Where do you buy wedding guest dresses?

[whatsinmypockets]

DP's sister is getting married at the end of November in Scotland.

I haven't bought anything like a wedding guest dress in YEARS and am really struggling to find anything that isn't a really dark colour, and will be temperature-appropriate (cold outside but the venue is a hotel, which I can expect to be very warm inside!)

Dark colours don't suit me very well so it's feeling extra-tricky as we head into A/W season.

Where would you look to find nice, unique pieces that are winter-appropriate but not too 'heavy-winter'-looking?

Look at Debenhams, John Lewis and next websites- they have a massive collection from different brands, and there will be plenty suitable for an autumn wedding.

What is your budget for dress and accessories? Also more detail about what you like and dislike would help S&B track something down for you- length? Sleeves? Shape - fitted, wrap, floaty? Is rental an option or do you want something you would wear again?

Next, coast, Club L London, Oh Hello, Reiss.

Budget? Preferences?

My starting point would be to avoid any site described as "wedding guest dress"

If I were struggling for ideas I'd search, Liberty's website, dresses and filter for maximum price.

I’m not sure unique should be amongst the dress criteria for someone who doesn’t buy this sort of outfit often!

But we need a budget. And any size or other restrictions.

@Augustone thanks!

Ultimately I'm after elegant, but something I can dance in – so just above the knee down to full-length, but if it's full-length it needs to be moveable! No preference on sleeves, really, except not a fan of batwings or balloons.

I love a fit-and-flare, a plunge neckline, something with some structure and bones. A little architectural. Not a frilly girl.

I'm size 8-10, hourglass-shaped, relatively small boobs.

Budget is probably about £250.

@IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle your starting point is the opposite of what I've been doing! Maybe that's why I've been completely unable to find anything nice 😂

@DisneyHag yes, very fair point! I think I just meant "not a sage-green satin A-line with a pashmina" 😄

Wolf and badger?
Sorry about the green...

Oh well - guess you’d hate this then!

Batsheva But there’s a belt.

Monsoon

Vinted you can get beautiful dresses worn once or twice at a small price

I've got myself two occasion dresses recently, one from TKMaxx and the other from Whistles via Vinted.

Bought outfits for 2 weddings this summer. Vinted for both of them. One cost £16, the other was more expensive at £30... I was very happy with both.

Yes because everyone has £2k spare to spend on a dress.

For your budget I would look at Me&Em, Boden, Whistles, Ghost, Reformation, Nobody's Child.

Sorry meant to quote a post

There are 82 dresses at £250 or under on this filtered list. On that list there will be examples from brands which you can explore on their own websites.

Dresses at Liberty under £250

Applying the price filter there are only 6 dresses at £2,000.

Yes because everyone has £2k spare to spend on a dress.

My god - is there a prize for the most pointless interjection of the season, if not the year? What is the matter with some people?

I bought my last wedding outfit from Hobbs, worth a look. I did get mine in the sale which shaved £100 off the original price.

I'm not a girly girl at all but for my daughters wedding I wanted something smart, classic and comfortable. I found Roman and got the ideal dress for about £70. It was perfect, very comfortable to wear and I received several compliments on it.

I would look at monsoon as a starting point. They have a lot of options in your price bracket. I would also suggest Reiss, Phase 8, Coast. John Lewis doesn't carry the full range for each shop so worth taking the time on the individual sites. I've bought 2 lovely dresses from monsoon thus year hence my suggestion

I really like Wolf & Badger for wedding guest dresses and similar.

I like them, but like some other brands they are very long

Phase eight is always worth a look

I like Hobbs.

John Lewis does a free personal shopper appointment which might be a good way to go.