At 5ft6 and a Size 20 can I wear a Maxi Dress?

[BibiBelle]

I need something for two weddings this year. I hate having to 'dress' but it must be done. There isn't one bit of my body I am happy with at the minute but efforts need to be made and I'm prepared to splash out a touch to wear to both occassions. There won't be any of the same guests at the events and I'll make sure, as always, I'm behind the camera!!

I've been lured in by a pretty fecking expensive maxi dress and wondered if it's worth while even trying it.

These are child free weddings so I won't even have my gorgeous and impecibly dressed DC's to hide behind [meep]

How slow has this week been? It's probably just me but I can't wait for trying on day

Right then. Am on phone at work so will be brief for now.

The Kaliko maxi is lovely. Very nice.

The alexon navy & White maxi also nice but not as good quality.

The alexon flowery short one that I thought would be my favourite us horrific on lol

The alexon spotty chiffon one didn't arrive but instead a tiered black chiffon one turned up. Same make, same price. I wouldn't have picked it but I love it! Hides a multitude of sins!!

So we've TWO possibles

The ASOS maxi is nice but too casual - it's a tad hippish for wedding purposes.

Anna Scholtz not arrived yet!

Thanks for reporting back Bibi, it's been a real cliffhanger

Sounds promising, I'm off to google the mystery dress, the black tiered chiffon number, because it sounds fabulous.

Is it this one? I do like that one and, if you love it on, then it sounds like the winner!

Do you need any help with shoes, hats, jewellry....

I can't check wubbly as on phone at work! It's got a round neck, alexon brand just below knee £125 tag again!

Yes that sounds like it, it looks lush. Fab for shimmying on the dance floor!

that black swishy one would be very useful dress to have

It looks great fun to wear! I am of the good arms and legs!
I ordered the ebay Boden one and it is lovely but not "posh" enough fabric for the wedding I have in mind. It will be great for summer meals out and bbq's and that sort of thing though and even my dcs oooed and ahhhed at "pretty mummy" when I put it on so it is a good dress to have in the wardrobe.
What is the fabric like on the Kaliko maxi dress? (I can't go for the shorter numbers - I want the full cover up number!)
Which dress do you think you are going to go for? Any chance of photos of you in it or are you a shy mumsnetter like me?

I agree the black one would do all sorts of functions and reduce your cost per wear. How are you going to accessorise it?

I'm 5'9" and a 20 and tried on that 70's maxi kaftan thing that twiggy wears on the M&S advert. Looked like Demis Roussos. WOn;t be trying that experiment again.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/1894393.stm

Photos NEVER going to happen lol. The fabric is lovely heavy jersey on the Kaliko one. The alexon maxi was very nice but the fabric half the quality/thickness & I just didn't think it compared :)

Kew you have made me laugh hysterically at my work & now they're all

Ladies, I only tried them on at midnight & am on a 12hr 7-7 shift today. Final decisions will be made at another point lol

Wubbly it is that one but I ordered from house of Fraser

bibi, you're going to look amazing whatever dress you go for

I am 5 8 and size 20 and had this dilemma last year, dreaded the sodding wedding because I feel so uncomfortable in a dress.

I was tempted by a maxi dress, but every one I tried on, even in evans, made me look like a marque.

I did find a lovely dress in per una, £40, and I even think it looks nice in the photos. Amazing.

The style was something like this (it was b right pink though)

www.marksandspencer.com/Una-Crossover-V-Neck-Floral-Dress/dp/B0041FO88A?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_32&nodeId=43009030&sr=1-32&qid=1301484058

I wore it with bolero.

Well, those dresses are both so different, but lovely, i see a need for both in your wardrobe

At all good weddings one simply must change between daywear attire and evening

ok my two penneths worth! I am 5'9 and was last summer was a size 20- I LIVED in Maxi dresses and had some gorgeous ones from Monsoon/Asos CURVE etc. I am now a size 14 and will continue to live in them as I hate my legs- I think they can be very flattering- Next have a gorgeous one that is very flattering- wont load but is khaki green with a ruched bust, almost grecian with a little brown belt under the bust which is v flattering- would look lush with some brown wedges etc!

Ok, I have a minute to post properly now I?m home from work and not on my phone!

First try on was the 50s floral Alexon dress which I thought would be my favourite. It?s a lovely dress, really nice material and the pattern is beautiful. It was however not the shape for me at all. It cut me in half. The sash/ribbon round the waist just sat there making me look like I was 7 months pregnant .

Next on was the Kaliko maxi. Lovely material and not too much of it which is great. Nicely cut and a good length. I love the colours and DH liked it too.
Alexon navy and white maxi dress was next. Pretty but not comparable with the quality of the Kaliko one. For example, I was wearing black pants/bra to try them on and you could see them very clearly through the dress.

The spotted chiffon tiered dress didn?t arrive at all, whether by mistake or the black chiffon one was sent as a replacement I don?t know. The black isn?t something that I would have even considered but as it was there and in my size I thought why not!?! It?s actually very flattering on! Just below the knee, the tiers that I thought would add width actually create the illusion that I?m less barrel like!

The maxi dress from ASOS was very pretty but a bit too hippyesque. DH didn?t like but, square glasses and the words Nanna were muttered!!. I did like it but it?s not right for these occasions at all. It?s literally a chiffon dress with a separate long slip underneath which I also feel might be quite warm.

So in essence we have TWO possibles which I?m really chuffed with. I can?t thank you enough for all your help. DH is trying to get me to keep both the Kaliko maxi and the black tiered but I?m not sure I can justify the expense.
I?ve still got the Anna Scholtz one to arrive but it will have to be quite something to beat these two. And in terms of accessorising, if I could get a nice pair of pink or purple wedges for height for the maxi that would be great. I?m not the best on heels and not really allowed to wear them due to my hip but feel I need to be taller to carry it off well. The black one could go with anything but leaves me with the tights/bare food dilemma

swifty - first of all well done one the weight loss, that's fantastic in such a short time!

I've had a nosey on the Next website and found pinke orchard dress and and 70s maxi dress

I agree with your very wise DH . See ^ up there

Oh, and i got some fab, really comfy wedges from TK Maxx last week. Worth a look

mummyosaurus - the M&S one is nice too but why oh why do the designers persist in cutting everyone in half under the bust?!

I saw this linen stripe dress in M&S today and it was lovely, very striking. It is however linen and I would look like I'd slept in a hedge within seconds!

Keep them both - every woman needs a pretty floral and a little black number! Flowers for daytime then change into the little black number at night - as suggested above. How stylish are you??

thanks Crisp - I had a look in M&S & Clarks today for shoes during lunch hour. I need to decide on which dress I'm keeping first though lol

lol carrots - are you and crisp in cahoots here