Need help finding a wedding guest dress! Size 16/18

[Morgandetoi]

I am driving myself nuts trying to find a suitable wedding guest dress for an October wedding.

I have found a beautiful dress on Needle & Thread but my mum thinks it’s to “bridesmaidy”. Opinions?

I am a size 16/18 it has to be maxi dress and long sleeved as I have fat calves and I’m not comfy about showing my arms, nothing tight around the belly after 2 kids! Budget around £500 but something I can wear again. My style is quite boho chic. I feel like I have tried every brand I know, any recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Sorry, I’d agree it’s too bridesmaid dress.

www.johnlewis.com/adrianna-papell-chiffon-floral-gown-multi/p5677848

www.johnlewis.com/monsoon-regina-embellished-maxi-dress-pink/p5543612

www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-daryl-pleated-maxi-dress-lavender-multi/p4939300

this is nice

Go for one of the suggestions by @DeletedByAccident or @CovidCorvid. They’re all lovely.

Sorry OP to carry that off I think you need to be tall, built like a stick and preferably in a photo shoot or a member of the bridal party, especially in October.

How tall are you? what colouring? and what's your usual style?

Your mum is right, you can't wear that to a wedding as a guest.

A couple more

www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/mikael-aghal/dresses/maxi-dress/gathered-belted-floral-print-chiffon-maxi-dress/18706561955514337

www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/flounced-abstract-maxi-dress?category=dresses-maxi-midi&color=015&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/second-female-annie-maxi-dress?category=dresses-maxi-midi&color=009&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/joanna-hope-dobby-foil-print-maxi/mn288/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=5014&optionColour=Multi+Print&pdpClick=true

I liked this, but also not very Autumnal
www.mytheresa.com/en-gb/anna-kosturova-tie-dye-silk-wrap-dress-1847461.html?catref=category

I don't like the one in the op at all. Also agree it might be difficult to pull off for any mortal (non model).

Some nice suggestions on here already!

Crepe is more practical thank silk. No idea why the link is so long
www.mytheresa.com/en-gb/poupette-st-barth-exclusive-to-mytheresa-capri-floral-crepe-maxi-dress-1792100.html?utm_source=sea_pla&utm_medium=google&utm_campaign=google_sea&ef_id=CjwKCAjwp_GJBhBmEiwALWBQk5ty5FxbwA-4cGxlH0Mu8nRpl9ceibDqZ-5O9u14rhcbyjNprESLlxoCUQ4QAvD_BwE:G:s&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=CjwKCAjwp_GJBhBmEiwALWBQk5ty5FxbwA-4cGxlH0Mu8nRpl9ceibDqZ-5O9u14rhcbyjNprESLlxoCUQ4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&slink=1&slink=1

I'm the same size as you, I don't know how tall you are, though. It's a very pretty dress, but I think there's too much bulky stuff going on around the midriff and hips to be flattering for our size.

Selfridges

www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/self-portrait-vintage-floral-print-crepe-maxi-dress_R03758200/?previewAttribute=MULTI

www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/maje-printed-crpe-asymmetric-maxi-dress_R03672482/?previewAttribute=RED%20BLUSH

[quote meadowbleu]Selfridges

www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/self-portrait-vintage-floral-print-crepe-maxi-dress_R03758200/?previewAttribute=MULTI

www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/maje-printed-crpe-asymmetric-maxi-dress_R03672482/?previewAttribute=RED%20BLUSH[/quote]
Your first one is perfect for an autumn wedding ! Love it

Silk, and she cuts well. I’m fatter than you, but have brilliant trousers and dresses bought in the sale
www.annascholz.com/online-store/dresses/silk-shirred-maxi-dress.html

Your DM is right you can't wear that plus it won't be very flattering.

The free people one CovidCorvid posted or the first Anthropologie one posted by Pinkcadillac are both very nice and suitable for a wedding. The one in the OP isn’t nice or suitable and a lot of the others have beading and embellishments and fabrics which make them evening rather than daywear to me. Personally I think you have to be careful with maxi dresses in this context as they can look very casual or veer towards bridesmaid/evening. I’d wear a jumpsuit if I didn’t want my legs out.

I bought this for a thing I went to recently and they have some other nice dresses which are wearable again

Me&Em

The pink me + em dress posted by @PinkTonic is beautiful.

That Me & Em dress is lovely but I've had 2 dresses from there fall apart the second time of wearing and a pair of trousers with a pathetically fragile zip that didn't last a month. Such a shame as the designs are great and immensely versatile but the execution is sub-par. I do object to having to fork out to get clothes mended when they cost that much in the first place.

Have a look at www.joebrowns.co.uk

The new autumn range is out & there are some gorgeous dresses at not silly prices. The short sleeved ones you could still wear with a nice cover up or jacket.

Try hope and ivy
hopeandivy.co.uk/collections/new-season/products/the-sara

Boden have some lovely ones

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/mariam-dress/sty-d0011

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/tiered-maxi-dress/sty-d0019

I have this one in a different colour way (navy white and tan that they don't seem to do) it moves and flows really well. I'm wearing it to a wedding in September with a little shrug

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/eleanor-jersey-midi-dress/sty-j0806

Have a look through Simplybe

www.simplybe.co.uk/

This is what I bought for a wedding recently

www.nancymac.co.uk/products/florrie-dress-in-bluebell-rose-garden-print-silk-georgette-1

Ok it’s not maxi, but they might be able to make it bespoke longer - they’re happy to alter designs if possible. It’s extremely comfy, I’m also 16-18 and ordered a size 5. Sleeves are lovely and loose. Really nice to wear. There are other prints in the same style. Also other longer options in other styles. Really loved it!