Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Invited to an A list wedding- need an outfit!

205 replies

Alsogoingtogetslated · 01/08/2023 23:33

I’ve been invited to a very high profile wedding. I had planned to lose 2 stone to fit into my outfit.
I didn’t.
So now I have a few weeks to find a stunning outfit (online) but my searching just keeps pulling up the same old shops- Reiss, Karen Millen, SHEIN/boo hoo etc. I’ve looked at needle and thread, Nancy max, the OUTNET.
What great websites can I look at to find-
Budget up to around £500
i suit red/cobalt blue/deep pink/green- jewel colours
I suit jumpsuits/ midi and maxi dresses/high necks if they are high cowl/structured, one shouldered and halterneck things and wide leg trousers and blazers
I like structured clothes but it doesn’t have to be
I don’t suit short dresses or anything wafty or round necks or pastel colours.
I'm size 16, fairly big boobed.

Bonus points if you can find me something!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
61
Mybingoballs · 02/08/2023 09:06

NEW LOOK have some nice dresses MANGO or Debenhams?
I’m a size 16 and a 34H bra so I’m getting you and have a good wardrobe but I invested in a sewing machine (it’s become my new best friend ♥️) I adjust nearly everything now including all my charity shop buys. (I literally just YouTube everything sewing) Hope you get something nice and enjoy the day keep us all updated 👍🏼

NatashaDancing · 02/08/2023 09:12

Monster80 · 02/08/2023 09:00

Frumpy for me is clearly not frumpy for you and we are all entitled to our thoughts. I think lots of the posters are going off-brief, which was 'A-lister wedding outfit', not suggestions for a random family wedding in middle England, which many of the outfits would be v suitable for.

The Vampires Wife has a giant celebrity following and would therefore be very suitable for the brief: A lister wedding.

This is one of their best selling designs, which comes in many different fabrics:
https://thevampireswife.com/collections/the-cinderella

I avoided suggesting Vampire's Wife for the reasons you suggested ! It's probably the most instantly recognisable A list dress. Every possiblity there will be others wearing the same dress in different colours.

On a more practical level the sizing is tiny. I'm a 14 but having seen a VW size 14 on a hanger no way could I squeeze in to it.

ShirleyPhallus · 02/08/2023 09:15

littlestrawberryhat · 02/08/2023 06:43

Nasty little response. They are a lovely selection of smaller brands that cater to women who are interesting, creative and confident in their own sense of style and in themselves. You don’t need to take someone down like that because they like something different from you. Chances are you will be picking up dresses inspired by batsheva in your local sainsburys in a few years time once that style has trickled down to the basics. I would much rather women like you thought i looked “batshit” than approved of my outfit!!

You made almost exactly the same comment on another thread about dresses posted by someone else on this thread - are you a sock ?

Motherofbride23 · 02/08/2023 09:17

I was given some fabulous advice on here earlier this year & got nothing but compliments. Have you considered Bombshell? I ended up with a dress from Ispirato but would seriously consider Bombshell in the future.

ShiteRider · 02/08/2023 09:18

Monster80 · 02/08/2023 09:00

Frumpy for me is clearly not frumpy for you and we are all entitled to our thoughts. I think lots of the posters are going off-brief, which was 'A-lister wedding outfit', not suggestions for a random family wedding in middle England, which many of the outfits would be v suitable for.

The Vampires Wife has a giant celebrity following and would therefore be very suitable for the brief: A lister wedding.

This is one of their best selling designs, which comes in many different fabrics:
https://thevampireswife.com/collections/the-cinderella

Absolutely, that’s exactly the point I was making (without the insight into a-lister weddings 😂)

MarciaSaysANumber · 02/08/2023 09:19

Solace London has some photo-worthy frocks. Pinks between £500/600. Green less. (Just examples, plenty more on site.)

Invited to an A list wedding- need an outfit!
Invited to an A list wedding- need an outfit!
Invited to an A list wedding- need an outfit!
MarciaSaysANumber · 02/08/2023 09:24

Glad to see @AppleDumplingWithCustard‘s comment has been deleted.

Amazing how many people bring their fear of the unfamiliar to this particular board.

Monster80 · 02/08/2023 09:28

NatashaDancing · 02/08/2023 09:12

I avoided suggesting Vampire's Wife for the reasons you suggested ! It's probably the most instantly recognisable A list dress. Every possiblity there will be others wearing the same dress in different colours.

