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.

The wedding couple want their attendants to wear white shirts with their waistcoats. No point trying to repurpose the waistcoat into a sexy top with bare flesh underneath.

Proper waistcoats have a strap & buckle across the small of the back to allow waist adjustment. You might find it looks all right with the top button undone - try it on. If it needs alteration, vertical shaping darts up the front and side darts for the bust will probably be best. This will be a little tricky as the garment will be lined, but not really too taxing.

If you're worried about looking 'feminine', go for a white shirt in a delicate fabric with slightly puffed shoulders. I'd be more inclined to lean in to the smart look with a crisply tailored shirt for women. Weirdly, the best place to look for women's tailored shirts at the moment is a shirt tailor! Very few fashion shirts have proper shaping.

I'd recommend finding a pair of straight-leg trousers (wide but not very wide) that really fit you well, or just a nice skirt of any shape & length that matches your fellow attendant's trousers.

Have a lovely time!

I don't get why everyone's going on about looking like a waiter! Do you think the grooms and the other attendant are all going to look like they should be serving the canapés?

bit of a mad idea, but the theme of Mondays Met Gala was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style and we saw alot of stunning suit based looks on women. Maybe flick through some pictures for inspo - of course a lot of the outfits are loud, but others are wearable for normal folk.

Can you get the waistcoat remade to give more of a corset vibe?

I think if you don’t like them, don’t wear them. Go for a slinky, slim ankle length skirt instead maybe. Full, long skirts look great with a shirt and waistcoat , in a vaguely Victorian sort of way, but then you would look less in harmony with the other “bridesmaid” . What sort of fabric is the waistcoat and what colour ?

Sorry I didn’t realise the photo I thought had posted wasn’t there. It’s this:

https://www.dobell.co.uk/dobell-pink-floral-jacquard-waistcoat

I came on to suggest this. Find a colour (or get one dyed) that goes with the colour/s in the waistcoat. The Princess of Wales did a look look with formal top and floaty skirt the other day: www.instyle.com/kate-middleton-rewears-white-dress-11731376

Would look great with a pink tulle skirt

I was going to suggest tulle skirt also in whatever colour trousers the others are wearing . Heels if you can do them ( or maybe chunky ankle boots) Would avoid the waiter Jimmy Crankie look

Instead of no shirt, a full on ruffled new romantics shirt might look OK. You wouldn't be able to see what shape your boobs were underneath!

True @Paaseitjes but I might also look like a pigeon 😀 I’m really petite everywhere except these huge boobs (and a less than flat stomach), which sounds a lot better than it actually looks.

I’m so grateful to you all for these suggestions. There’s lots of good for thought here.

I think I’m going to have to get the waistcoat made up (lowest possible V and all the darts to give it shape) and then try on various trousers and skirts until I hit on the right combination.