Help! Going out of my mind...

[puzzleofapuzzle]

Style-and-beauty geniuses of Mumsnet, I need you!

My partner's sister is getting married at the end of the month - winter wedding at a hotel in Glasgow.

I have been looking for WEEKS for a dress to wear and have got myself completely tied in knots.

Can someone please help suggest some dresses I could go for? Budget's up to £200-ish.

I'm 5'4, size 8-10, blonde, and 'officially' an hourglass shape but don't have much going on in the boob area. Don't suit most dark colours or jewel tones, although could manage a navy or warm green. I like a plunge neckline (lack of boobage means they tend to sit nicely) and dresses with a bit of swing in the skirt. My partner's wearing a muted green tweed three-piece, so I'm considering that element in the mix, too.

I've been considering velvet, or something nicely structured and fitted in a sturdy-ish fabric, but cannot for the life of me find anything that feels appropriate.

Needs to be warm enough (or something that I can add a stole or shawl to), partner's-family-appropriate, and able to be delivered soon!

Any suggestions VERY welcome – I'm feeling crazy!

Nobody’s Child? I’m not sure how I feel about these for a wedding but linking anyway 😆

Pink one

Sleevey midi

Floral sleevey

Sleevey mini

Very festive

This is above budget but comes in both colours you like https://www.cefinn.com/products/daphne-plisse-velvet-v-neck-maxi-dress-green. It came up on Facebook today, and I thought it looked lovely.

The Boden and Anthropologie suggestions are lovely, and wedding/family appropriate. Some of the other suggestions seem a bit boring or a bit much for a wedding. The gold Club L dress is too like a wedding dress to wear as a guest. Agree that it's really mild at the moment, and it won't be cold indoors.

Find your picture and a few fabric samples and go to see a bespoke dress maker...you've given a really good description of what you want so maybe that route would work instead of trying to fit a square peg design into a round hole?

Just a thought but have you had a look at Joanie? Their party dresses are 30% off, today might be the last day

joanieclothing.com/juno-long-sleeve-velvet-midi-dress-green.html

There's also a green velvet jumpsuit

joanieclothing.com/anastasia-puff-sleeve-velvet-maxi-dress-burgundy.html

Can’t think of any dresses offhand but Oliver Bonas have a party edit with dresses, maybe also Monsoon:-

www.oliverbonas.com/fashion/dresses/party

Glasgow will be FREEZING cold (UK has just had a brief mild spell) so ignore pp saying it won’t be cold!

Glasgow will be very glam so don’t worry about being cold, just go glam!

Have a look at quiz

Boden can be a bit frumpy but I think this is actually lovely? www.johnlewis.com/boden-jocelyn-velvet-tea-dress-pine/p112565779?size=10&s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1y7iGUnwOK6XXCAjf1jjxwql&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlsy5BhDeARIsABRc6Zukpwp5dhEbbpAqzB3bA73dEa2NogT4P0s0n1lvpADLgdmzIKqEnhMaAtCEEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

This Mint Velvet one would be lovely with blonde hair - it reminds me of the amazing Vampires Wife ones but on a much more sensible budget

https://newin.style/products/silver-metallic-midi-dress

This is nice

DREAM Cloud Flowers Jacquard Midi Dress – Sister Jane

Nice wool coat over the top for travelling and you're sorted.

TWO HUNDRED++ POUNDS £££💷 ON A DRE$$. 👀 Different World.
Would you wear it twice?

Ive not read the full thread to see if it's been suggested but have a look at Onjenu. Their dresses are beautiful, very flattering and so comfortable to wear.

I’m waiting for a previous poster to come back and update on the change of weather in Glasgow 🤣. 2 degrees this morning and with the humidity it has been absolutely Baltic all day, so do make sure you are covered in your options for a nice coat / stole etc. winter weddings here are lovely but winter wedding outfits usually include a nice outer layer for a reason!

I don't think anyone was suggesting she didn't wear a coat..? Just that the heating will be on so the dress doesn't need to be a warm dress, necessarily.

ETA - I actually found it really pleasant today, we so rarely get a day that's dry and chilly like that. I didn't find it too cold (in a jumper and jacket but no gloves or hat).

Hopefully much more than twice – I don't have a lot of clothes and when I buy things I keep them for years.

Other people spend £200 on loads of items that live stuffed in their wardrobes and hardly ever get worn. Why is my approach more shocking than theirs?

In that context, it's not particularly shocking. Thanks for explaining. I imagined every social event BANG! New outfit, which would surely add up. But hey, if you can afford it, why not.

@ConstanceM can I ask what events would warrant a new outfit for you, if not a family members wedding? As the OP will be in photos presumably, so a certain code of dress will be expected of her.

And aside from buying second hand, which would presumably not be easy due to the OP needing something to fit an hourglass figure and height requirements, where would you recommend she looks for clothes that aren't high street fast fashion, that makes £200 seem an extreme amount of money?

I'm just asking this because your first post came across as judgemental that she would be willing to spend £200, and I wondered why that was necessary in this context and on the style and beauty forum?

I bought a dress from New Look last year and was impressed. Wasn't very expensive (was in the sale) and the satin feels nice. I'd rather pay that sort of money for polyester than the kind of money you see some polyester dresses going for! 😱 (Meanwhile on Etsy there's silk dresses you can get that aren't that expensive at all!)

Are you anywhere near a John Lewis, ring and see if they have a stylish. Enjoy the wedding when you get there.