Please help dress my chubby self for a wedding!

[BeaBoo]

I have a friends wedding to go mid-March, so four weeks time, and I am seriously stressing about what to wear. I like to be organised so I've started browsing stuff online now. I am at a loss and don't know where to start.

I am 24, long mid brown hair, pale, large size 16 (I am dieting quite successfully at the moment so hope to be a comfortable 16 at the time of the wedding.) I am an hourglass shape and have good underwear which smooths things out nicely for me. The tops of my arms are awful and I need to be covered to my elbow at least. I also can't go bare legged, which I am finding a problem as anything I like looks like it would be ruined by tights. I'm struggling to come round to the idea of wearing heels as I have never been good at wearing them, plus I have a 13mo dd to contend with. I also don't want to buy some which will only get worn once then relegated to the back of my wardrobe. I could be persuaded though.. maybe. One last thing - I am a SAHM so budget is quite tight. I can go up to £50/£60 as I have some money saved from christmas and I also have a £25 New Look gift card to use (shoes maybe?) but I can't see any clothes I like on their website. Anything cheaper would be a massive bonus.

Open to dresses or skirts/tops. I'm not keen on trousers as I feel like I look awful in them.

I really want to look nice and stylish. I've not bought myself any new clothes since being pregnant and I feel like I look rubbish all the time. My other friends who are going to the wedding always look fab, so I'd like to fit in!

Sorry lots of preferences to be considered but I'm really hoping one of you wise people can help me.

Also any suggestions on where to look would be great too, rather than specific items. I've run of ideas now.

The Boohoo website is cheap, good quality and there is so much choice! If you want something a bit more traditionally wedding-y Monsoon do nice things and there's usually a sale section on the website.

I looked at Boohoo but couldn't see anything

What sort of length do you think you would like? And, if it's okay to ask, are there bits you are happy to show off?

I don't mind short (obviously not mini skirt length!) as long as I can wear tights on my legs. Knee length or just slightly above knee would be best. I think I look dumpy in anything longer. I do look ok in a maxi dress but I'd feel a bit OTT.

I don't have much to show off really. I don't mind something fitted as I have an under bust control slip thing from M&S which is fab and flattens down most of my lumps and bumps.

I think a midi length would be ok on me if I can brave wearing heels. I have a midi skirt (like tube skirt style) which I wear sometimes that comes below the knee which doesn't look horrendous.

Can I ask about your undies? that sounds odd reading that back, I'm not a bloke . I sound like a similar shape to you and I'm curious to know about the good underwear that smooths things out, I seroiusly need this.

Certainly! I don't think any bloke woild be interested in my control pants anyway haha. I have this from M&S. It's absolutely brilliant and makes me look a lot smaller than I actually am. You can wear your own bra with it too. It may be the best thing I've ever bought. Would recommend to anyone!

What about something vintage-looking? Lindybop has some lovely dresses with longer sleeves that would look fab on a curvy hourglass, like this one: www.lindybop.co.uk/swing-jive-dresses-c3/cassy-vintage-inspired-1950s-red-parisian-style-polka-swing-party-dress-p261

I like this type of outfit actually. Would it be suitable for a wedding though? I think if I had that style of skirt and possibly heels then I could talk myself round to having bare legs if the skirt was the right length. Would heeled boots be wrong for a wedding? Are nude tights totally naff? So many questions!

I looked at Lindybop earlier actually. I had one of their dresses as a bridesmaid dress for my sisters wedding. I wasn't keen on anything I saw unfortunately and I don't want to stand out too much, if that makes sense

colour could work This with brown tights and chelsea boots?
could look fabulous
Bit ABBA bit if you're tall..?
Marisota have some nice dresses
maybe a tunic with some leggings?
Could work with good accessories
Very have some nice dresses

hells I really like that first ASOS dress you linked! I might order that to try, thank you

I'm 27 and size 14, I usually wear a tea dress type of thing for a spring wedding , they often don't have sleeves but I buy a coordinating cardigan and don't take it off! I usually pick a vintage kind of style as it suits my shape and they often come down to the knee and have a full ish skirt so it feels quite celebratory.

Happy that's something I'd try. Do you shop in a particular place or just come across that sort of style in random shops?

There's a vintage shop local to me that I've got one lovely dress from; but tbh I've picked things up from all over- as said upthread, monsoon is great for weddings and I have one dress I love from Primark!

I'm going to have a look at primark. We have a massive one here. I've looked at monsoon and it's all a bit too pretty for me. I'd prefer something I'd wear again too.

Bumping for the evening people

Try roman originals. Lots of sale bargains too xx