This is not my natural turf so please bear with me! Apologies for the epic post...
I am getting married in October, in a woodland, in Scotland. Small do, pub lunch after, just us and a few friends. Am not a hippy btw, but I do like being outside. Nothing at all posh, though I fear DP will insist on wearing a kilt.
I need to buy a frock to get married in and I'm at a bit of a loss. I'd just like a nice dress which suits and flatters me, and that I can wear again for posh stuff. I like the look of lots in Phase eight and some in Monsoon, but I can't really work out how to decide which would be best (I know: I apologise). I haven't worn a dress for about three years due to PG/BF, and I wear mainly jeans or waders for work - I am totally out of my depth here! In the days where I did wear frocks, I was a bit of a hippy, and also had rather fabulous pre-baby figure: I really want something with a bit of structure and style now.
The city I live in has only small branches of most shops, with the odd dress in; and I have two small DDs and very little chance to go shopping - certainly no time to try stuff on. So am contemplating a day out in our nearest Proper shopping city, but have no-one I can take with me who has the first idea about dresses etc either. I am also aware I need the right underwear on/with me to make anything work.
I am tall and still slimish; good legs, good bust, dreadfully flabby arms and no waist. I would love something which gave me a good waist, but without any sausage-type overflowing anywhere. Budget around £200. Big fan of red or purple, no spaghetti straps, like a fullish skirt, no halternecks; must suit a 40 year old!
So... please can anyone point me at what to look for in a dress, which shops to look at or anything to avoid - and how do I get the neat waist thing? Is it worth finding a department store with a personal shopper; do the concessions in dept stores carry enough dresses to make that worth doing? Any advice at all would be appreciated...