I need some help accessorising this dress - totally clueless!

[Alibabaandthe80nappies]

I bought this dress today, and I'm wondering whether I could wear it for my brother's wedding in February. I have no idea how I would accessorise it for that though - please help me!

This dress

I am a size 16, and 5'2', chestnut hair.

I really want to get this right, my future SIL works in fashion - eek!

It's quite neutral so you could really do anything with it. Depends on your personal style though.

I would wear big earrings. No necklace as it's a high neckline and maybe some big bangles. In a gold colour if you're playing it safe and if you fancy being a bit daring I'd maybe go for something big chunky and acrylic in orange or red.

If you are conservative then shoe-wise I would choose a black matte leather shoe-boot or brogue. Something quite masculine to set off the dress.

If you are feeling brave I'd go for a large chunky wedge in black. With black tights- it'll make your legs look longer.

Black tights, some type of shoeboot preferably with a heel..
what about this kind of matching
or theseor something similar style

i second bethelbeth with the gold.. What are you doing with your hair? Is it long short ??

Is it quite an informal wedding? And is beige one of your best colours?

Its a nice dress but im not sure i would wear it to by brothers wedding

Not an especially informal wedding, I was planning on wearing a hat and I will need some kind of coat/jacket.

This is why I wanted some ideas about accessorising, to see whether I could dress it up or whether I need to wear something else. It looks more formal on than it does in the picture, and actually the colour is really good with my skin and hair.

I had wondered whether I could put red with it. I will ponder.

Thank ladies.

Sorry, but I think shoe boots would be a mistake. You need legs like a giraffe to make them look good. How about red wedge heels and some kind of pashmina?

Funnys I have some red heels that I could wear. I am not sure I could pull shoe boots off, in fact I am fairly sure I couldn't.

I am thinking jacket rather than pashmina, it is likely to be cold in the church and also we've got DS1 and 2 who will need to be held on to and a pashmina isn't conducive to that I find!

I'm sorry Fifi but those are vile.

I have to agree Ali re the combo of 2 DC and a pashmina! How about a shortish grey bolero style jacket? There are some lovely faux fur ones around at the mo. I'll see if I can find a link. Also a red bag and some gun metal colour jewellery?

this kind of thing?

I like that.

With that and then a hat (have a v.nice black one already) then I would keep jewellery minimal - too short to carry off hat and big earrings and necklace and jacket, makes me look like I've got lost in a branch of Accessorize My Mum has a lovely gold bracelet and some ruby earrings I could borrow which are v.understated, and then a red bag and shoes.

With red shoes what colour tights? Black or Kate Middleton colour?

Clara sorry, I didn't answer about my hair. It is in a slightly layered bob just off my shoulders.

I have just bought myself a fab red clutch bag with a black vintage buckle from this site here. Once it is here then I will think about shoes. I do wonder if the red heels I have might be a bit summery.

Will go and try on that bolero and see what it is like on me. I'm slightly concerned it might make my boobs look huge!

lovely bag Ali and I know what you mean about the boob/fur issue. I always worry that I'll look like a Puffle, but if you leave it undone you'll be fine. Also like the idea of ruby earings. I don't do gold as it doesn't suit me, but sounds good with your colouring.

btw not sure about tights, I would be inclined to fake tan you legs and go bare. A bit cold I know, but I think black opaques would look too heavy and sheer are a bit naff. Also patterns would be difficult with your dress.

I will have to wear tights of some sort. For all I'm a shortarse the dress stops some way above my knee so bare legs are totally not an option, from both a decency and temperature point of view! I'm leaning towards sheer because I think black ones with red shoes would look a bit weird.

The other option is black tights and shoes, and then add a little red some other way - cocktail ring maybe or a bangle as someone suggested upthread.

Ok. Its February it'll be cold. I'd suggest opaque black tights. I think the pattern of the dress is quite busy so I think stay clear of a hat. I would wear my hair up - and then maybe a small fascinator like....

4.bp.blogspot.com/__bW-FC-tEGQ/TRi9caVgZ1I/AAAAAAAAA_w/S09IgX2--WM/s1600/IMG_5068.jpg

Orrrrrrr....

4.bp.blogspot.com/__bW-FC-tEGQ/S6k61S3H6PI/AAAAAAAAAbo/w4bq9PA7hZM/s320/DSCN5871.JPG

then I think it's a case of some black patent courts like

www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-POCKET-Patent-Court-Shoes/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1159638&cid=6461&sh=0&pge=14&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Black+patent&utm_source=google_product_search&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=google_product_search&WT.tsrc=Google%20Product%20Search

and a BIG cocktail ring like -

www.prettycool.co.uk/red-sparkling-glass-crystal-adjustable-cocktail-ring-10582-p.asp

for an accent of colour. That's how I'd wear it anyway - :) xxx
{So so sorry about the links/paragraphs of websites. I can never do it} :(

I think I must be of a different school of thought, I think bare legs can look a bit cheap and naff whereas a deep opaque (cannot be see through at all) can really set off an outfit.

I'd be inclined to wear black shoes with this dress. Just because it's quite patterned and you want to go chic and understated. Glam it up with accessories.

I really like dark opaques, but think with red shoes and a patterned dress they would look all wrong. Perhaps black shoes after all? Just seems a bit dull with a grey/white dress.

i'd say hair up like this you can do it with a hair donut and would be great for dancing so your hair looks glam all day

i'd also go black shoes as it might be too much with the pattern of the dress.. glam up with uber glam accessories like your shrug and hat- oh i've just realised that you prob wouldnt be able to wear your hat with that hair I suggested so what about this here or here

The thing is the pattern of the dress is The Feature. So you can't really afford to share the attention. You can do small flashes of colour IE a big coloured cocktail ring or a fascinator but otherwise shoes etc will have to be black.
I think this is really pretty...
www.romanoriginals.co.uk/invt/71403red

Just looked at the dress again and still think opaques would be wrong. So how about dark red shoes to match the bag, sheer tights, fur shrug, ruby earings and hair up/ red fascinator. Or black shoes with the above? For black shoes I would go with suede and not patent though

yy - Funnys that is my thought re. opaques, too much with the dress and shoes.

beth - agree about the cheapness of bare legs. Thanks for your PM about rings, I love the art deco one but it is in too small a size, my wedding ring is an N I think.

I cannot stress enough how different the dress looks on a body rather than in the picture! The material has a kind of sheen to it which looks fab with my hair. The picture makes it look dull as dishwater when it really isn't at all.
I'll definitely be having my hair down, not up - and it really isn't long enough for any of those styles.

I am pretty set on a proper hat as well rather than a fascinator as I think they can look at bit bizarre. Plus I have the hat already and I don't have an unlimited budget to throw at this.

Thanks so much for all your help everyone, it has really helped me clarify my thoughts.

I think I will see what the dress/bag/fur shrug combo looks like, try it on with the hat and then see what I think. I have been and looked at my existing red heels, and they are too summery - I had forgotten they've got a slingback. So I need new shoes either way because the only black heels I have are too low for the dress, what a shame!