Wedding guest dress when you are a bit old, bit grumpy, more than a bit overweight?

[Jynxed]

I have two important weddings to attend this year, and whilst I have no illusions that anyone will be looking at me, I don’t want to let the family down. Can anyone recommend a stylish and hopefully flattering dress for a short (159 cms / 5ft2) plump (size 16, 3-baby post meno belly ) nearly 60 year old. Would like to cover up as much as possible! Cloak of invisibility would be my personal choice! 😁
That should read frumpy rather than grumpy, but both possibly true!

I saw someone mention 100 stars short kimonos. I love them over something plain. Their dresses are also fab. Lovely floaty material and comfy. https://onehundredstars.co.uk/collections/35-off-pleat-dresses/products/pleat-dress-daisy-stone
It's worth looking at all their dress syles and the colours/patterns are very varied.

A few years ago I was looking for something to wear for a wedding and a graduation. I ordered 6 dresses from phase 8. ( I had never tried their dresses) My husband took my photo in each one and one stood out. I sent the others back no problem. It really helped being photographed in them!!

I second Live Unlimited. Don't be put off, some of the models shown on the site are very large, but I've seen them on size 16 women like us and they look more stylish. They're also very well made in fabrics which won't look too bedraggled after sitting at a wedding meal. I often buy their clothes as they last brilliantly and can be worn every day as well as on special occasions.

I think it looks as though it's just what @Jynxed could look good in. So many of the dresses suggested would just not work, great bundles of gathered fabric, fittted waists with gathered skirts, shapeless oversized sacks with frilly bits all over the place. No, no, no. Jynxed knows what suits her.

Could be very stylish but might not work in the summer in a warm part of France?

I like these drapey, wrap type dresses, much more flattering to those of us with magnificent frontages.

I used to always buy my occasion dresses from Coast, sadly they don't have their own shops any more I don't think, but the sales assistants in the one I visited used to coax me into trying dresses I didn't think would suit me but were actually lovely.

They still do some that look as though they wrap and are just beautifully draped, though the site has the usual fussy dross too. The lengths are balanced with the styles and they do petite, not just the droopy midi dresses that are everywhere at the moment.
Their website also sells many of the brands mentioned by PP. You might find concessions in some shops, their dresses always look better on than off.

No petite but they're not waisted. Also some are shorter jackets which could work well

Perhaps a quick trip to Bravissimo whilst you're out and about?!

John Lewis assistants found me lovely dresses that I would never have chosen for myself. Well worth a try.

Carolina dress room - lovely prints and very flattering styles.

That might be quite nice - can be dressed up with different accessories and is cotton so would be a lot cooler than some of the obviously ‘occasion’ dresses suggested which, while quite nice to look at, are polyester and may get a bit sweaty for the summer weddings, particularly in France.

I think OP’s choice of the wrap dress looks as if it would be very flattering though, although I agree with the poster who said they maybe the light plain colour isn’t ideal.

Lady V London Maxi Lyra dresses are a treat and very flattering! https://ladyvlondon.com/collections/all-products

i’m 5’5, size 16, big boobs… pretty frumpy these days… i tend to go for wide legged trousers, vest and pretty kimono with stand-out hair/headband/accessories :)

I am pretty much similar size and height and I would go for a wrap dress (which does disguise bellies) with a v neck line to show off skin and a good bra distracts from everything else. Sleeves should come down to your elbows to cover the floppy under arm bits. I have one dress that does all that but it is more an everyday dress but it does make me look a lot slimmer

Just to add the more material around the arm area does make you look bigger.

If you still have good upper arms then a shorter sleeve might be better but my arms have that loose skin stuff going on and need 1/2 sleeves or ones that just come down long enough to cover the floppy skin

love this dress and am not surprised it has sold out

www.marksandspencer.com/textured-v-neck-tie-front-midi-wrap-dress/p/clp22609205#intid=pid_pg1pip48g2r19c1%7Cprodflag_Online%20Only

Wow, OP, reading all this is almost as overwhelming as shopping! (I didn't even manage to finish). I'm a similar shape to you, although less boobs and a teeny bit more height. I would start by:

• Choose one brand you liked (for me the stork dress looked amazing - one hundred stars?) and find out where they stock that brand so you can try on
• Have a try of Next Petite
• Don't buy a sack. They look great on skinny people with long legs

Make sure the fabric is breathable as both weddings have potential to be hot.

I have bought some lovely dresses from CurveWow recently. Reasonable price and designed for a curvier lady.

Coming late to this, but Grizas.com. Really forgiving and very flattering.

Scarlett and Jo look lovely, I've never heard of them before but have subscribed immediately. They look like clothes that fit real women. Your mother doesn't sound subtle!

I really like that dress, the colour is just me but sadly I can't wear sleeves like that as I have wide shoulders.

https://www.scarlettandjo.com/products/julie-solid-cobalt-hanky-hem-dress

That will impress the French at the formal French wedding. (Not)

I am now waiting for a range to be in the shops Old, grumpy and a little overweight dresses for special occasions. I think that could be what we need !

I'm half French. I guess you've not come across the brand Casey Casey, which is French and a very similar style?

Casey Casey
Casey Casey

Didn't it used to be called Jacques Vert? 😊

Okay, but do French women wear that kind of thing to a formal wedding?

OP, I looked through some of the dresses in the first link and this one has kept popping back into my head, several hours later. The colour and the fabric (looks like some kind of cheesecloth) aren't necessarily great, but the general style is classic and smart and will render you pretty invisible. Whereas some of the more funky styles on show here will draw attention to you. People will look at the sleeves, look at the neckline, and if you cinch it in you could have a reasonable waist.

Something a bit fitted in the right places, something that emphasises your best bits so that no one notices the other bits, is better than wearing a sack that says 'I'm trying to hide my belly'. Spend a bit of money on your hair and some make-up, look for some statement jewellery secondhand online and you're done. Friend of mine, a size 18 and 5'5" picked up a cheap dress in Sainsbury's a few years ago and worn it to three weddings, so you can find your 'invisible' dress almost anywhere. Good luck.
https://justinetabak.co.uk/products/midhurst-dress-in-spice

They also have it in a nice deep rich blue, which I'm seriously considering. One size, you can wear it different ways. I can imagine getting mileage out of it.
https://justinetabak.co.uk/products/ink-cotton-crinkle-midhurst-dress?srsltid=AfmBOoqkwI1S8JXZRrVYVjFX7ZQ_qiANYFSF-Ykow6Pq9wBmYQ5LhnPw