Help! Parisian wedding.

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My DBro is getting married in Paris to wonderful and impossibly gorgeous French SIL. I love them both but they and all their friends are very image conscious. I always feel like a giant pale galumphing hippo when I am over there and unfortunately I can't hide this time. There is no way I won't stand out like a sore thumb among their slender tanned petite friends so I am thinking instead try to go very fashion forward (which they will all recognise and appreciate, SIL reads French Vogue cover to cover every month). Like some kind of mad jumpsuit or giant Villanelle pink tulle dress or something.

Unfortunately very fashion forward seems to be made for sample size people and I'm 5'6", 11st, short waist, big bust and wobbly belly but good legs and relatively good arms. Looking through fashion editorials for ideas has terrified me (like this - eek: www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2019/may/05/rainbow-warrior-bold-colours-for-spring)

Any suggestions? Budget up to £800 for the whole outfit.

My usual style is more along the lines of cigarette trousers, striped top, blazer and converse...

I agree. I’ve decided on the back of this thread that I’m definitely going to wear Vivienne Westwood when I get married later this year (second marriage, small wedding, just us and my two daughters, so I’m not wearing a traditional dress).

DVF is stunning

OP if you are on the shorter side and you describe yourself as 11stone / not much of a waist but with great legs- would it work to invest in a killer pair of heels, and then a simple shortish / knee length dress and coat? Basically show off those pins?

Self portrait have some fab "mini" dresses (ie not too short on someone 5'6). Have you looked on Matches?

Just saw your links. I think that 'bombshell' dress would look great with slightly vintagey hair do, red lips and killer heels

I agree, DVF is fab too. Maybe Stella McCartney? She’s another one who really does understand how to make a woman look and feel fantastic, IMO.

The bombshell dresses look rather frumpy and dated.

This Vivienne Westwood looks so elegant if you are tall and willowy. I tried it as a possible for my daughters evening wedding and I looked like a pig in a blanket. I am only 5’2 and overweight tho.

Not sure budget will stretch but I also love Roksanda

red

black but I'd be tempted to alter the neck

The first black VW dress is THE ONE!

Pair with some big tortoise shell earrings (Zara) and some green or blue shoes and a smart little clutch. Immaculate gel manicure. Perfect dewy flawless makeup and a red lip.

these shoes

Have you looked at the Zimmerman jumpsuits on net a porter? I love them

That Roksanda dress in red is gorgeous. The Vivienne Westwood dresses are like very expensive day dresses to me...

I liked this dress but no idea what it'd be like for your figure OP.

www.ladoublej.com/default/ldj-editions/clothing/dresses/visconti-dress-orchidea-giallo-DRE0070GEO001ORC0002.html?cgid=ldj-editions-clothing-dresses#page=3&start=38

I think being comfortable in what you're wearing is hugely important.

If you are well endowed in the chest department have you checked out bravissimo as they are cut with your assets in mind. Next day delivery, order several and return what doesn't fit. Have a couple of gorgeous dresses from them this season that would be perfect teamed with a jacket and statement shoes

I really hate the sales' speak of "perfect teamed with a jacket". Why does she want to wear a jacket? Bravissimo are all basically jersey wrap dresses, no?

What about La Double J?

Or www.rixo.co.uk/product/camellia-droplet-daisy-and-floral/

Try: Kitri, Rotate Birger Christensen, L'Agence

Oh! And HVN!

I think those Bombshell dresses look a bit dowager princess. The VW black one is amazing though! Order it and try it on, what harm can it do?

The black Vivien Westwood is fabulous.

Another vote for the black Westwood. Plus you could wear it afterwards for loads of things.

Just checking back on the thread. I laughed at the “dowager princess” description for the bombshell dresses (which I recommended btw but I am old though not a dowager!)
I think it’s a vintage vibe which can look great for those of us “blessed” with G cups, but I can see too how other younger OP’s would see it as frumpy. Personally I think with the right natural hair (no horrid hat or coat), heels, barely there jewellery (if at all) and a red lip she could look stunning AND different.

I also liked the Roksanda orange dress and the black VW. Both amazing and would work well on your shape. The other VW fab though they are have too much going on with the ruched/big shoulders and when you’ve got boobs you’re usually quite too heavy so I don’t think they would work that well.

Before anyone also decides they’re frumpville they are very flattering on a top heavy frame and also much cheaper but a totally different more boho vibe. But they fit! They don’t pull and are cut on the bias which is very flattering on G/top heavy frames. Here’s a link for you OP in case anything in there appeals I can recommend as I do have a simple ghost dress and it looks good/Manages to minimise boobs and skim wobbly tummy.
Do go for the lower neck options, I’m not sure how flattering the round neck options are...
www.ghost.co.uk/clothing/dresses?viewAll=True

With that budget I'd be inclined to get a local dressmaker to make a dress that fits and flatters. Must fashionable stuff is just not designed to flatter a curvy figure and it makes a huge difference to wear something that fits right. If you want off the peg, do try Bravissimo. Thanks to S&B I am a recent convert and I love the way their stuff fits - not just wrap jersey by any means! Saint Bustier may be worth a try too.

@Una I would have suggested tailor made too but she’s out of time (unless someone knows of dressmakers who can knock a dress and minimum two fittings in a couple of weeks).

Bravissimo are nice for everyday, and you’re right they fit. But their smarter occasion wear clothes tend to be pretty boring imho and not very good quality fabrics.

Also we don’t know OP’s colouring so making suggestions on colours/prints is super hard. She knows what works best so I’m just concentrating on what I know for my G cup.

Just for inspiration (as backless dresses are a no no for G boobs unless they’re plastic ones) I’m leaving a Sézane link to their dresses in case you think this is the kind of stuff your DSIS and her guests would be wearing. If the answer is yes then some of the dresses in their page are not too dissimilar from some of the ghost dresses (for example the Madison) and only if you want to fit in with the general “vibe”.
I think the black VW dress does manage to make a modern statement but it is fitted like the bombshell vintage vibe ones. Do double check with your DSIS though that black is acceptable (not sure).
m.sezane.com/fr/e-shop/collection-ete-robes

You guys are all legends, thank you so much!

I have ordered an assortment of things to try on, still looking at yet more beautiful things and dithering about the VW black dress...it is SO beautiful... I will ask my SIL about the etiquette of wearing black before I pull the trigger and potentially fall deeply in love with a £800 dress I'm not allowed to wear!!

And yes I wouldn't be surprised if the some of the guests might wear those Sezane dresses. All SIL's friends look just like the lovely models in those pictures and unlike me they can wear a backless frock without a second thought.

I will update with pictures when options arrive!!

Ohhhh how exciting, a live shopping and trying on thread!! With fabulous gowns and so much potential for vicarious thrills.....

I’d suggest getting some shapewear before you try things on, so you will get an accurate idea of how the items will sit. Good luck!