Wedding guest dress - OMG it's a 'bridesmaids dress'!

[Fatsia]

I don't 'do' fashion and never wear dresses but have a big family wedding coming up v soon in London. I'm fat and fifty and never dress up.

Raced out to buy something suitable to wear, yesterday - literally the last day I'll get to shop. Bought an 'acceptable' oyster coloured dress at Monsoon and last night discovered, online, that it's one of their bridesmaid collection.

Am I going to look ridiculous? It's the Beatrice bridesmaid dress - without sleeves, in their collection (don't know how to do a link for this). I've also got a sheer short ivory shrug to go over it.

Tried it on and thought it looked OK for someone of my age and size but if it's going to be obviously a bridesmaid's dress, will this stick out a mile? I've no idea what the real bridesmaids are wearing (all young twenty somethings).

What do you stylish, fashion conscious MN people think?

[Trills]

It's a very nice dress btw!

[Trills]

There is no strict line between "bridesmaid dress" and "wedding guest dress".

This obvious becomes a problem if you dress your bridesmaids in this season's Monsoon or Coast dresses (and that's why I get my wedding guest dresses from ebay!).

[bunchoffives]

What a great site that Monsoon one is.

I too think that dress is entirely appropriate for a guest Fatsia. But agree with matching it with navy as more suitable for your age (and mine :)).

Anyway thanks for the thread, I've just picked up 2 dresses badly needed for work. Very chuffed!

[SPBisResisting]

Thats a lovely dress and definitely doesnt look bridesmaidy. As someone else said, check what colour the bridesmaids are wearing - assuming theyre wearing a strong colour im sure it will be fine

[Paintyourbox]

Gorgeous dress!

Do you have any brightly coloured shoes? The dress is a colour that will go with pretty much anything to you could make it less bridesmaid by teaming bright shoes with it.

Maybe add a bright pashmina if you have one at home.

I wouldn't bother with a fascinator- they're overdone these days anyway.

[TobyLerone]

Thought black as OP has said that was her last chance to get to the shops before the wedding!!

Exactly what I thought.

Navy will be lovely with it. Navy bag, too. And leave the jacket on until the reception. When you get rid of it depends on how similar it is to the bridesmaids' dresses and how drunk everyone is :o

No hat/fascinator. You'll look great!

[LittleBearPad]

It's lovely. You'll look great. Don't stress too much about headgear if it isn't you. It's not compulsory in quite the way it used to be.

[breatheslowly]

Don't bother with a hat/fascinator. Most people seem not to.

[GerardButlersSecretLover]

None of the links worked for me but I found it by putting Beatrice in the search box. I think it is lovely and not like a bridesmaids dress at all!

[spanishring]

Fatsia forget about a fascinator they're so passé.
Lovely dress - have fun

[throughgrittedteeth]

It's gorgeous! I'd wear that as a going out dress, I'm sure you'll look great!

[Fatsia]

Thank you very much everyone. I've already got the shoes which match the dress but thought I might wear a silky/satiny looking blue-navy Monsoon jacket that's a few years old but still looks good - over the dress and the chiffony type shrug and then take the jacket off at the reception later. Sound like the navy addition might be a good idea then but if/when I take it off, will I look too 'oyster/ivory'? Also, it's a full length jacket not a short cropped one.

I haven't yet got a hat or fascinator - again, I never ever wear headgear!!! However, I did look at fascinators and was shocked that the starting prices were £85 in the shops. However, I found similar ones on Amazon for less than £10 but really don't know how to 'wear' a fascinator or a hat.

My hair style looks terrible once anything squashes it down. So I'd feel obliged to wear the fascinator or hat the entire lenght of the wedding. However, I also don't have the sort of hair that easily 'holds' a fascinator - either a band or a comb version. My hair's very fine and only ever looks good if I blow dry it and use hairspray to bring it up from the roots and give it volume.

A hat or fascinator will serious ruin this but I've heard that everyone at this wedding is sort of expected to wear a hat or fascinator so feel I ought to do something along those lines.

...And then there's the clutch bag too! Will have to order this online too but not sure what to get.

[Karbea]

I thought navy might look nice, black too harsh.

[SundaySimmons]

Coral would be preferable to black accessories. I just think black wouldn't do the dress any favours.

[LoreleisSecret]

Thought black as OP has said that was her last chance to get to the shops before the wedding!!
I do not own mink shoes. Maybe i need to invest

[SundaySimmons]

It's beautiful, not even remotely bridesmaid-y!

I would not team it with black myself, I would team it with mink. Mink colour not min the animal! Ha

[LoreleisSecret]

It's beautiful.
Team it with some black heels and bag, i dont think its too bridesmaidy at all !

[PTA]

Not at all bridesmaidy. Before I clicked on the link I was expecting some sort of floaty full length nummber.

However, as other posters say maybe a coloured shrug or even just a pashmina/wrap. Are you wearing a hat/facinator? Can you match a wrap to your headpiece?

[buttercrumble]

It's beautiful , don't worry you will look fabulous . I wouldn't have known it was a bridesmaid dress if you hadn't said

[GertBySea]

I agree not bridesmaidy but would avoid an ivory shrug.

[Damnautocorrect]

Beautiful dress, wear it

[auntpetunia]

I think its lovely maybe a shrug in a colour would be better though. Most bridesmaids I've seen recently have pink, red, blue green or even black dresses!

[cantreachmytoes]

I was about to say don't but it looks so unlike a bridesmaidy dress, I don't think there's a problem in the dress itself. Because it's from the bridesmaids range, it might be an idea to just check what colour any bridesmaids will be wearing, without saying you know your dress is from the bridesmaid range.

Agree with above poster about the white shrug though, black would be better, or navy?

Chances are the bridesmaids won't be wearing that one, and it's a beautiful dress, so you'll look lovely!

[Lizzabadger]

I think it's very pretty. Have fun!

[CozyOtter]

link!