Bridesmaid woes - not liking the dress

[donutdunkin]

Friend is getting married in September, 4 bridesmaids - this dress

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-frances-jersey-maxi-dress/p2049089?colour=Cobalt

The others all like it, I hate it, or rather I hate it on me, does absolutely nothing for me. I think that friend would be amenable to getting it altered, if still matching with the others colourwise but not sure how to improve it tbh. Any ideas?

donut you can definitely take comfy shoes to change into for dancing after the ceremony/photos. It's a long dress so you won't really see them too much anyway.

Is anyone else going to alter the dress? I think it would look a bit odd if you are the only one who has a different dress tbh.

I am chief bridesmaid so ok to look a bit different

Oh dear that would look awful on me as I'm short and not pear shaped and really would look very pregnant in it

Not sure what alterations would help though... Perhaps book in to see a dressmaker and see what suggestions they have?

I'm thinking proper empire line may be better - get rid of the cross over panel and have the dress skirt part straight from under the bust?

Sorry Mash, you're right, she did

Less fabric and you'll have plenty of length of fabric to play with getting it altered.

It does sound like it's unlikely to be easily improved, in which case I'll just suck it up. I was just hoping (probably rather optimistically) that someone might say, oh you could do x,y and z easily and it would look better on your sort of shape.

What makes it worse is I suggested the damn thing! Friend had been looking for particular colours and I mentioned that I'd seen this in JL. Rest of bridesmaids tried it on and loved it and then when I got round to trying it on I realised my error!

It's the crossover panels. Honestly. Go to a dressmaker and get them removed. What are your shoulders like ? Because that style will also emphasise swimmers shoulders.

I am a swimmer!

The crossover fabric could be used to create a shawl effect to cover the shoulders too.

I do dressmake and I think it's doable, you could have less pleats/fabric on the skirt bit too.

I'd agree that the crossover panels are the problem. Even if they were removed and a straight across panel put on it would be better. If you did that you could maybe add a sparkly belt or something (chief bridesmaid perks!) to draw attention to your waist?

with the neckline it's hard to see how it could be altered much. Unless you could try and make it in to a halter, a little like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v2/1242088407_1/Modern-Halter-Deep-V-Neck-Draped-Waist-Grey-Long-Bridesmaid-Dresses.jpg&imgrefurl=www.aliexpress.com/popular/grey-chiffon-halter-neck-dress.html&h=1000&w=1000&tbnid=0B0pA8ONHygkuM:&docid=jF64j9EsTTOpzM&ei=o53TVZu0CYr_aKG9hWA&tbm=isch&ved=0CGUQMygiMCJqFQoTCNuR64DEs8cCFYo_GgodoV4BDA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this or this minus the keyhole or this

I quite like the dress but it looks awful on the model. I think she is too tall for it, or it is too loose on her or something.

I think you probably have to suck it up, op. It might look better on you once it has been shortened and is not swamping you?

Large trapezius means halter necks are no good

My bridesmaids wore this exact style but in midnight/navy. One of them picked it and the other two were really happy in it . None are particularly tall and they all have boobs .

They all looked beautiful and elegant and when I look over the pictures I'm always glad we picked those dresses

Would she maybe let you wear another from the John Lewis range?

www.johnlewis.com/search/women/womens-dresses-600001506/maxi/_/N-53f3Z4gnnZ1z0ropc?Ntt=cobalt

With you being so petite it's just far too much fabric. At least there is plenty of fabric for alterations though! I would take middle bit out completely, have the dress shorter (maybe just over knee), more fitted, keep same shape on boobs but maybe use waste material to add a soft cap sleeve.

I have broad shoulders and I find boleros/shrugs really flattering. How about having a look for something online a little like this or with longer sleeves?

For comparison purposes, in a well fitting dress v. this dress in a different colour

donut I'm confused!! Is the red dress the dress you are wearing as the bridesmaid? If so you look absolutely stunning in it!!

The dress on the left is me in a dress I like and fits with how I look in my head. The one on the right is the same as the bridesmaid dress I will be wearing but in a different colour.

But they both look lovely on you.

All i see on the right is a shapeless blob with fat arms

I agree with those saying find a skilled dressmaker, preferably one who can make from scratch with some design flare too - ask locally for recommendations

The dress itself isn't bad at all, but with the shape you describe yourself as, I can see why it would hang badly in you, it will basically drown you & look like a sack of spuds

There's too much fabric in both the front skirt & the ruched cross over panels, it needs taking apart, reducing the amount of fabric in these areas & remaking & reduce the waist size so it fits your body more snugly under your bust too, it should then look stunning on you.

This is a big job though, so it's unlikely to be cheap, but worth doing as it will be a dress that you could enjoy wearing again

Good luck

Ok, you are honestly being hyper critical as you look beautifully slim in the bridesmaid dress. If you feel self conscious about your arms then the bolero idea is still a good one xx