Post-pregnancy dress for wedding

[Nightfall1983]

Ok, emergency fashion help needed. I've had my head in the sand On the 28th (so you know, a week-and-a-half) it's my cousins wedding and I don't have a dress. DS is 14 weeks old and originally I was hoping I'd have lost a bit of weight and be able to squeeze into a dress I bought for a wedding at the beginning of the year. I didn't actually gain much when pregnant, was a 12-14 pre-preg and still able to fit my old trousers at 34 weeks (then I ballooned). I did drop quite quickly after birth but since then have not done well. I'm a size 16 (18 in some shops) and hate my current figure -bloated, wobbly belly and always had small boobs.

I know I need to do some dieting and exercise but in the short term I just need to find a dress! Smart wedding, need a proper posh frock but want one that is going to be soft and comfortable so it's easy for me to deal with DS - not too restrictive and nothing to scratch him. I'd like it to be a bit flattering. Budget: say £60-70 ideally but would stretch to £100 if it was really worth it. Go on someone, help!! (PS we're off to Eire on boxing day, so my last shopping day would be Christmas Eve, yes a week tomorrow ARRRGGGGHHHH).

Vitals: 5'4" tall, broad back, small boobs, massive tum, arms and lower legs ok (chuncky thighs though). Can't do heals. God I sound hideous Thanks

Oh and I'd prefer a high-street store so I can go try it on rather than online doesn't ask for much

Will have a look about for some ideas for you. Can you hack print / pattern? Can be a good way to disguise lumps and bumps. What's you colouring and what sort of colours do you like?

Prints/patterns ok as long as its smart enough. Don't mind too much on colours again provided it's smart.

I've v. dark hair, almost black in a shortish layered bob, dark eyes and fairly pale skin...

very bright, flattering cut, no problem with flats
Over budget but an excellent and very flattering dress
Ooh er, the first one but in red
bargainous deep purple job, also very flattering
this in either colour is damn near perfect. over budget again though
this could be fab IRL, the cut is good (would be longer on you, model will be at least 5'8")

Any of those anything like?

I rather like this, you may well not...
Is this too much? Like the navy version too.
simple, grey tweedy dress, love it
maybe not formal enough
maybe?
maybe??

Ooh thanks.

I've never had a dress with long sleeves before, but I'm not against it would just need to try.

1. like it, like the colour, like the price - wonder if it might be a bit long
2. not convinced, looks a bit restrictive
3. love it, love the colour, again wonder about the length (I'm short) but worth trying definately
4. Not sure, would need to try it, great price though
5. 'Tis beautiful, couldn't stretch that far though
6. Don't like the pattern

Long sleeve dresses are great, warm comfy and easy to accessorize, much more stylish than dress + cover up too IMHO.

What's your what's your budget for accessories? Might it be that you can juggle a more expensive dress with cheaper accessories, especially if you go long sleeved - cuts out the cost of a cover up...

For example, would this that you liked but is way over budget be doable these and this come in on budget? or with these and this, indeed. Jewelery wise you'd only really need earrings.

Plenty of acessories in that sort of price range.

I can see I need to get myself to a John Lewis, thanks for the ideas notMarlene. I'm feeling a bit better about going shooing now with some new styles to try. Not sure when I'll get a chance got JL (none in my town though we have debs/m and s but there is one in the next town over) but will try tomorrow and if not then Thursday - will report back

If there's stuff you especially want to try on then it's best to order it into store, otherwise it's more than likely they wont have it in.

Biba and in budget,
Purple and Green, the green sounds like it could be lovely with your colouring.
Green again,
Short sleeved.
I agree with long sleeved dresses being a brilliant idea!

Sorry for the slow responses - baby in one arm

Love Green and also Short-sleeved...

Not sure about accessories, was hoping to be able to use stuff I already had though would consider a hat to dress it up a little...

Hat for the green dress, with these shoes. Keep spare clothes for you and baby in the car, but this is lovely and big enough to carry wipes, muslin and a couple of nappies. worn with simple gold jewelery, it would be lovely.

I bought one!

It's this from Phase Eight. Not sure if it's one that was recommended but I only went in there because you guys linked to some P8 dresses in HoF/JL - don't have those in town but do have a P8 stand alone shop.

Oooh, I'm not usually a fan of phase8 but that I like. Very nice!

How will you accessorise it?

Well I have some nice brown-y gold-y strappy wedges which are quite comfortable and give me a bit of height so I'm going to wear those.

I was going to look for a hat to dress it up a bit (plus the done thing in our family at weddings) but now I'm thinking a Fascinator might be more practical with DS Something that matches the pattern in the dress (or the shoes?)

Also I'm looking for a handbag, probably one that matches the shoes? I have a lovely crushed velvet black bolero that would suit but actually I think I need something with long sleeves, maybe a long sleeved black bolero (is it still called a bolero if it's long sleeved?)

I have lots of jewellery - what would go do you think?

The shoes sound fab. Amazed to hear you now need to buy a long sleeved cover up though

black, 3/4 sleeves The dress can't really take much of a necklace so I'd go with a cuff or chunky bracelet instead.
satin might better than crepe - distracts from the (inevitable) difference in the shades of black It's petite but most ranges go to 5'4"
shrug, also in cream

this in either the white? I'd call it a hat but it calls it's self a facilitator. There's definitely a grey area. Very nice thing anyway.
this would be great, but maybe over budget?

Dunno, it's all getting rather middle aged. Bag is difficult.

(Hope I've not offended you with the middle aged comment, it's just your user name implies you're only 29...)

not offended at all and I am indeed 29.

I love the shrug, the "satin" seems to link back to the original dress?

I really really love the hat/fascinator - will have to consider if I can stretch to it. Not keen on the Pillbox hat though...

ION I am v. tempted by the flat black shoes you linked to earlier on as something to change into later in the day when the wedges are killing me (I'm rubbish in heels)

Good!

black satin bolero