Very fancy wedding

[LittleGwyneth]

Hello! I'm going to a VERY grand wedding. Other people will be wearing Vampire's Wife at the high end and Rixo at the lower. I need to find a fantastic dress. I'm not a super close friend of the couple so don't want to be a big show off. Basically want the kind of dress which could realistically be called a gown, looks fairly sexy but isn't a showstopper (not that I think I could upstage the bride, who is a literal model). Budget up to around £450, could go more if I'm likely to be able to wear it for years. Massive boobs, small waist, c-section tummy, size 14 on a very good day, don't like my arms. Wedding is in Paris in the late spring. Tvm.

Rixo dresses are priced within your budget. Alternatively, why don't you hire something? Both Rixo and The Vampire's Wife can be hired from By Rotation. Matchesfashion have frocks to hire too.

@coconotgrove Sorry, I lost my train of thought and didn't add that I can't bring myself to buy Rixo because the quality is SO bad.

What about vintage? You'll get something unique.

Indeed, I wouldn't buy anything from them either for this very reason!

PS. If you do contemplate the hire route, look at dresses by Roksanda

Needle&thread ?
www.needleandthread.com/collections/dresses

@LittleGwyneth maybe look at Wyse? Got some gorgeous ones which are defo re-wearable and I find their quality is good. This is quite Vampires Wifey…www.wyselondon.com/collections/dresses/products/lana-lame-dress-green

@LittleGwyneth also this? www.wyselondon.com/collections/dresses/products/aimee-lame-dress-gold-longer-length

What an amazing dilemma to have, following put of nosiness/slight jealousy 😂

I went to a high-end French wedding years ago but it was a bit more country demesne/Comtesse de la etc/pheasant-themed page boys than Vampire's Wife, sadly. Cracking catering though!

Do you want full length and what shoes are you thinking of?

Maybe dress rental might be a good idea for a wedding like that?

I'm quite keen on this, from @FurAndFeathers' Needle and Thread selection - www.needleandthread.com/products/rose-bluebell-genevieve-gown-pale-blue

I'd absolutely be hiring something for this - for the price of buying one dress in your budget you could rent a whole capsule wardrobe for the weekend from My Wardrobe HQ, By Rotation or Hurr.

Rent from Selfridges.

Hire a dress, it'll be a fraction of the price and then won't be wasted hanging in your wardrobe afterwards

Self portrait? Or, maybe not quite gown level, but Reformation might be worth a browse

Thanks so much for the suggestions - Needle & Thread and Wyse both great shouts. I didn't know you could rent from Selfridges so going to explore that next. I think rental is a great shout, but around the size 14/16 mark it seems like options are a bit thinner on the ground (and I think I'd need a 16 in something properly tailored etc).

OP, if you're based in London, the rental section in Selfridges is on the third floor (as well as online)

I've never bought from Sika but what about these for something different?

www.sikadesigns.co.uk/shop/alanidress

www.sikadesigns.co.uk/shop/riomaxidress

www.sikadesigns.co.uk/shop/bridress

And unlike Vampires Wife very little chance of bumping into 3 other people wearing your dress in a slightly different colour.

www.sikadesigns.co.uk/shop?category=DRESSES

All Sika dresses.

@NatashaDancing Oh these are amazing!

Came here to suggest Needle & Thread and Wyse, see both are already covered. Would add Self Portrait and potentially Zimmermann to the mix. Look on Outnet or Yoox for better deals if you don't want to rent.

You could hire something really nice instead of spending £450?

I have also found the personal shopping service (just the chat function on the website!) at Harvey Nicks outstandingly good. Definitely worth a shot sending them your event, size, preferred colours and styles, budget etc. and seeing what they come up with.

www.hurrcollective.com

Oh, also Reformation!