Please help find a dress for my brother

[aPseudonymToFoolHim]

:)
Thought that might grab some attention. The brother in question has lost his mind decided to buy his girlfriend a dress for her birthday WITHOUT her input. So it falls to me (and now YOU) to find something suitable.

Her favourite colour is red, so he has so far only been looking at red or black.

She is mid 20's, young and fun, fresh, doesn't really wear makeup, shoulder length straight hair, and he describes her as "She's got big hips a smallish waist, and smallish bust. She wears size 12 if that's any help" (I know!)

As a guide, he has so far offered these for approval (but what does he know anyway?) ASOS black

Debenhams black

and this because "orange is nearly red"

So please can you help me help him? And make sure he doesn't get dumped for a terrible affront

Tell him not to do it....

I would hate anyone to buy a dress for me and feel uncomfortable about having to say I didnt like it..

try a skater style dress like this [http://www.oasis-stores.com/matilda-lace-dress/dresses/oasis/fcp-product/5550060847]

or something a bit more ...girly? like this

[http://www.oasis-stores.com/pippa-embellished-dress/dresses/oasis/fcp-product/5550067036]

she sounds like she is very similar in proportion to me!

I'm not sure the surprise element is a good idea. It would be better if he suggested taking her out shopping and buy her a dress she likes and maybe go for a nice lunch afterwards.

This was supposed to be in Style and Beauty, don't know what happened there! :)

I have warned him off, but he is intent, his GF hates shopping and therefore has nothing to wear for the most amazing romantic surprise weekend away he is planning for her bday.

I agree with squeaky.

Even with your help (have you even met her) she may hate it and not know how to respond.

Clothing is very much a personal thing - I might ask DH if I look alright in something but he never really buys me clothes despite being married for nearly 30 years!

this is due to my appalled reaction when he bought me the odd item in the early days

If he is intent on it then better he takes her shopping.

Could you show him this thread and the vast number of us who would LTB if our Significant Other did anything so weird? By all means take her shopping, but please don't choose a dress without consultation aPseudonymToFoolHim's brother!

Does she wear dresses? What about shoes, tights, etc. If he's going to do this, he'll have to think a bit more carefully.

If it helps, at two functions we've been to together she wore a short black lacy body con dress, and a halter maxi dress.

This thread will be shown to him: Dear Bro, LTB means "Leave The Bastard" Yes, it's THAT dicey! :)

He could book her a session with a personal shopper to find the perfect dress?

I can't be the only one who could try on a dozen dresses before I find one I like??

I think it's because 1) she loathes shopping
2) she's very boyish in her ways
3) it's a surprise in the most swanky hotel you've ever seen,
that he's intent on getting her a dress.
Personally, I think he's nuts, but I would recommend him going for something I've seen her wear, so I'm leaning toward a beautiful maxi dress, I think there is less there to get upset over

Personal shopper isn't like shopping as such - I sat drinking nice coffee and reading magazines while she whizzed round the store. Very pleasant experience!

Why is this in AIBU?

I hate wearing dresses due to my body shape, I have probably tried on thousands and have only found about 10 that I thought really looked good. Clothing tastes are very personal.

Tell him not to do it. Buy her accessories instead, or a nice pamper treat. Or take her shopping.

Tbh I would be concerned that he is planning on a birthday surprise to a hotel that he thinks she has no suitable clothes for! Does it sound as though she would like to stay at this hotel? Perhaps she would prefer a lodge with a hot tub for a night away?

He's an idiot, lovely thought, but really stupid. Will she have shoes, bag, jewellery to go with it? What if it doesn't fit, size 12 in one shop is not size 12 in all shops.

In a posh hotel you need to be in something you picked and you know you look great in. Not a frock picked by your OH and his sister who's met you a few times (no offence, I'm sure you have great taste, but it is your taste, not hers).

I understand that as a rule of thumb you should try and match the strength of the colour of the clothes to the darkness of the person's hair (natural), so if she has dark brown/black hair you can choose a dark red/blue etc, but if she has medium/light/blonde hair she will suit a lighter version of whatever you choose.

whY?

sAY no - this is DOOMED to disaseter

If she is 'boyish' i assume she's a jeans kind of girl - would she even want to wear a dress? How long have they been together? Has he any idea what bits she would want to show/hide? What about underwear that won't cause VPL/bra straps showing?

I was bought a dress by now DH and his sister helped choose it. I was about 18, slim and lovely. It was for a NYE party. The dress was a satin shift shape maxi in pale purple with jewelled spaghetti straps and a matching shawl. Frumped up to the max. I had to pretend I liked it and wore it. Not a nice experience. Tell him to think carefully.

It sounds like the plot of Pretty Woman

that was my first thought INeed

There is a lovely black and red body con on eBay new

mardy I don't know, I thought I was putting it in S&B!

I've shown him the thread, he says he will be making a short list for her to choose from

She will ADORE the hotel, there is a dress code for the dining room. He wants her to look, and feel, stunning (and if I told DM he was taking his GF away and buying her a formal dress for it, she'd begin to suspect there might be an occasion to buy a hat in the near future, but DM does tend to run away with herself! :) )