Wedding guest dress help!

[Hullabaloo9]

I need to get a dress for my neices wedding in August. I am not really a formal dresser and actually know nothing about dress etiquette or dresses.

I am 41 and newly a size 14 (thanks to lockdown gluttony) so need something flattering for a bigger body. My boobs are ruined so need to be supported with a big, ugly, thick strap bra so no exposed backs and as they hang low I don't like high necklines.

Please help me out with a few tips on what I should be looking for. I'm so out of my depth.

[goose1964]

First of all what type of wedding, both my children had casual ones so no dressing up needed. Monsoon are usually good for this sort of thing and they have a sale on.

[spotcheck]

What is your body shape? Hourglass?
What do you think your best feature is?

[PALONHAS]

If you aren't sure about how formal your dress should be, what is the venue and what time of day does the wedding start?

[PALONHAS]

e.g. a country house, city venue, pub?

[Hullabaloo9]

Sorry for the delay. Its at a fancy hotel in the country. No church. My body shape I'm not sure, I have broad shoulders, considerable boobs, quite a tummy now, flat but fat bum. Sounds hideous I know but I'm sort of regular solid shape, a bit fat.
I'm really not sure of my best bits... I'm kind of aiming at looking respectably smart and acceptable rather than fancy. I feel I'm way past trying to look hot

[PALONHAS]

Oh I'm sure you look lovelier than you think!!

I like Hobbs for respectably smart:

like this dress

Or anything from there with a bit a of v neck - depending on what colours and patterns you like really! Or LK Bennet are having a sale as well I think?

[Hullabaloo9]

Thank you. I don't mean to be self scathing, I actually quite like my body despite its description. I just struggle with dresses. I am a casual person and active so dresses feel very awkward on me.

That dress is lovely. It's simple yet still dressy.

[PALONHAS]

I completely understand. I've been looking for a dress for a wedding for ages and have the same body type you describe but with arms that look like large pale plucked chickens. Children don't run away screaming in the street though so I figure I'm probably ok

I'm glad you liked it. If I had the arms for it I would buy it myself!

Hope you have a wonderful time at the wedding.