Please help dress an overweight woman who can't wear heels for a wedding!

[CrookedTiara]

I was actually going to skip this wedding (which is in about three weeks in the first half of May) because I don't have anything to wear, having put on a lot of weight this year because of medication, making me weigh in at a horrifying 15 and a half stone at just under 5 ft 6. But that seems like a cop out. Can anyone suggest anything I can buy online, as I live in the sticks, work mostly from home at the moment, and can't easily get to a city to shop?

I generally like plain-ish clothes, and favour wrap dresses - and as this wedding partly takes place in a quite conservative synagogue (and partly in a very famous museum, which is why I want to go!), it needs to be covered up, preferably long-sleeved, or with some kind of shrug/jacket.

The other challenge is that I simply cannot wear heels of any kind. When I wear formal-ish clothes at the moment, they tend to be slouchy black/dark/neutral asymmetric dresses worn with heavy silver jewellery and flat knee boots, but that doesn't sound weddingish-at all....? Which is of course annoying, because DH will just be showing up in the dark formal suit he wears every day for work, so why can't I? Grrr/

Any suggestions would be greeted with major gratitude. I realise it's a challenge...

Sorry I keep vanishing - I'm trying to finish a project from home, plus I have builders in the house.

I'm feeling cautiously encouraged by by the plain long dresses/jumpsuits people have suggested, which will solve my footwear issue, and look appropriate without screaming 'THIS IS A WOMAN WHO NORMALLY WEARS BLACK AND BIKER BOOTS TRYING TO DO FLORAL/GLITTERY WEDDING CHIC AT SEVERAL STONE OVERWEIGHT!!!'. Well, will if I can find decent flats. (Recommendations?)

No, can't wear low wedges - I broke my ankle very dramatically doing something stupid, and despite a generally good recovery, my balance isn't entirely 100%, and I have a tendency to 'go over' on my right ankle. And yes, I have wide, peasanty beasts of feet.

Honestly, I'm actually a reasonably OK-looking person, which I realise doesn't come across on here. However, as well as the excess weight (which I'm doing something about, and which will be largely gone by the next - family this time) wedding at the end of July - I am somebody which looks 'naturally' untidy - curly hair and disorganised features! - which is why all but the subtlest patterns and prints tend me make me look chaotic.

But can someone just tell me that wearing this - even to a rather hip urban London wedding, of incredibly wealthy people, which will involve a fair bit of dashing about in cabs from train to synagogue and then venue - is definitely not possible:

www.cosstores.com/gb/Women/Dresses/Volumnious_contrast_dress/46881-38135310.1#c-22755

Actually, the version I have is more fitted, has a shirt collar and buttons down the front, and looks wonderful with boots and a whacking great silver necklace...

Mmm, sorry, but TBH I think you could wear something like that with a crowd like that, in London.

Take a look at studio right. It's the plus size range from phase eight. Some lovely weddingy dresses. I'd go for sparkly flats.

I'm going to Henley in July and think I'm going with the navy wrap top maxi with cream and navy floral patterned 'skirt' a cream pashmina and cream sparkly flats or maybe navy. I don't want to wear heels or wedges as will be on my feet all day.

www.studio-eight.com/fcp/product/studio8/occasion-dresses/venus-dress/230114287

I'm similar height and similar weight. Wearing a wide leg jumpsuit to a wedding. So comfy!

Mmm, sorry, but TBH I think you could wear something like that with a crowd like that, in London

That's kind of what I want to hear, though. And in fairness, we are going to have to drive to a train, sit on a train to London for an hour plus, then tube/taxi to the service, then taxi to South Ken from north London, in weather that may be lovely or dire, so I think I'm legitimately a bit wary of strappy flat sandals and pretty florals...

Woodley, that's lovely and I think would be perfect for Henley, but I can't begin to tell you how awful it would look on me. Anything sort of 'fresh and summery' looks dire. The only times I've been to Henley I wore something entirely unsuitable and had a whale of a time getting so ratarsed on Pimms so that I missed a friend's race. Have fun!

Just go for it! You'll feel (and thus look) far better in something that's 'you' than you ever would in some carefully chosen thing that objectively looks great but isn't quite 'you'.

If you want to do the spendy thing go with something that'll still fit you in a few months. A great bag is always nice to have.

Lady V of London. The hepburn dress is sleeveless but you could wear a shrug or jacket. I wear it with flat shoes.

What about something like these?

Perfect with pumps or flats - especially the floral one.

Could someone suggest a great bag to lift my (possible) outfit? Everything I have is either a cross-body messenger bag or a giant leather tote stretched with too many books and todder paraphernalia!

The 50's thing is all well and good, I'm not averse a touch here and there myself. I think it'd make the OP feel like a prize prat though!

x post

I have to go out but try Yoox for bags, also, possibly The Outnet.

a clutch bag with a chain strap is pretty timeless, so you could invest in one and go all out for a chanel, or less spendy is the mulberry lily.
Most places have their own version of the tow above bags. Selfridges have a fab selection and you can narrow by colour and price.

I was going to go for a plain navy maxi, similar to the Joanna hope one above, and add dark pink/fuchsia accessories.

this might appeal but isn't cheap

It would, unfortunately. Objectively, those 1950s dresses are lovely. Personally, I would feel as if I were in fancy dress!

I love that bag, MrsL. You have a nice sense of my taste! Fancy a job as an internet personal shopper? I have money but an awkward body type and an awkward personality type as well, in that I hate shopping.

I would definitely recommend trousers, or even culottes as they look great with flats.

Pair them with a simple boat neck top which would look effortlessly chic.

I love that look, FashionStudent, but haven't seen anything that would be smart enough for a wedding...?

Asos White have some amazing trousers, so does their Premium Range.

Otherwise try House of Sunny.

Any unpatterned pair is suitable as long as the fabric composition is of high quality really.

These are ££ but nice:

gb.marinarinaldi.com/p-1221096004058-divinas-dark-navy
gb.marinarinaldi.com/p-1221146004058-designer-dark-navy
gb.marinarinaldi.com/p-6222056004079-dieci-bordeaux
gb.marinarinaldi.com/p-1221086004075-dama-black
gb.marinarinaldi.com/p-1621056004058-oppla-dark-navy

I am the same size and height and I'm wearing the teal butterfly hepburn dress from Lady V London - google them

I bought this from Taking Shape - its very flattering. With a jacket it's smart. I wear it with flats as it hits on the knee which I think is the key to flats (mid calf = dumpy leg). www.takingshape.com/uk/symphony-dress-18090.html

Thy are good for trousers too - worth knowing about.

I also recommend you look at Studio 8 - this is the plus size shop for Phase 8 who are always useful for a frock. I've had some stuff from them that is lovely. Mind, even Phase 8 go up to a 22. Deep joy, one of their dress search criteria is "dress with sleeves"

www.studio-eight.com/

PS I've just had a look at dresses with sleeves as a search - I wonder if perhaps I might understand something different by the word 'sleeve' ...