Wedding invite - I v old - what to wear?

[serialgrannie]

Just received a wedding invite to a (smallish) but lovely wedding. Very pleased and excited to be going. I am an elderly lady (70s) but try to look smart and reasonably up to date. I have a very trendy daughter-in-law who keeps me on my toes. The wedding is in March and no outdoors involved. I am short and a bit overweight. Nothing too fitted. Any suggestions as to what would be suitable/what shops I should look in. I have in the past had some nice things from Hobbs and Phase Eight. Not keen on very bright colours or black/dark navy. Many thanks in advance.

have you got a COS near you? Some fab stylish asymmetrical loose fit cotton/linen dress would be great

Sorry but I think the blue wrap dress looks like a frilly dressing gown. You'd have to be tall and have a perfect figure to avoid looking like a sack of potatoes tied in the middle.

Yes to a more tailored wrap dress, they are far more forgiving and flattering.

Editing to add link to the frill wrap dress:

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/petite-phillipa-dress-10002730479.html#navAjax=true&imageType=model&is=true&sz=60&start=119&cgid=petite-dresses&isSecondPage=false&pid=10002730479&pos=165

That's lovely. I'm 49 and I'd wear that.

I don't like the Phase 8 dresses. They are very safe and dull IMO.

Monsoon have always served me well, lots of sleeved options and I always find the wrap style super flattering. Usually priced at £100-160 but worth it!

What colours do you like @serial?

You sound very similar to my mum. She likes Roman for Occasionwear:

https://www.roman.co.uk/dresses/evening-dresses

Spectacularly chic 🤣 she’d look like Chairman Mao.

If you are anywhere near Frome, Poot Emporium has some fabulous handmade dresses from their talented seamstress "Sow'sear".

The lady takes vintage or bold fabrics and makes a number of styles of dress. They tend to be robust fabrics, which I love, because they hide a multitude of sins.

I've got a shirtwaister in an African wax print which makes me feel smart and cool every time I wear it.

There's an Instagram page so you can get a feel.

www.instagram.com/pootemporium/?hl=en
Poot Emporium
07703 843100

g.co/kgs/VuYYjR8

There’s a Facebook group called ‘Pre-loved wedding and occasion wear’ with loads of ‘worn once’ MOB/G outfits. Might be worth a nosey?

The Ganni dress arrived. It’s too tight around the rib cage but I think I will keep it a couple of weeks ( 28 days to return) and I can put some panels in ( I have done it before) using fabric stolen from hem.
Hmmm will show to DDs tonight.

It looks good with my “flat and fabulous” chest.

👍

But would it be worth trying the next size up? (I’m just envious of your sewing abilities - I always have to pay for alterations!)

@SurpriseSparDay
i could if I could find one but haven’t so far and then it would possibly gape as I do not have boobs at all. Easier for me to alter. But if I find the next size up at the right price I could try it.

Yes that’s great if you go out a lot. But some of us don’t have many occasions to get dressed up!

It's not really a question of occasions for dressing up. Other than possibly the Rixo dress everything on Surprise Spar's list could be worn to lunch in restaurant and even the Rixo dress could be worn for dinner. The Dries van Noten dress could be worn as a summer office dress.

Something like the Phase 8 dress would be a complete waste of money for me. I wouldn't wear it at all, but it's so limited to "wedding guest" "m of b/g"