On a more practical level the sizing is tiny. I'm a 14 but having seen a VW size 14 on a hanger no way could I squeeze in to it.

I liked your suggestions @NatashaDancing - they to me fit the A-lister brief that seemed to sail over many posters heads. I'm a 14 and have tried TVW dresses and didn't find the sizing problematic, they go up to size 18 though, best not to be focussed on the size rather the fit. Hopefully OP has many brilliant suggestions to leaf through.

ShirleyPhallus · 02/08/2023 09:29

MarciaSaysANumber · 02/08/2023 09:24

Glad to see @AppleDumplingWithCustard‘s comment has been deleted.

Amazing how many people bring their fear of the unfamiliar to this particular board.

It was a fair comment, it’s absolutely fine to not like the same stuff

Its funny how all the highly fashionable stuff seems to be so similar - shapeless baggy high neck floor length dresses in various shades of horrible pastels

SatelliteStomper · 02/08/2023 09:31

New Look / Debenhams for 'a very high profile A-list wedding'? Seriously?

I love VW but agree on a) sizing and b) ubiquity. I recommend hiring.

sasham84 · 02/08/2023 09:40

https://deadlyisthefemale.com do absolutely stunning dresses. The Alexandra King range are free fitting and designed to flatter your body shape. They have pockets too and are so comfy.

Invited to an A list wedding- need an outfit!
littlestrawberryhat · 02/08/2023 09:45

Ooh what about belulah London, you’ve got the budget for it.

gogomoto · 02/08/2023 09:50

@sasham84

Love deadly is the female, we love about an hour from there so I go in person

gogomoto · 02/08/2023 09:53

@ShirleyPhallus

I think the same, many of these really high priced brands I don't think are smart at all. For a high end wedding I would want structured firm fabrics, but getting the right fit isn't easy. My go to dress is from pepperberry but they have ceased now.

MarciaSaysANumber · 02/08/2023 09:53

SatelliteStomper · 02/08/2023 09:31

New Look / Debenhams for 'a very high profile A-list wedding'? Seriously?

I love VW but agree on a) sizing and b) ubiquity. I recommend hiring.

I suspect the ‘Debenhams’ poster either isn’t aware of other clothing brands or (more likely) was just havin’ a larf …

gogomoto · 02/08/2023 09:56

@SatelliteStomper

I've seen better clothes in these everyday stores than many of these suggestions ... to me these flowing, dresses look very scruffy. But we are all entitled to different taste. A higher price tag doesn't make an outfit nice!

Keykaty · 02/08/2023 10:02

I'd hope to have the guts to rebel and buy something I liked that was inexpensive and mass produced. You can be sure it will be unique at an A list wedding where everyone else is trying very very hard to live up to the standards expected!

I enjoy looking at the glam but I would turn down an invite to something like this (would never get one anyway). Too intimidating for me. But hey that's just me.

headshoulderskneesandtoe · 02/08/2023 10:03

I tried this jumpsuit on recently and it was beautiful and flattering (would never have tried it just from the photos, but the sales assistant recommended it). Has pockets, zips at the front and super flattering.

www.tedbaker.com/uk/p/Womens/Clothing/Jumpsuits-and-Playsuits/RACHILY-Halterneck-Jumpsuit-With-Wrap-Bodice-Detail-Green/270664-GREEN

Maireas · 02/08/2023 10:20

gogomoto · 02/08/2023 09:50

@sasham84

Love deadly is the female, we love about an hour from there so I go in person

Could you clarify? Are these all different brands? Don't know if it's your autocorrect!

SatelliteStomper · 02/08/2023 10:25

gogomoto · 02/08/2023 09:56

@SatelliteStomper

I've seen better clothes in these everyday stores than many of these suggestions ... to me these flowing, dresses look very scruffy. But we are all entitled to different taste. A higher price tag doesn't make an outfit nice!

I agree about differing tastes. A higher price tag does tend to ensure a better cut and fabric quality though (usually). There are always exceptions, but very few people look as good in cheap, mass-produced high st stuff as they would in something where more care has been taken with cut, structure and fabric. I include myself in this!

MotherofGorgons · 02/08/2023 10:45

Oh yes, I love The Fold. Expensive for me as I don't have many events, but those blue and plum dresses are to die for!

BusyLemon · 02/08/2023 11:11

I think other posters have mentioned above, but bombshell dresses are amazing! They look (and feel) incredible, and they really suit those of us with a big bust. They are super flattering and very very glam.