Urgent help styling this dress

[Tigerlilian]

Please help me style this dress for a wedding.

I'm hoping to disguise my tummy as much as possible.

Think I shouldn't really wear a white jacket and don't want to wear a black one.

Have access to most High St shops and online if they have fast delivery options.

I'm hopeless at this so any help gratefully received.

Thanks.

www.marksandspencer.com/polka-dot-midi-tea-dress/p/clp22583604

The black and white Nobody's child dress is lovely and looks really easy to wear. A teenager might not be interested in but apart from that I don't see that age matters.

How about a trapeze dress, an overlay dress or a drop waist dress? I'm tall and slim but I still hate my tummy (it's definitely a size bigger than the rest of me!). I don't like control underwear so I always go for something that skims over my middle. If you have good legs, these styles always look good short but then trapeze maxi dresses are amazing, especially if you choose a floaty fabric like chiffon. And they're so comfortable which, for me, is the most important thing.

I think something comfortable and that fits well and that you love will make you feel more confident. But if you try to hide parts of you with awkward accessories, then it will be more noticeable, not less.

You're feeling critical of yourself and maybe presuming that everyone else is going to be critical of you too. Some will. Most won't. And none of it matters, it's just yours and other people's critical thoughts. So, wear something comfortable, that fits well, and that you love.

Shape wear is your friend here to flatten the tummy. Spanx type pants can roll
down though or give you a horrible line where the fat overflows at the top. Far better is that M&S do a “wear your own bra body shaper” which is amazing. It’s like a swimsuit with a low front, so it holds everything in without any overflow. Highly recommended.

I have the same body shape as you! 18 on most of me, with an enormous stomach 🙃 Also a proportionally small bust, so everything goes "in" and "out" in the wrong places. Makes it nearly impossible to buy formalwear, you have my sympathies.

Nobody’s Child dresses are perfect for your shape- and reasonably well priced.

OP there is no point trying to hide in a blazer or shapeware - you will just feel self conscious and uncomfortable.

What I will say though is that you don’t need to wear a dress if you don’t want to? If you are more happy in trousers, I would go for a nice co-ord. Plus you can wear it again - either as a set or separate pieces 😃

https://prettylavish.co.uk/products/ashton-cut-out-maxi-dress-curve-dusky-rose-watercolour?_pos=12&_fid=4764a85e7&_ss=c

This is a bit different to the original dress you picked, but I wore something similar to this, the last wedding I attended. Not particularly my style, but it was cheerful and didn't pull on my stomach, so I was happy 🤷‍♀️ Plus, it would work better with a wrap / pashmina type thing, if that's what you're more comfortable in.

I always search for "smock" or "cocoon" dresses, with v-necks, if that's helpful at all. They seem forgiving, for an "apple-shaped" body.

I have some things on order as time is ticking now.
Not sure what the final choice will be but thank you for taking the time to help. I do feel much better.
It’s also clear that I have no clue how to dress for my shape so will be reading through all of this again to hopefully learn!

You could try a long chiffon open waistcoat, that wouldn’t take attention from the dress but with add a bit of flow!

Cream or nude sandals and matching clutch bag and a cream pashmina. Forget the jacket I would say.

Drape a light pashmina around you it covers tummy bulges beautifully.

Some of the Joanne dresses look great for a wedding. I think for a wedding you want something a bit more dramatic that the original polka dot dress.

The dress is so nice I'd go with a firm undergarment like spanx to hold your tummy in then a cardigan.

I’m probably completely behind the comments.
That M & s dress is lovely.
I’ve just bought a similar nobodies child one off eBay.
I will wear it with a white cardigan for fancier things and denim jacket for every day.
The last wedding I went to I wore a sort of cardigan / jacket hybrid as my dress was quite floaty so a tailored jacket would be too harsh.
www.roman.co.uk/tailored-jacquard-jacket-15005438?istCompanyId=2c7d42bf-c86e-4126-852a-34976c2accf2&istFeedId=2671bd7b-958a-4180-b178-22e89d93d179&istItemId=wmpwwllmm&istBid=t&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACsLkkLNQdgabutn_HeSoQBoQ-TVS&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4q3QhM2yjAMVPpJQBh2J0RPBEAQYASABEgJVvfD_BwE#gad_source_1

if your worried about your tummy, what about body shaper tights? I’m not a fan of the hold you in underwear as it seems to make it poke out other places! The tights I get on ok with though.

@Tigerlilian Joanne Lumley once said that her grandmother told her to wear something around the neck because it keeps eyes attracted to that part of the body, so a sparkly necklace with a pendant and matching dangling earrings might work.

Btw we all have tummies, smooth it out using slimming underwear.

It's a beautiful dress BTW! Good choice.

The trick with a big tummy with a dress is to get something with quite a stiff material in the skirt so it doesn't cling, it skims! One I bought this year is from Roman originals , theres a photo here - its doesn't show in the pictures but the skirt is stiff and the top is soft and ribbed. Maybe this is too plain for a wedding, but the principles apply. And I support the spanx suggestions, they definitely help at least by smoothing things out. But my own view on empire line dresses is that they show a really big tummy because the material flows straight down from under the bust and clings to the tummy. I'm with others who say they wouldn't wear a jacket with the finery dress because of the sleeves.

I would wear underwear to flatten tummy and push up boobs. This will help give balance to your figure and draw focus away from your tummy. An eye catching necklace will also help.

hope you have a lovely day.

The picture didnt post! I'll try again https://admin.romanoriginals.co.uk/Admin/Upload/Images/small/025b3a8f-511d-45b5-a7a8-effd0227ce2b.jpg

I find wrap dresses are much better at hiding tummies @Tigerlilian

All the people saying no jacket/cardigan seem to be forgetting that it's not long sleeved and just one layer. If the wedding is in the spring, OP is going to be cold, not just in the church, but probably also in the hotel afterwards.

@Tigerlilian , instead of focussing on what you want to hide, look at accentuating the bits you do like.

If you have nice hair or good legs, draw attention to those. Wear nice jewellery, or brighter colours.

Move away from the baggy, drab, shapeless clothes. Wear pretty bright colours and let your personality shine through.

This is very flattering on the belly and not fussy so very easy to wear if you’re not used to dresses. You could wear a big colourful wrap over the top to draw attention upwards. It’s long too so will be a good length on you. https://www.hobbs.com/product/radclyffe-dress/0125-5982-9045L00-MIDNIGHT.html

Can’t do links but there are endless dress you’ll look and feel gorgeous in

More - these are just yo give ideas, I’ve not much time to look.

Look for empire style but be careful not to go into maternity look - flat rather than pleated and full over front. Or short, flowy with tan/tights and fab shoes - look for A-line shift shaped dresses. Don’t go too over sized, well fitted at bust, shoulders