I am crap at dress shopping. Please help.

[Clartzilla]

I've name changed as I know a few people possibly know who I am in RL and may be coming to my wedding and I don't want them to know just how behind I am with my wedding planning!

basically my two adult bridesmaids are 5ft and 5ft 2 and somewhere between size 6 - 8. Both have always struggled with finding nice dresses to fit.

Despite not knowing each other they have both found the same dress they like, that comes in 'junior sizes' that they think will fit, and I also like it! BUT it is from China and has a 60 - 70 day order time. That is going to be cutting it quite fine for the wedding, plus you can't send it back if you don't like it. This makes us nervous.

this is the dress

has anyone seen anything 'off the shelf' that is vaguely similar (colour is completely negotiable) and could be adjusted pretty easily to fit a petite size if it isn't one already. I'm not a natural shopper, neither are my bridesmaids and we are struggling .

Alternatively does anyone have experience of For Him and For Her and have found the quality and sizing good enough for me to take a risk and order them like... tomorrow!?

ok ignore me. I may have got it wrong about being from China..... hmmm

How about asos petite occasionwear?

They start at size 2 and have free delivery and returns.

More here asos petite wedding

Try Phase 8 Collection 8 some stunning stuff (scroll to bottom first few quite dogey) www.phase-eight.com/fcp/categorylist/collection/collection8
or Coast
m.coast-stores.com/pws/ProductCategoryAttributeLink.ice?paId=wc_dept&value=bridesmaid&layout=list.layout&

The returns policy on that site would put me off (ie you don't get a full refund)

What's the budget?

Try diydress it's either .co.uk or .com and you send measurements to get custom made.
Wasn't too expensive and our dresses (4 in varying heights and sizes) took 29 days to arrive.

John Lewis has a good selection in smaller sizes including Coast (eg this) as well as petite ranges

Are you all settled on long length? A prom dress length might be more flattering on their petite frames?

budget is up to £150 per dress but ideally slightly less.

They probably would suit a shorter dress but that is all they ever get to wear and they fancy something longer for a change. If I can find something similar but short that would also be ok though.

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty yes it does concern me.

TessTackle thanks for the suggestion I will have a look

RosaDidIt and FestiveRoad unfortunately we have looked at those options and haven't found anything quite right.

m.msdress.co.uk/product/a-line-bateau-chiffon-floor-length-lace-prom-dresses-2794.html

www.simplydresses.com/popups/biggerimage.cfm?cataId=PD&productid=1345518&imgindex=4

It's based in NY OP, you'll have to pay customs charges on top of shipping.

It's crazy to buy something mail order that you can't return easily.

It would probably be safer to buy a ready made dress and have it altered to fit if necessary.

This could be nice (I like detailed backs on bridesmaids dresses, as they get seen a lot)

Ditto

But this sort of thing might suit them better (not in this colour though !)?

This coast dress is the most bridemaidsy, on budget petite dress in sizes 6 and 8 I could find. Any good?

Snap Lucked

Alternatively, a little over budget, but lovely, comes in petite, loads of colours and there is a slightly different two strapped style so you could have one in each?

Or this from Monsoon? (though I like the J Crew ones best)

Admired this dress yesterday in window display of House of Fraser
m.houseoffraser.co.uk/Eliza+J+Sleeveless+pleated+skirt+dress+with+lace+top/209939892,default,pd.html
Looks similar to the one you like a little over budget maybe and not petite but it did look lovely.

Sorry link not working from my tablet. Just search grey dress on Hof F site

Long navy

style in shorter length