To wear this bridesmaid dress when I’m not a bridesmaid?

[IcyBlonde15]

I was meant to be bridesmaid for a friend 2 years ago, long story short the wedding didn’t happen but I still have the dress I was supposed to wear. I was gutted I wouldn’t get wearing as I loved it. My brother is getting married this summer, and the bride asked me to be bridesmaid but I have chose to just be a guest based on having young children with me etc. I have been wondering about possibly wearing my bridesmaid dress for this occasion. Her wedding party are all in black so there’s no chance I will clash with them or be mistaken for a bridesmaid. Do you think I could wear this dress or is it just to bridesmaidy? Opinions welcome

It's a very obvious bridesmaid dress. Can you get the bow taken off and the length changed to either mid calf or just below the knee. That would certainly help.

Take the bow off. Maybe get it shortened to midi or knee-length. But ask the bride's opinion (in a low key way) before spending money on alterations.

I think it is too bridesmaidy and wouldn’t wear it but if I were they bride I wouldn’t care if someone did wear it.

I think the big bow is what makes it bridesmaidy really. Could you get it altered?

If you had the skirt adjusted to on or just below the knee, and had the bow removed from the back, I think it would be fine.

Or sell it on vinted and get a new dress.

Get it taken up.

I’d wear it.

I think it’s perfect for a wedding

It screams bridesmaid. And as the actual bridesmaids will be in black, it will scream ‘I’m pretending I’m a bridesmaid’ 😂

Please don’t………just don’t!

Shortened, bow removed, and some sort of cover up, and it will be fine.
Otherwise, I'd say don't do it.

Definitely remove the bow. But other than that I’d wear it with a little jacket of some sort

Oh and get it shortened.

Would be fine if it wasn’t full length. Would you consider having it shortened? Otherwise there would be few events you could wear it for to be honest.

I agree with previous posters, it is very bridesmaid-y. Taking the bow off and shortening it may work as others have suggested, but if it were me, I would just sell it and buy something else.

I think it is lovely minus the bow

If not a bridesmaid you shouldn't wear it, you'll look like you weren't included in the bridal party but are trying to gatecrash. This happened at a wedding I went to recently. A family member was upset at not being asked and she and her daughter wore bridesmaid dresses. There were many jokes made at their expense.

Seconded.

It is very bridesmaidy.

I would ask the bride though.

Wear it, its fine.

I have an old 'bridesmaid' dress I just wear to the beach or trips out on hot sunny days never mind worrying if I could wear it to a formal event lol.

A bridesmaid dress is just a dress, usually a 'formal' one that someone decided to stick under the bridesmaid label instead of the 'guest' label but they are pretty interchangeable.

I think I’d probably shorten it to just below the knee and shorten the bow bit to match.

I have a similar dress in navy from when my friend hit married and I’m going to shorten it so it can be worn again as otherwise it seems such a waste.

I think if it was a different colour and you took off the bow you could get away with it, but that particular colour is such a bridesmaidy colour, no one would actually choose it for anything other than a bridesmaid dress.

So you’d be a stealth bridesmaid. Haven’t committed to the whole thing but happy to look the part! I’d buy something more suitable.

I think even wth the new belt, it would be better shorter than in my picture.

If you have to ask, maybe you're not really comfortable with it yourself, if that's the case buy something else and use that for another event, I think it's nice, probably with a light covering round the shoulders.

What do guests usually wear? I’m not English. I think the dress is perfectly fine seen as the brides party is wearing black. I would just get rid of the bow. And maybe double check with bride if she’s ok with u wearing it