Help with dress for wedding.

[Timmette03]

Stylish ladies I need some help, I’m getting married in a few months overseas and need a dress. I’m 5’3 and size 18 moving towards a 16, I have olive skin and am older. I don’t want a white traditional dress, and no high necks. Preferably knee length and longer, I think I suit more jewel or brighter colours but happy to look at anything. I have massive hips and am pear shaped. Budget is up to £5000. Any pointers would be great.
would really appreciate any help.

Look at Katyawildman.com

Some beautiful jewel colours and at a fraction of your budget.

The waisted ones will skim your hips. Add a sticking out petticoat from Amazon for extra flounce and it makes them slightly shorter.

I'm shorter than you

No high necks.

Thank you they are lovely and would maybe suit a UK wedding more although I am very tempted to order one anyway.

‘Overseas’ could be Norway or Nigeria - what sort of climate and context are you dressing for, @Timmette03?

But, first things first, if you really do want to spend £5000 on a non-traditional wedding dress I’d take yourself off to Oscar De La Renta or Erdem or somewhere similar - in person.

(Though I find it hard to believe anyone would come to this board with that budget. You’ll end up in Phase Eight … )

Browse

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/clothing/dresses?orderBy=9&pageNumber=1

(sort from highest to lowest price) to get an idea of brands that appeal to you. Then go to those brands’ own websites. But I would strongly suggest visiting in person, as being on the borderline of 16 / 18 may require knowledgeable assistance from staff who are familiar with how their clothes fit.

There's a brand called Veni Infantino which has some good pieces available at many high end shops

Also try a very smart shop called Nigel Rayment in New Quebec Street, W1 central London.

Appointments have to be made.

Sorry it’s somewhere hot but will be outdoors for 30 minutes only in the evening. Not beach.
Yes I do have that budget but hate clothes shopping and the way I look hence me asking for advice on here. I wouldn’t feel comfortable walking into a designer shop as such due to my size as all the clothes look tiny and so long.

With that budget you'll be very welcome. Have no fear whatsoever.

Thank you for the link to Nigel Rayment that will certainly come in very handy in the future.
I have up to £5 thousand to spend I don’t have to spend it, but I have waited 20 years for this day and want to look my best, we are getting married with just us and the kids and it’s added on to a holiday.

But @Timmette03 the whole point of spending money on clothes is that you get what you want - from retailers who actively want to make you look as good as possible. It would be absolutely criminal to throw your budget at somewhere entirely random, online, if you’re not already accustomed to, or familiar with, ‘designer’ shops.

Seriously, browse widely online:

Net a Porter
Browns
My Theresa

to get an initial idea - then visit physical stores. If you say what you’ve said here they’ll be falling over themselves to find you something flattering - and you’ll get the benefit of in-house tweaking and tailoring to make your dress fit perfectly. And they’ll probably suggest or guide you to the perfect accessories. That’s what you’re paying for.

Look - I am an eager advocate of online shopping - but that’s after fifty years of shopping in person as someone who loves and understands clothes. Decades ago I used to buy expensive suits in Mayfair and Knightsbridge - where I’d be shown to a dressing room bigger than my bedroom and plied with champagne as I tried things on. The staff themselves would advise on any alterations, which would be done there, within hours or days, at no extra charge. That is the sort of service you can expect.

Please don’t be afraid. £5000 doesn’t just buy material sewn together. It should mean a joyful experience and the assurance that you’re getting the best possible garment for you.

Erdem's sizing is all over the place but I agree on a budget of £5,000 that's where I'd look, not Phase 8 or Katya Wildman.

For that budget I would get something designed and made to measure. Do a bit of trying on to get an idea what you like. For example Freja Designer Dressmaking https://g.co/kgs/pGNdqVJ (may not be your style but as an idea of quality). Or pay for a personal stylist to help you decide and source the right thing.

Or Eponine

https://eponinelondon.com/collections/ss25

Or Suzannah , they have a shop and do ready to wear and couture.

Suzannah

Or Roksanda?

https://roksanda.com/collections/dresses

Or Emilia Wickstead? This would be gorgeous on olive skin:

https://emiliawickstead.com/products/leila-dress-yellow-floral-printed-on-lemon-genzianella

Rodarte?

https://shoprodarte.com/

Or

Cecilie Bahnsen (up to size 16 off the peg, or made to order). Some of the most beautiful clothes I’ve ever seen - and consciously designed and made to suit every type of body:

https://ceciliebahnsen.com/collections/dresses

One more:

Carolina Herrera:

https://www.carolinaherrera.com/uk/en/c/rtw/dresses

Some breathtaking, some a bit ordinary. Up to size 16.

A wild card but Cawley Studio

Cawley Studio
Cawley Studio

Many thanks for all the help, I have found lots I like on mytheresa obviously sizing will be an issue, I also love the idea of getting a dress made but fear I have left it too late for that to be ready in time.