will be fine if I can find it spiders, I just don't know where! I've been trying to find a simple dress that I could wear bright shoes that clash colourwise or something along those lines

[spiderslegs]

Okey doke - I say no to dress - too shiny, too printy.

Just no.

Also, given your shape I think you could do more.

Shoes also no - round toe & kitten heel = dowdy.

Sorry - tell me if I'm being mean.

[spiderslegs]

What do you like?

Not clothes, just life - what do you do, like to do etc?

[cakeoholic]

No, I agree, the dress does not do what figure I have any favours and I think it's all too pastely

[spiderslegs]

& how old are you?