Wedding outfit #3: anyone seen a dress WITH SLEEVES?

[milkmoustache]

Please please help. I am hopeless at shopping for weddings - I don't really do formal or feminine very well, and the whole process is a nightmare.
But I also have very strong likes and dislikes, so that also gets in the way..

Wedding is going to be in Wales in June (probably not roasting hot sun...), not massively formal, but I'd like to make an effort! I'm a size 16, an hour-glass figure (when I'm feeling positive!), quite short-waisted and broad across the hips and shoulders - and my upper arms are NOT my best point.
I've looked in Monsoon (lots of very long, sleeveless, flouncy numbers), Principles, East, House of Fraser, Laura Ashley.... and I've got no inspiration at all! I quite like printed dresses, but where the hell can I find one with sleeves? I do like Kimono/empire-line as a style, but I can't find a thing I like. I know this is a bit specific (!!!) but can anyone help?

[MrsBadger]

am rummaging - had a thread on this a while back

[Twiglett]

go to big department store's personal shopper .. it takes all the pain out of shopping and they bring you a great range of stuff and give you an honest opinion .. they don't charge commission nor do they care if you don't buy

seriously .. do it .. John Lewis, Debenhams etc

[MrsBadger]

a few from Debenhams:
\link{http://www.debenhams.com/jv/product_details_jv.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=9307541&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=7023769&bmUID=1145970551867#\wrap}
\link{http://www.debenhams.com/jv/product_details_jv.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=9307377&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=7023777&bmUID=1145969943023#\kimonoish}
\link{http://www.debenhams.com/jv/product_details_jv.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=9133861&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=8342371&bmUID=1145971211132\frilly}
\link{http://www.debenhams.com/jv/product_details_jv.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=9307297&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=7023769&bmUID=1148303440085\more frills}

Or at Principles \link{http://www.principles.co.uk/pws/ProductDetails.ice?ProductID=306\Galaxy ripoff}
\link{http://www.principles.co.uk/pws/ProductDetails.ice?ProductID=658\printed}
\link{http://www.principles.co.uk/pws/ProductDetails.ice?ProductID=1047\flowery}
Dorothy Perkins and Coast have several Galaxy ripoffs too.

M&S
\link{http://www.marksandspencer.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=2651&Product_Id=1988175\quite nice}
\link{http://www.marksandspencer.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=2651&Product_Id=2003808\long sleeves}

and they did have a much more kimonoy empire one with a green trim, which I'm sure was talked about on Style but I can't find it at all.

[MrsBadger]

and three more from M&S that MN souldn't let me fit in the last post:
\link{http://www.marksandspencer.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=2651&Product_Id=2017118\kimono-y}
\link{http://www.marksandspencer.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=2651&Product_Id=2013360\wrap}
\link{http://www.marksandspencer.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=2651&Product_Id=2047093\madly patterned}

[JackieNo]

Respect, MrsB - you truly are Queen of the Links.

[bluejelly]

Really like the M and S wrap geometric one.

[nailpolish]

i have the debenhams kimono-ish blue oriental dress and its very wearable, i bought it for a wedding too and i love it, got lots of compliments

i bought \link{http://www.debenhams.com/jv/product_details_jv.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=9205469&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=8391017&bmUID=1148304272634\these} shoes to match

[MrsBadger]

and \link{http://order.next.co.uk/shot.asp?b=G81&p=28&s=6&n=Womenswear&pid=991-432-G81&extra=sch&ref=http%3a%2f%2fsearch%2enext%2eco%2euk%2fsearch%3fp%3dQ%26ts%3dcustom%26w%3ddress%26srid%3dS5%2d4%26lbc%3dnext%26af%3dcat%5fwomenswear%26cnt%3d200%26images%3don%26srt%3d%26isort%3dscore%26method%3dand%26format%3d%26nb%3d%26np%3d\one} or \link{http://order.next.co.uk/shot.asp?b=X37&p=298&s=7&n=Womenswear&pid=962-334-X37&extra=sch&ref=http%3a%2f%2fsearch%2enext%2eco%2euk%2fsearch%3fp%3dQ%26ts%3dcustom%26w%3ddress%26srid%3dS5%2d4%26lbc%3dnext%26af%3dcat%5fwomenswear%26cnt%3d200%26images%3don%26srt%3d%26isort%3dscore%26method%3dand%26format%3d%26nb%3d%26np%3d\two} or \link{http://order.next.co.uk/shot.asp?b=X37&p=300&s=16&n=Womenswear&pid=946-325-X37&extra=sch&ref=http%3a%2f%2fsearch%2enext%2eco%2euk%2fsearch%3fp%3dQ%26ts%3dcustom%26w%3ddress%26srid%3dS5%2d4%26lbc%3dnext%26af%3dcat%5fwomenswear%26cnt%3d200%26images%3don%26srt%3d%26isort%3dscore%26method%3dand%26format%3d%26nb%3d%26np%3d\three} or \link{http://order.next.co.uk/shot.asp?b=G30&p=46&s=4&n=Womenswear&pid=982-975-G30&extra=sch&ref=http%3a%2f%2fsearch%2enext%2eco%2euk%2fsearch%3fp%3dQ%26ts%3dcustom%26w%3ddress%26srid%3dS5%2d4%26lbc%3dnext%26af%3dcat%5fwomenswear%26cnt%3d200%26images%3don%26srt%3d%26isort%3dscore%26method%3dand%26format%3d%26nb%3d%26np%3d\four} in Next. Personally I think snug sleeves are better than flappy.

right, am stopping now - link fatigue has set in!

[CountessDracula]

I have the M&S one ina slightly diff pattern is v nice

[Tommy]

wow MrsBadger - have you ever thought about a career as a personal shopper?

[MrsBadger]

personal internet shopper maybe!

am not v good at knowing what clothes suit people but am googletastic searcher

[Tommy]

- next time I'm looking for something I'll call you. In fact, I'm going to a wedding too next week and have a dress but need a cardi or something and don't want one of those silly things that do up under your boobs. Any ideas? TIA

[Pollyanna]

Have you looked in LK Bennett? My sister has recently got a dress from there for a wedding and it has sleeves. Also there are lots of printed ones in there. (I think Eve Magazine has 20% off LK Bennett atm too.).

[MrsBadger]

what's the dress like Tommy? should really do a bit of work this afternoon though...

[milkmoustache]

Belated thanks Mrs B - I am impressed! I should find something amongst your ideas. We don't have an LK Bennett here in Norwich - but a good thing perhaps as they are quite pricey and I am quite mean!
For anyone else who is looking for wedding outfits - yesterday I had a look in John Lewis and found they have quite a lot of nice stuff in their own JL line - Kirstie Allsop skirts (printed, A-line, knee length, you know the kind of thing) and some really quirky tops. Good colours too.