Wedding guest outfit for short, fat woman!

[FloofyKat]

I’ve a family wedding coming up next month and need something nice to wear. I’m sooooo out of practice with dressing for these kind of occasions and would welcome suggestions for outfits / where to buy (UK).

i am size 18-20 with huge bazookas, and only 5’ 3”.

I tried a couple of Scarlet and Jo dresses on but the maxi dresses are too long and I felt the shorter one just magnified my top half in a most unflattering way. And I’ve not worn a dress for decades, so that didn’t help with the comfort / confidence levels.

i did buy a nice pair of black wide legged trousers in a sale earlier this week, thinking I could maybe find a nice top somewhere? But haven’t seen anything yet ….

I’m with you . go for the trousers and buy a nice top. Sorry, can’t really help but have you looked at Curvissa?

The obvious alternative would be a jumpsuit…..

I’ve just been shopping for a wedding, with recent weight gain, and I am big on top as well. It’s been a challenge as I never go to smart events and feel very out of touch generally with clothes. I decided against a dress/ jumpsuit, as if it fits me on top, it’ll be too big for my waist and hips, so settled on trousers and a fairly expensive silk shirt/blouse. After I’d bought the blouse, I started thinking about the headgear, and saw a lovely hat online which was styled with a smart, but simple, quite plain dress. It looked great, and I thought if there’s another wedding invite, I’ll maybe keep the clothes very simple, in one colour, and focus on the hat. So that might be another way to approach it? Smart trousers in a nice colour, silk top, and a really beautiful Fascinator/hat?

I am a similar size to you and wore black trousers and vest too (similar to a jumpsuit) and work a chiffon floaty blazer/jacket over the top, with funky shoes and jewellery. It looked really smart and was wafty and comfortable

That sounds lovely @Pieceofpurplesky

Not heard of Curvissa, will check them ou!

I wouldn’t personally want to wear black trousers to a Spring or Summer wedding. A brighter colour would be fine. (IMO!)

You don’t mention a budget limit - and it’s not clear whether your event is hugely formal or more relaxed. If the latter, this might be interesting:

https://gb.marinarinaldi.com/p-7221214106001-rabat-white

Fascinated by the fact it comes with sleeves that can be attached ‘by a tailor’. And of course it could be shortened if too long. The good thing about Marina Rinaldi is that there should be enough fabric to accommodate any particular size.

It might be worth seeing if there are any MR clothes available to hire from places like Hurr or By Rotation.

For a more formal / traditional wedding, this would be lovely. Size 16 would be a UK 20. (In previous seasons they’ve shown clothes on a variety of differently sized models - and their clothes very often look even better on larger figures.)

https://batsheva.com/en-gb/collections/new-arrivals/products/lillian-dress?variant=44360006041849

I found this at John Lewis and it’s petite but up to a size 20. I think it could be styled very elegantly.
https://www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-petite-janine-statement-wide-leg-jumpsuit-black-multi/p111523237?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&s_share=jlappios&size=18&_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

Take a look on the JL website. There’s currently over 8000 dresses on there and the filter system is fantastic. Size, occasion, colour length etc…
All prices and brands.

That dress is so beautiful 😍

Op, I wore this to a wedding recently and had so many compliments. I am a similar body shape to you. Sizes look limited but if you find one, size down. It's super comfortable and I wore it with the same colour fascinator and had a similar colour handbag but gold sandals

Similar style dresses here. I just ordered loads online as I was stressing about what to wear! I'm sure you'll find something and have a fab day.

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/lyra-metallic-dress-22029860010.html?utmsource=rakutenmarketing&utmmmedium=affiliate&utmcampaign=2523611%3ALyst%20UK%2FEU&utmmcontent=15&utmterm=uknetwork&ranMID=44103&ranEAID=gcdL%2FATRVoE&ranSiteID=gcdLL_ATRVoE-6rT9qpQq0P.FFTk3mIUzMA

https://www.jdwilliams.co.uk/shop/joanna-hope-pleated-swing-dress/DT895/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=1010&optionColour=Pink&optionSize=16&promo=6202&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADDW1TwJZWPIEGAJ-UiCuXnkahyB&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIieWtyJKthQMVLYdQBh0KzghEEAQYBiABEgKHCfDDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

That is lovely!

I’m guessing that the wedding is not too formal ie no hats, fascinators, full posh gear. But smartish, and I don’t want to look like a sack of potatoes…. I do want to look like I’ve made an effort 😂

Budget? I don’t want to spend loads and I’d rather buy an outfit I’m going to get good wear out of. I think trousers and top are more likely to fulfill this requirement. Or a jumpsuit, tho I’ve never dared wear one before!

Needs ideally to have sleeves or a wrap etc to cover my shoulders and bingo wings. I don’t like tight, high necklines.

Thank you for all the ideas so far x

https://fennwrightmanson.com/products/claudie-jumpsuit-petite

Try this, it's reduced to £12! I am a bit shorter than you and had to get it taken up.

I am a similar size and bought Scarlett and Jo but had it taken up ( by 6 inches!).

Have you looked at Joanna Hope? I’m a similar height to you and around a size 22 and have a dress from there for a wedding next weekend. Lots of dresses with floaty sleeves, or jump suits, and some tops/trousers. My dress is described as ‘midi’ and comes just below mid-calf.
Lots available on eBay too.

I could have written your post myself OP- I have a family wedding next month - this is stunning- I’m going to order it and see how it looks. Oatflatwhiteforme- thank you so much

Don't know particularly about fitting things to a larger frame (my bazookas are diminutive at best) -

But I often find that dresses cut as 'midi' - i.e. designed to be mid calf on taller women, end up a lovely length on me (5'2).

So maybe go for a midi dress in a brand that others have recommended caters well to women of your body shape?

Laura Adlington on Instagram shows lots of lovely dresses and I think she's a size 22. She's a bit taller than you I think, but I would get some inspo from there as I think she always looks great.

Like this perhaps

Had the same problem last year. I decided to wear a short kimono from One Hundred Stars (viscose so nice to wear in warm weather). Matched that with a plain vest and a straight, petite skirt from Boden. I felt great and going for separates rather than a dress really helped 🙂They have lots of different designs.
https://onehundredstars.co.uk/collections/kimonos-one-hundred-stars/products/kimono-indian-flower-taupe

I was pleasantly surprised at the selection from Jaegar at M&S yesterday, bought a ‘mini’ shift dress which for me at 5’3 16/18 sits perfectly at just below knee length 🤓
https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-linen-geometric-v-neck-mini-shift-dress/p/clp60653096#intid=pid_pg1pip30g4r2c4|prodflag_New

Boden petite only goes up to a 16. It's long annoyed me, but I have just given up with them now.

How about a simple black top with the trousers and something gorgeous and wafty on top, like this https://onehundredstars.co.uk/collections/throwovers/products/throwover-stork-pea-green

Ah right. Well, it must be a 16 skirt that I wore and it was fine thanks to the stretchy material.

I would have just worn a shift dress in a plain colour under the kimono if the skirt hadn't worked..