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 think the navy dress looks great and really suits your figure. It's a keeper, whether or not you end up wearing it for this wedding or not.

Navy dress looks amazing!!

Keep us updated as to the final choice!!

Fabulous thread, shameless placemark but I'll be back to place my vote!

The navy dress does look amazing on you. This is why I struggle buying clothes online because it’s perfect for someone with more curves and looks so much better with curves but I never would have known that from the photos online. Why can they not show clothes on a variety of sizes?!

Why can they not show clothes on a variety of sizes?!

Some shops are beginning to do this and I think it will become more common as they try and reduce returns. It's one of the things I love about ASOS, because they have things in their range in petite and curve sizes as well as regular you can begin to get a sense of what it might look like on a normal person rather than an underweight teenager. Size 8 on a 5'4" petite model or size 14 on a 5'10" plus size model are way more realistic representations than size 8 on a 5'10" regular model.

I do find ASOS useful to an extent but I wish they showed every item of clothing on a size 8, 12 and 16 for example - I know it would massively increase their shoot costs, but as you say it would decrease returns, admin costs, courier costs etc.

So French weddings can be a bit of a surprise. They are very different to UK ones.

madame.lefigaro.fr/mariage/comment-shabiller-quand-on-est-invitee-a-un-mariage-010416-113681

Gosh, thanks for that Wally maybe I should try on that Uterque ensemble with my naked boobs under a blazer. It would be like something from Ab Fab - when ejected from the church I could wail "but it's designer!!! And Madame figaro said it's perfect for a wedding!!!!!"

Oh well found Wally - I did a half-hearted google after some sort of similar article myself but found nothing. That's us all told (although I disagree with the NO WHITE OR BLACK IN ANY FORM brigade ffs).

No robes de sirène but boobs under blazer is ok - what a minefield!

This jumpsuit is quite nice... www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/full-length-jumpsuits_cod1188406768649118.html#dept=INTL_Jumpsuits_CLOTHING US 10 though maybe too small

You think that's hard work. Try a Byron Bay marketing/fashion-set type wedding. Bare boobs under blazer = fine. In fact, big ticks, especially if they are bronzed and pert. White/pastels/black, minis, plunging cleave whatever = fine. Looking a wee bit frumpy or overweight or in any way average = not fine.

I like the jumpsuit Bani, but the neck is too high. I don't like the navy dress, sorry OP. I've looked at it again and it doesn't do you justice, and sorry but is boring and too MOTB.

Just to add an idea to the mix yellow looks good with navy as seen here

www.harveynichols.com/brand/boutique-moschino/300947-navy-honeycomb-cotton-blend-dress/p3319768/

Have your new dresses arrived yet ?

Ah I know, I don't fancy necks like that myself, they feel strangling without any mitigating factors (like drape or warmth). But I was avoiding making a phone call at work so idly googling a few minutes ... ;)

I tend to agree on the navy dress since I re-read your OP and it just doesn't feel like what you want. The OP:s brief is fashion forward.... the navy dress isn't. But I do stand by my statement that it works well if you want to do a British Wedding Look.

Ellle that is exactly how this event will be. I could wear anything "inappropriate" if I was slender, tanned and toned. Looking like a mid 30s mum with an extra stone round the middle will be judged

Other dresses should be arriving sometime today. Not getting my hopes up

How much time do you have now?

I think this might work on you www.next.co.uk/style/st319354#648609

My friend who works in this sort of thing says look at ralph lauren

She says maybe this with sleeves cropped to just after elbow and some statement earrings and not black heels www.johnlewis.com/ralph-lauren-tannah-jumpsuit-black/p3827322

Or this which is almost bland BUT a really on trend colour/print www.johnlewis.com/lauren-ralph-lauren-floral-print-dress-cambridge-green/p3961396
Have to admit Im not 100% on the RL but thought I'd add them to the mix!

I genuinely like the navy phase 8 dress... but I detest the green one .

LK Bennet floret courts come in some beautiful colours this season. I have the powder blue on order in my size.

Avoid headgear and go for a kick ass blow dry. Elegant and stylish.

Ps. I got the Oliver bonas pale blue and silver clutch to go with LK shoes.

When is the wedding? I have read the thread but I thought this weekend so I'm checking really. I'm British but used to be part of a French family. Been to my share of weddings. Please don't be so very hard on yourself. You look lovely in the navy dress. Not fashion forward sure, and maybe something else better will arrive but I've been you, agonising about clothes/image etc but actually this is your brother's wedding. You are a support act - please don't take that the wrong way - being happy, charming and having a lovely time is what people will want from you. NOT designer clothes you wouldn't normally wear. Make sure you are comfortable and you have fun.

Too invested now. Am thinking maybe Mango or Zara would be good to look at? Trouble is quality so uneven.

All 3 you shared look lovely. I'd pick the first dress.

I would be wary of an off the should look for those blessed with big breasts.

Just hopping on to see the VW va va voom.

Sorry I still haven't read the whole thread but I've found those 3 pics and I agree that you look lovely in the navy blue dress. I hear you that it's not edgy and normally I'm all for getting out of your comfort zone and having a bit of fun with clothes. But I would just bear in mind that when it's a wedding you're likely to be living with the photos for the rest of your life and nothing dates faster than fashion forward.

Jump suits in particular - I nearly bought one recently for a wedding myself and we discussed it at length on the Parisienne thread. But - and you can trust me on this - they do not date well. In fact when they go out of fashion they look shocking. Now personally I don't care, I like a bit of bad fashion - it's funny. However you might think otherwise, especially if that photo's still on top of someone's telly in 10 or 20 years time.

isamonster
Good points

And Floisme