Dress needed for a (cold) winter wedding

[WaffleandSnark]

Hoping for some help and inspiration!

I have a wedding coming up in December, in rural Yorkshire. The dress code is black tie, so evening gowns for women.

I’m 5’7, size 12-14, pear shaped. I’m looking for a maxi dress, because I don’t really like my legs. No plunging neckline, would prefer more chest coverage and would also like sleeves (or at least cap sleeves) so I can wear a bra and not worry about straps.

I prefer blues/greens/purples. I wore this dress to a recent wedding but spent the whole time hoiking the fabric up at the chest as it was gapey, as were the shoulders:

https://www.johnlewis.com/scarlett-jo-isabelle-float-sleeve-maxi-dress-royal-blue/p112125419?size=12#product

I also ordered and returned this one because the colour was a kind of sludgy grey/olive, rather than green, and the material was weird:

www.johnlewis.com/jolie-moi-angel-sleeve-jersey-maxi-dress/dark-teal/p112179731?size=14#product

Ideally I’d prefer to wear flats, or if not, just a very small and comfy heel. Ideas for shoes gratefully received - I wore gold sandals to the last one which definitely won’t work in the Dales in December! I’m also thinking I might need some kind of cover up for warmth?

Want to spend as little as possible really - max £150 for the dress? I really don’t enjoy getting dressed up so won’t get any further wear out of it…

Thank you!

Have a look at the Roman web site, they do a lot of occasion wear quite cheaply, especially for a one off wear.

Thanks! I’d not heard of that website - will take a look

If you’re certain you won’t wear the outfit again wouldn’t it be more cost effective to rent?

Elle Guide to Dress Rental

You’d also get a much nicer dress than £150 can buy new. You might even find something you enjoy wearing.

(Don’t hate me, but the things you linked from J. Lewis were quite - unadventurous …)

www.aspiga.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=aspiga&ate_adgroup=119167655449&ate_campaign=12090552127&form=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD4mDLhjcyo6arLLdKAUzfUoKksL6&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt-Tn8fuziQMVLayDBx10SzffEAAYASAAEgIY5_D_BwE

I did wonder whether renting was an option - I’d hoped to just get something second hand from Vinted but wasn’t finding anything on there I liked.

And no hate at all! Unadventurous is almost the keyword here. I want comfortable, safe, unremarkable, and requiring no special underwear 🤣 honestly I won’t even deviate from my usual daily make up. Did I mention how much I HATE dressing up???

This would keep you warm …

Rixo velvet

But it’s also worth remembering that a silk or velvet trouser suit would also be evening wear.

If you’re after a velvet dress this one came up in my first google searches for it and you can dress it up or down:-

www.marksandspencer.com/polka-dot-round-neck-midaxi-column-dress/p/clp60706395?color=TEAL&extid=ps_ps-pla-pmax_ggl_ww_ch__-UK-_-_bau_smec_counterfactual&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD7g6bSQhwpqYqXTfyjaMDvW6x4GG&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj4K5BhDYARIsAD1Ly2rXmhd0QisPFpYY4x4KgpYvGHTWjcsQTuKo-ndAJ4u8M19ZS_v5F-AaAibBEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

www.zara.com/uk/en/velvet-midi-dress-p09371617.html?v1=401198071&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADqbk7Ztkr_yXshPbijpb0yK3FDrb&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj4K5BhDYARIsAD1Ly2rjzPopOD2Qv-FS1Ho9hQ3hIPAU0Fl8RNZZjjMWCbDI1CjCNNjUXYgaAgVAEALw_wcB

