Wedding guest dresses - not young but not old?

[Josiezu]

Where are you buying wedding guest dresses from?
I’m mid 30s so I don’t want anything too revealing but still want something cool.
I’ve fallen in love with AJE but don’t have £300 plus to drop on a dress I’ll hardly wear!

I’m eyeing up this one but want to see what else I can find.

I buy mine from eBay or vinted or charity shops.I live near Altrincham and when I go to the charity shops in the summer the staff in the charity shops tell me that as it is a wealthy area people only wear their outfits once. Luckily the men also drop off their suits and my Dh gets fantastic suits usually for under £20 and they cost a couple of hundred when new if not more. I have some lovely dresses from the charity shops there. The dress in the picture looks wonderful in my opinion.

Love that dress. It's Sister Jane isn't it.

I've got no qualms about spending £300 on a dress but I never buy anything to only wear it once. I'm not in the least bothered that someone will have seen my dress before and I can usually find plenty of occasions to wear something dressy.

Having said that I would avoid anything marketed as "wedding guest" - Phase 8, Mint Velvet, and to a lesser extent Hobbs and L K Bennett sell "weddingy" stuff I wouldn't buy because they'd be difficult to get wear out of.

That dress looks like something a 7 year old girl would wear - sorry

I have to agree - it's dreadful

I also think that dress is beyond awful.

You can get beautiful dresses from most places. Being in your 30's doesn't define style. Ok I understand not wanting to wear a dress that only just covers arse but other than that you can do anything you're comfortable with. For me John Lewis does stunning wedding attire - this evening gown but can be cocktail too. Don't see yourself short! You're in your 30's!!

Your link doesn't work- goes to homepage and a selection of dreary JolieMoi and Phase 8 dresses. Which one are you referring to in particular?

To be honest I don’t really care if it’s not other people’s style. The dress is very my style and more in line with what I was wanting recommendations like.
“Evening gown” isn’t the sort of descriptor I would say is what I’m looking for.

Anyway I found the AJE dress I’ve been obsessed with in my size, second hand, with tags! So leaning towards that.

I didn't a share a link @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle

The OP shared a picture above.

OP the second dress you've shared is such a gorgeous colour.

Ok but you said the OP's dress "is beyond awful". And then " For me John Lewis does stunning wedding attire - this evening gown but can be cocktail too."

What is the "evening gown" you're referring to?

Isn’t it!? I wanted something really statement so I’m hoping this works. I can’t send it back if it doesn’t fit but it was a good price so I’m sure I can always sell it on.

Oh sorry @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle that's my silly fat fingers. I meant evening or cocktail dresses from JL are really sited for wedding guest attire regardless of age (classic) but OP has confirmed that's not her style anyway and has got herself a lovely frock! Apologies again.

*suited

Arghhhh case in point

I personally wouldn’t wear that fuscia dress as a wedding guest. The bare midriff, kooky shape and stand-out colour seems a little showy for being a guest. You say you wanted something “stand-out” …. Which this is. But I just couldn’t get behind wanting to be a standout at someone else’s wedding.

I just feel that being a talking point is not really the done thing for guests to aim for, at someone’s wedding. Sorry - I don’t mean that as a dig. Just my opinion.

I absolutely LOVE the 1st dress 😍

I love the first dress, but it's a bit bridesmaidy for me. The second is stunning but I don't think the bare midriff is appropriate for a wedding.