Bridesmaid - unusual outfit help please

[YesIAmANameChanger]

I have name changed for this as this is very outing (resurrected a name change from 100 years ago!)

Along with a male friend I am going to be a bridesmaid in July. The ‘bride’ is a gay man and he would like us to wear waistcoats which match what he will be wearing, and a white shirt. The waistcoats have already been purchased and I need to get mine adjusted to fit as it’s a man’s XL (to give enough fabric for alterations).

I am 5’2”, size 8 with 30F boobs. I am worried I am going to look like a 1980s waitress with one breast.

How can I possibly style this in a way that can also be reflected by my counterpart?!

All suggestions welcome.

Oh, I should add that I am 50 years old, blonde with shoulder length hair, pale, good legs.

Uniboob is definitely where you are headed.

could you perhaps lower the V to give a more dramatic separation?

I'd go for a v cut white shirt underneath- that will stop it looking like a waiter. Lower the V of the waistcoat when you get it fitted and have it come in at the sides (in other words make sure you ask the tailer to give it a woman's cut).

Thanks both.

Yes I agree, a deep V is the only hope I have, but it still isn’t much is it?

And what do I wear on my bottom half?! Pencil skirt = travel agent
Suit trousers = auditioning for junior choir (plus I am over a foot shorter than my male counterpart and the comparison will not be good)

Wide leg trousers?

I was a “best man” for a male friend and wore a trouser suit with no shirt under the jacket (had a seamstress add extra fastenings to the jacket for security) and statement heels. I felt really glam and it fit the vibe.

Could the waistcoat be repurposed into a top with nothing underneath? And maybe a jacket and wide leg trousers?

Cigarette pants and some killer heels?

Swishy wide leg trousers or long skirt. I’m liking this look www.johnlewis.com/florere-deep-pleat-wide-leg-trousers/green/p113474318?size=14&s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20158969807&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1yxgBu7zcRbbAV_WfRCdWNGA&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8vvABhCcARIsAOCfwwoxQ-Vwz_j5pRQs1w8YzUmljOhdNZmxu95slivptwgbtKDo8kiHl3kaAh8gEALw_wcB

You need it properly fitted, with bust darts, so not just taken in down the side seams. The front and back need to be taken apart completely, and the neckline lowered, the front darted at the bust and again at the waist, the back darted into the waist too. To be honest it would be simpler to get one made for you in a women’s fitted style. That would be simpler for the tailor than trying to totally recut an existing waistcoat in a large man’s size.

What is your jacket like ? Or no jacket ?
I think cigarette trousers too, as pp suggested.

If the waistcoat is altered well, then it should look fine. I agree with wearing a white shirt with a deep V, and wide legged trousers. No high heels, they look very dated. Block heels if you want some extra height.

No jacket - just the waistcoat so far.

I agree @Christwosheds it would have been much easier to have the fabric to get a waistcoat made then to get one adjusted to fit. I did try to tell my friend this but he’s not much used to women’s clothes for obvious reasons and he’d already ordered both waistcoats. I just need to make the best of it. The poor seamstress!

I very seldom wear trousers, in fact almost never. They don’t suit me very well and I find them uncomfortable. But I'm willing to try. Any links?

I quite like those trousers @WashableVelvet but they will be miles too long for me…could they be taken up?

I'm a G cup, so get what you mean. I wonder if it would be possible to cut it like a top rather than a waistcoat?

I find a scoop neck quite flattering. Sometimes a v neck with darts etc makes me look like I've been upholstered! 😂 I'm thinking a sort of like this shape?

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1259419003.html

Could you lean into it and go for a tailored short and no shirt under waistcoat combo(that has been altered to fit)?

Scoop neck on waistcoat is actually brilliant @GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut

I’m surprisingly into this as a variant shape wise - would work with wide leg trousers or shorts https://www.riverisland.com/p/white-halter-neck-fitted-waistcoat-923279

I think those trousers would swamp you at 5'2", even shortened.

Good point on swamping with the trousers- shorts might work better

She'd look like Jimmy Crankie.
No shirt and wide leg trousers is surely the way to go. That scoop neck one looks lovely.

How about a tulle skirt? It'd have bridesmaidy vibes and could look stunning with a waistcoat top, and no shirt.

Could a seamstress work out something if you wore it back to front, a deep V in what was the back and have it buttoned down the back?

Perhaps look at a long chiffon pleated skirt, or satin cut on the bias, depending on what the waistcoat's like.

@BaronessBomburst I think that would have looked great on me 10 years ago but I’m thicker round the middle now so all the gathering does me no favours sadly.

@Redrosesposies i would indeed look like Jimmy Krankie in shirts and waistcoat 😀

Sadly scoop necks have never worked for me…don’t know why. But making the waistcoat a top without having to wear a shirt underneath is definitely the way forward. I had to wear a waistcoat as a waitress aged 16 and I’ve never got over it.

Oh no- not shirt as well with shorts! Waistcoat re styled shape wise and tailored shorts. What does the original waistcoat look like? Colour/fabric etc

Do you have to wear the white shirt as well? The waistcoat on it's own with nice trousers could work, but adding the white shirt may make it very serving-staff looking. Unless you go with a very feminine white blouse. Please say you don't have a tie as well!