Choice of wedding guest dresses

[BrightonFrock]

Hi 🙂 I have two weddings to attend in late summer and am torn between two dresses. (Totally different casts at each wedding, so thankfully I don’t need to shell out for two different ones!) Both weddings are in country hotels, so formal-ish without being stately home level.

This is choice one:

https://www.johnlewis.com/raishma-alice-floral-midi-dress/p111671763

I love the design and unusual colour. The length would be good on me too as I’m tall - anything too short makes me look like I’m wearing a tunic and forgot to put my leggings on 😁 However, it’s viscose - which I wouldn’t mind, but it feels like a lot to pay for that (although I do get a discount at JLP so won’t be paying full price).

Choice two is this. I love it and, even better, it’s silk. It’s also really top end of budget even with the discount, but I’m trying to justify it based on the fact that I’ll be wearing it to two weddings:

https://www.johnlewis.com/hobbs-aurelia-cascading-floral-print-silk-midi-dress-cream-multi/p111904250

Which would you pick? I’m dark-haired and am a large 12/small 14.

The second one definitely . The poll has closed has it helped you decide ?

Agree! First one is nice but looks like something I’d buy on holiday for 10 euro.

Second one is gorgeous - but I hate to say it - is it too white?? seems to be a thing on mumsnet that has seeped into my thinking and I feel like I’d avoid them just in case 😂

If you’re willing to drop up to £400 ish for the right dress, have you looked on outnet? Some gorgeous designer finds on there.

Hobbs silk dresses are under £300 at John Lewis right now

Don’t know why the first link lists it at £417. It takes me to Bloomingdale’s. It’s only £279 on Hobbs website. It was only ever £350 here in the Uk

I agree. Realistically how much more wear will you get out of the second dress?
If you only wear it twice that means the cost per wear is over £200!
I often find these sort of dresses in excellent condition on eBay/vinted, simply because people rarely wear them.

Why would it only be worn twice?

It wouldn't be my choice but if I owned it after the first "formal wears", I'd wear it as a normal summer day dress. It's not a black tie dress- there's no reason after the first few special occasions not to wear it on less special, or not even special at all occasions.

What you wear £400 silk dresses to go to the supermarket or walk the dog?
It’s not even really appropriate if you work in a formal professional environment.

If I could afford it, I’d buy the second one right now, for when my son gets married next year. It’s beautiful.

Yes, If I liked that dress, which I don't, I would wear it to the office on a sunny day, with casual flat ballet pumps/ flat espadrilles. I have made to order silk dresses from Edina Ronay which cost more than £400 which I wear to the office - although admittedly they're much darker colours than that dress.

I would wear that dress to lunch or evening meal in a restaurant or afternoon tea.

I'd take it on a city break if the weather were warm enough in the particular city. It would pack really well and take up little space or weight. I'd wear it in the summer to the ballet or opera. If I liked it, I can easily imagine wearing the hell out of a dress like that during the whole of August at the various Edinburgh festivals.

Second one is amazing

I mean the first one looks like a dressing gown, but I couldn't bring myself to pay over £400 for a dress.

That said, when I clicked on it the 2nd time, it was then up for £279. Still a lot of money for a frock, but a lot less than the first time I clicked the link.

Second one.
Not least because it's a much more practical cut, and if it was pissing down you could easily sling a Mac over it to get from car=> venue and back again.

I like the first one, but it's a bit basic looking for the money. It's also a bit too voluminous. It could swamp you.

The second one is lovely, more versatile colour-wise, and much smarter.

But if you are prepared to spend that much I think that you could still shop around a bit. I love it, but I don't 400 quid love it. You could get something equally fabulous for half that money.

What about this

https://www.johnlewis.com/l-k-bennett-lois-floral-print-balloon-sleeve-maxi-dress-pink-multi/p111531714

How strange! I am seeing it for 279 now as well. Anyway, in that case, buy it.

I agree about the green one looking like a dressing gown.

I don't love either of them. I think you could do better. The first one is a very unflattering shape and the second one is a bit meh

I'm afraid I immediately thought No 2 was too white too.

Thanks for all the replies. I’m still umming and aahing 😄 But I’m stunned that actually more than one person has said that a brightly printed dress on a CREAM background is “too white”! Madness!

I agree, it's an odd thing to say about a dress that is pretty colourful overall. There is nothing remotely bridal about it, I seriously doubt you'll confuse anybody about who the bride is.

It’s a bit Little house on the prairie!

1 Don’t like the colour, and you can get similar style ones that look nicer much cheaper
2 Doesn’t warrant the hefty price tag , and not special enough

Viscose isn’t a luxury fabric. It creases badly and shrinks unless it is combined with other fibres.

There are so many sites where you could buy something better for much less!

There's good quality viscose and low quality viscose. Some is very good quality. The first dress isn't however viscose. It's polyester.

I don't have a problem with polyester. There's good quality polyester and poor quality polyester. The first dress looks like poor quality - mainly because of the poor print saturation on the dipped hem. It looks as if it should cost about £30 from a market stall.

The second dress at least looks as if it costs its price.