Help me style out this dress for my wedding

[SideEyeSally]

Hello all,

I'm getting married in July. It's pretty low key and mainly an outdoors affair in my PIL garden. I've ordered this dress in the red and due to my height (5'11) expect it the hit closer to a tea dress length (willing to have it take up an inch or two if needed). Help me style this out to an old hollywood glamour type thing! I'm hoping to wear flats unsure on veil/jewellery/gloves etc.

Scarlett & Jo Verity Velvet Maxi Dress, Claret (johnlewis.com)

Congratulations!

I’m sure you’ll look wonderful whatever you wear - but will such a wintery dress not sit oddly in a Summer garden? (If you were getting married in December I’d say it was perfect.)

I have to agree, what if it's 30 degrees? It's a lovely dress but you'll be boiling in that if the weather is good.

TBH I would also expect this to be at a winter wedding.

What is the general vibe of the wedding? You say Hollywood glamour for the dress, but that seems at odds with wanting flat shoes, and a low key in the garden outdoor ceremony.

Having said that, I don't think a traditional white veil would work, but if you wanted a headpiece there are some beautiful diamante headband designs that would work with old fashioned Hollywood. Try looking on the lace and favour website

Stole?
Pashmina?

Regarding the length - the model is also 5'11" so it won't be tea dress length on you.

It's quite a big heavy dress to wear with flats - she's wearing quite high heels and the dress is still ankle length

I get what you mean about the winter wedding but it's a Scottish Highlands in July affair so likely much closer to 20 than 30. My groom, who is 5'8 is pretty keen on flats and tbh I can't really walk in heels anyways. I had initially thought of something more elfy/witchy/gothic as below but I'm not sure I trust it not to look costumey. :(

@SideEyeSally …

It’s obviously completely ridiculous of me to question a stranger’s plans for their own wedding - but attempting to recreate an old hollywood glamour type thing in the Scottish Highlands in July (whatever the temperature) is frankly weird and probably misguided. It would be cosplay.

I just don’t see (acknowledging that my opinion does not matter!) why you wouldn’t embrace the lovely environment you’ll be in? I mean, if you want Hollywood glamour, why not get married on the west coast of America?

(Apologies - but you have put this on an open forum …)

Lovely dress for a winter wedding but not summer.

Honestly I just like the glamour of women in 40's movies and find the silhouette flattering on me. I think I'll just return the dress. Back to square one.

Does it come in a different colour or lighter fabric?

This is really not my sort of thing but might be yours:

https://www.bombshellhq.com/collections/dresses/products/gold-gracetie-front-shirt-dress

What about a pillbox hat or headpiece with a veil and red lips? Channel Dita Von Teese glamour. Something like this:

I really like that dress but I am very keen on red. I love the pillbox hat with the veil!

I’m sure they also make red dresses!

Princely in black from Kurt Geiger would be fab or M&S have some flat pointy shoes which would be great.

Do not return the dress! I think it's beautiful!
And most important, you like it!

I love the one on the top right here, it definitely says old-style hollywood glam to me with the sculpted bust line and the gorgeous stole.

And definitely wear flats if you want to wear flats!
Flats are great, and look great.

I am in my mid-thirties, and I have not worn heels since I was 15 years old.

Yes, it is a beautiful dress (OP’s original) and of course she doesn’t have to return it if she loves it.

She’s not obliged to concur with the opinions of internet strangers. (But it would be strange not to express a strong opinion here.)

Don't return your dress - you like it and feel
great in it. People have such weird fixed ideas about weddings.

How about a pair of sparkly flat shoes?

I love the pill box hat with a little veil, or you could find a smallish fascinator with a veil.

Or you could channel Scarlett O'Hara....

Keep the dress, it's lovely!

Pinterest is your friend for inspiration (some gorgeous pics already shared) and Etsy for lovely handmade hats and jewelery

I would go for a fabulous faux fur cream stole, get an absolute dead on match lipstick for the red of the dress, have my hair up in chignon with pearls pinned in up and down the twist. A splash of bridal colour but nothing to take away from the red. Maybe a choker too. Winged smokey eyes. Ensure your photographer embraces the drama. Your groom should have a matching red waistcoat at the least. Congratulations x

https://pin.it/74n70WMX6

This is lovely. Go full red!

All that is lovely, @Crucible, for Winter. In Summer it might just look perverse. And odd. As if the wedding is more about costume than the serious business of getting married.

There are some nice dresses which might fit the bill at dig for victory