Wedding guest dress - splash out on silk or stick to budget?

[PopsicleSchtick]

I have two weddings to attend this summer (a cousin’s and a friend’s) - both similar in style (country hotel) but with completely different guest lists, so thankfully I only need one dress for both!

I’ve fallen in love with dress A from Hobbs. It’s definitely over budget, but it’s also pure silk, and part of me is thinking “You get what you pay for”.

https://www.johnlewis.com/hobbs-ann-floral-pure-silk-dress-multi/p113606997

However, £350 is a hell of a lot. So I’m also looking at dress B - also from Hobbs, but viscose, so significantly cheaper. I don’t think the quality will be quite as great, but on the other hand, anything from Hobbs isn’t going to be your standard Primani viscose:

www.johnlewis.com/hobbs-carly-floral-dress-blue-multi/p113526626

What would you do? Also open to other suggestions! I’m tall (5ft 10) and a size 12, with dark hair; I find bolder colours and prints tend to suit me.

The second one is taking me back to Warehouse or Oasis of the early 2010’s. So on that basis, I’d say the first one.

If you like bold colours, I’d go for something like this.

https://www.neverfullydressed.com/products/pink-safari-thea-maxi-dress

I like this too. Not that I could get away with it.

https://www.forevernew.co.uk/sienna-high-neck-satin-maxi-dress-291676?colour=blue-atmosphere&_gl=11yt6s4z_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuJXW-dGbjQMVOZFQBh2gUhv9EAAYASABEgL6SPD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAACUXDXFi278RdTXODU3Nu2ylrZYXn

That Forever New dress is stunning

I agree with a PP's mum's verdict - "settled", on both.

A floral frock is something of a summer wedding cliche.

i couldn’t bring myself to pay £180 for viscose, go with the silk one - you will cherish it more.

One woman’s cliche is another woman’s classic… 😉

Wow! Gorgeous.

I have never regretted buying anything silk.

Although having just seen The Fold eBay dress someone posted above, I’d go for that one!

Yes! That’s it, Oasis and Warehouse colour combinations.

OP I’m in the camp that both, but especially the silk are not right at just 48. The halterneck one that are PP posted and that you said you might shortlist, it’s very good.

If you like Hobbs, and blue and yellow prints, how about this?
www.vinted.co.uk/items/6222401843-hobbs-farrah-dress-bnwt-uk12

The 2nd dress is not viscose, it's polyester. And it shows.

Can you wait till sales to get the silk one? or try to find some discount codes?

A is far superior. Go for A. You’ll love it and you’ll wear if again.

Definitely go for silk - every time!!!! And check Vinted - I bet you can fund something superb.

The silk dress is lovely, but does look like the dresses my mum and her friends wear to weddings (mum is 70), and they do all tend to go to hobbs for occasion wear. I like hobbs work suits but for weddings prefer me&em, reiss, Nobody's child or a French brand like sezane or gerard darel.

I’m 5’11” and lanky. A would be the right style for me although I’m less enthusiastic about florals and that blue is a .

One issue I have with Hobbs is that I find a lot of their clothes come up just slightly short for my liking. Its annoying as generally have the jewel colours which work best on me.

If you like bold prints and that shape/style of dress you could also look at rixolondon.com at that price point. They have a lot of bold prints other than florals as well as plains and polka dots. They seem to dress half the guests at weddings lately but the range is big enough that clashes are rare and I find the length/style is often better for tall, lanky bodies

I like the first one (and I’m younger). But not enough to pay £350

I love wearing silk, it makes me feel good so I vote silk dress. That particular one reminds me of Sophie, as in Prince Edward's wife Sophie - does her vibe feel like you?
I feel more elegant in non florals BUT I am short and think you can probably get away with much more as a tall-y.

I'd get the viscose as it's machine washable

My thoughts exactly - it's very royal style wedding.

How is silk not appropriate at 48!😁

It’s one of the oldest fabrics going. People have worn silk ties, underwear, thermals, wedding dresses and everything inbetween.

Go for silk one. You can keep it for years, it’s an investment. Second one looks cheap.

this one is silk and on sale

There are pages on Facebook you can sell second hand nice dresses, so if you go for the first after you’ve worn it a couple times you might go £150 or so back for selling it on.

@Letsummercommence oh no, my comment was definitely not about the fabric. Silk is fine of course.