Frumpville calling - can I wear an ivory lace dress to a wedding as a guest without looking like I'm the bride

[furryfriends57]

All you knowledgeable ladies please help ....
Am 41 and have recently lost nearly 2 stone, I have a wedding at the weekend and was so looking forward to sexing it up a bit for once but I now realise frumpdom is a state of mind not weight. So anyway have found an ivory lace dress and am wondering does that break all the fashion rules as a wedding guest, don't really want to be dragged onto the floor for the first dance. Is it too young for an oul wan like me. Oh I've no idea really . Its not that I even think the dress has a wow factor but its a bit more wow than the stuff I have.

No! That could be a wedding dress.

Can't believe you have to ask really! Find another dress, I'm sure you will find an even better one in a different colour in high street shops, no need to stress out about wearing this one.

Now that I've seen it, definitely definitely not. Sorry. You do look lovely in it but it is so bridal, you will be forever remembered as 'that woman who wore a wedding dress to my wedding' by the bride. It is lovely though.

It's a wedding dress

There are some gorgeous sale dresses at the minute, I think you'd suit something long and flowy actually, with some gorgeous sandals.

To be totally honest I do think it looks quite frumpy and it's definitely too bride like to wear to a wedding sorry

Oh wow, I thought you meant something like this - but not as short. But what you've got there is a 1920's wedding dress!

I like the red shoes. You don't have frumpy taste, honestly :)

Good grief, you can't wear that. I'm not sure it really suits your skin colour TBH. I think you might suit something with a warmer colour really.

Well done though on the weight loss - fab. Choose a great dress and enjoy it. As a last resort, buy the dress and dye it!!

There was one at the last wedding I went to. Personally I wasn't sure about it. It would have passed as an informal registry office dress.

No confusion possible as the bride had a full length traditional dress, but?

Now we've seen you in the flesh, as it were, do you want the [ahem] MN style team to link some dresses? I do agree with AgathaFusty that you would really suit jewel/rich colours.

I wouldn't, personally.

No sorry you really can't wear a cream lace dress - have noticed loads of them in the sales and I agree some of them are gorgeous but I think the reason they are on sale is for the exact reason that they are not suitable to wear to a wedding.

From your photos I think you would suit a more vibrant colour maybe a cobalt blue.

Joining the no gang - you really must not

Another big no. Not just because it is far too bridal BUT it doesn't look great on you sorry and it is frumpy, boring and aging. You have a gorgeous figure and your choice in shoes is fab so I think we can come up with something far more dazzling than that. What is your budget?

DP maxi dress sally spot dress
rhona lace dress Had trouble with the links but the last two are viewable on the main dress page.
house of fraser

this lovely lace dress comes in many colours

trying the rhona one again since you like lace

just looked at the pic and my mouth dropped open in horror (gorg dress obviously) - it's far too bridal looking. don't do it you'll really regret it. goodness me, you surely can find something else - you're slim and young enough to carry off a whole host of dresses.

Wow, can't believe the response. Can safely say I won't be wearing or even getting it for another occassion as it'd just look like I was wearing my own wedding dress again. I was sceptical when I saw it but I kinda liked it! Thanks for all your suggestions, I absolutely love the phase eight rhona dress its flattering and a bit sexy. Must check how long delivery takes. In the meantime I'm going to upload the red dress that was option 2 and hopefully you honest MNers will give your opinions on that ... slinks off to find red dress.

I have the Phase Eight Rhona dress in navy and it is really lovely. Very slinky on!

Hi Dexter, how is the sizing. Its clingy so should I go up a size. Am also large of norks so only question is if the round neck will suit and not make them look extra large.

The sizing is quite generous and the dress is stretchy so I wouldn't go up a size. The neck might be ok as the lace bit is see-through so it breaks up the top bit iyswim!!

I think the Rhona dress is nice, but not sure for an August wedding ? Isn't there a nice flirty silky number from Coast that will fit the bill ?

I've missed what size/colouring you are ?

(congrats on weight loss !)

Depends. If the bride was going to wear a similar colour, I wouldn't, but if she's not and you really like the dress I would.
Ask her.

Don't forget furry, you can order a selection of sizes online - you are paying for delivery, mostly returns are free, but best to order what you think will be your size plus the size either side IYSWIM.

I agree with the others - something more fitted would suit you better, probably knee length (ish), and with some colour.

What about this one?