Help please...how to style a black dress for a wedding

[greengoose21]

Hi S&B geniuses.

I scored myself a gorgeous dress in a charity shop today, which fits beautifully and I absolutely love. I've lost weight recently so nothing I have fits, and this makes me feel fab. The only problem is that it's black.

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/LADIES-PEARCE-FIONDA-ASYMETRIC-100-SILK-DRESS-COWL-NECK-SLEEVELESS-UK12-/311823488585?hash=item489a20d649%3Ag%3AMW8AAOSw2gxYoEOe&_trkparms=pageci%253A4f8b3a66-1889-11e7-b1d3-74dbd180bb2a%257Cparentrq%253A349d2f3d15b0aa11a30e4d68fffe6607%257Ciid%253A22.

I'm off to a wedding at the weekend and I have no idea what to wear/accessorise it with to brighten it up. I don't want to look like Auntie Morticiacome to put a curse on the happy couple's firstborn child!

Any suggestions gratefully received

Maybe very simple strappy sandals that show a lot of foot if you get me? Like one strap at the toes or something. I wouldn't go mad with jewellery, the dress is quite delicate.

I shall wait for better women than I to offer their expertise though.

Gorgeous! What colour is the detail on the dress, I can't make it out from the picture. Could you get a pashmina in the same colour?

Bolero and shoes in same colour as embroidery to make it less dark?

Hi, thank you all for responding. The embroidery is white, but quite faint. I could wear black strappy sandals but that's just more black...and my legs are not really the colour to carry off white sandals this early in the year.

I'd go for cerise to brighten that up..what about this?

You could go for metallic to match earrings or whatever, but I think black sandals will be fine depending on the style. You could brighten it up with matching nails and lipstick? I saw some sandals in next that were colour block b&w but don't know if they still have them and can't link on my phone sorry.

I'm assuming you want to keep prices reasonable?

and these shoes?
or these?

Its beautiful. How about something in your hair for colour. Some clip in flowers? Or a silver pashmina and delicate silver shoes

No..actually, I now thinkthat jacket is too structured for the dress/..
...still think cerise though

Or something like this?
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/513302543/white-grey-black-floral-pattern-pashmina?utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_Obsess4Accessories_sfc_osa&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_custom1=0&utm_content=10834578&gclid=Cj0KEQjw5YfHBRDzjNnioYq3_swBEiQArj4pdJE0-tvcWQTz-gcb_j5HNFSyV5Ty2dt8CK58YCl7kIQaAhqX8P8HAQ

I'm assuming you want to keep prices reasonable?

Fraid so. I will probably cruise the charity shops again this week, and only hit the real shops on Friday if I'm panicking. It's really helpful to know what to look for though..so I'm thinking bolero, matching high heeled sandals and possibly matching bag (too much???). Cerise, white or another bright colour.

Ooh, that pashmina is lovely too. I could definitely go looking for something along those lines...though I'd have to watch one of those YouTube videos about how to wear them!

I would go for some bright accessories. A colourful matching bag, pashmina and pair of shoes would add a splash of colour.

What about a hat like this to pick up the flowers?

I'm just not a hat person I'm afraid...woolly beanie excepted

Silver and pink accessories to lift it. Jacket or pashmina to make your body "not black".

This is me styled for a posh autumn wedding in a black dress. I had a massive flower, shoes & nails same colour as my lipstick.

I quite like bright blue with black - something like this?
uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.95,mon_1.6/2413780251
You could get shoes to match.

Really great ideas S&B. And maximum volume you look great. I'll report back in when I've been out shopping

Lots of colour in the accessories would be my input.

I don't think a bolero would be any good with the dress. You could look at a pink pashmina as above and get a pink hat or large flower on a band. Nude shoes and bag would lighten it. It is really more of an evening dress so are you going to be hanging around outside for photos? How cold will you get? I might consider a pink coat which are very fashionable at the moment so you will get lots of wear if you buy one. (Think Duchess of Cambridge style coat). Otherwise I'm afraid I think black is difficult for weddings. The other option might be emerald green.

this?

Herecomesthesun I'm not quite brave enough for that look. I think I'd probably look like a cross between Captain Caveman and Mrs Slocombe's pussy.