Bit more expensive but still nice:-

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/ophelia-velvet-midi-wrap-dress-navy/sty-d1120-nav?code=S3N5&tc_ch=ps&tc_ve=goog&tc_so=pmax&tc_me=cr&tc_ca=drop-offer&tc_au=&tc_cr=na&tc_campid=UK+-+Performance+Max+-+Priority+-+New&tc_adgroupid=&tc_kwid=&tc_matchid=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj4K5BhDYARIsAD1Ly2pmuFtnm9pOMAoW6DCARoZPpGgzOmCr3NKVG3RcqjenQh9axoKmq7IaAjjZEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

www.monsoon.co.uk/veronique-velvet-bow-midi-dress-1000339604.html?utm_content=nonbrand&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADjtA_GoZ2LBnyI6q0KaVFkms1gPj&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj4K5BhDYARIsAD1Ly2pX0MdV2K4LH5toSk1SjQB-Bf87UoaQ_b9gjjyXcXXFU3Ihmwt8N1UaAnkrEALw_wcB

https://www.dunnesstores.com/gallery-velvet-dress-with-lace-trims-2546736/p?skuId=77297 I like the cut on this one and they deliver to UK

Oh I like that Monsoon one! Waffle, I think your first dress you mentioned just needs to be tailored since the shoulders were slipping. I have one shoulder a bit higher than the other, and sometimes taking the shoulder in just a half inch makes a difference in the fit.

Would it be worth getting a local tailor to adjust a dress for you to avoid the hoiking?

https://www.scarlettandjo.com/products/verity-velvet-dark-green-maxi-gown?variant=46393061900596

What about this? She looks fairly big-chested in the pics and it doesn't look gapey - warmish because of the sleeves/velvet but still fancy. Black tights and plain black heeled ankle boots would work with it too. It does come in a 12 although most colours seem to be sold out, so it's whether you think a 14 in this style would come up too big on you.

I love your blue dress, you could sort the hoiking it up by using one of these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Buttons-Invisible-Accidental-Exposure-Cardigan/dp/B0B17T9BKZ/ref=asc_df_B0B17T9BKZ/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697253523082&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12637300634219773815&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9192782&hvtargid=pla-1675292757483&psc=1&mcid=26f25f48d57935f5b5a8d36250e645ad&gad_source=1

I have a similar problem with one of my dresses and use a tiny brooch to keep it up.

How about getting the one you have altered to fit?

December in Yorkshire? I’d wear this:
https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/truly-remarkable-flocked-jersey-dress-wf085?___store=GBP&glCountry=UK&glCurrency=GBP&utm_campaign=&utm_adgroup=&utm_kwd=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=&utm_cidCj0KCQjwj4K5BhDYARIsAD1Ly2rnmp56HMOKyaga7Qcaz42cDnY-XEvwyd4sDG4o1ZGkTkwD5HXxQCgaApOLEALw_wcB&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj4K5BhDYARIsAD1Ly2rnmp56HMOKyaga7Qcaz42cDnY-XEvwyd4sDG4o1ZGkTkwD5HXxQCgaApOLEALw_wcB

The Next website has lots of brands and options. Just filter by all your requirements - occasionwear, colours, length, sleeve, price.

Thank you so much everyone! i like the Boden one and the Scarlett & Jo, if it turned out to not be too big on the chest. The Dunnes is nice too but not sure the colour would work for me. I also love the idea of a jumpsuit - I live in jumpsuits so a silk/velvet one would be more me and probably get more wear.

I think I’ll try getting my blue one altered - might as well since I already own it, and it’ll just languish in my wardrobe otherwise. And I have another wedding next year that it would be good for, if I can make it fit better. Will def give the little button brooches a go too, thank you!

There are lots of velvet jumpsuits on Vinted right now - https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/5278387616-ms-autograph-wide-leg-velvet-jumpsuit - as an example. If you’d be more comfortable in one I’d go down that route (also much easier to wear flats with imo)

Oooo excellent shout! I’ve just had a look and favourited a few. Thank you!

I agree with getting the current blue one you have altered,

Not sure re button brooches (not seen that post) but any gaping across the bust I either pin with small safety pins from behind so they don’t show or put a pretty brooch across the gappy area. That’s life with a bigger bust!

it would be a fairly simple adjustment to your blue dress so it didn't gape at the chest & to make it fit you in the shoulders properly.

A local tailor/seamstress should be able to alter it easily.

oh X post - sorry 😳

I was thinking velvet too immediately! Something like this?
https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-angel-sleeve-tie-back-velvet-bridesmaids-maxi-dress_bcc09428?colour=navy

With silver boots? Or these? Or these?