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.

I'm 65 and so far the only dresses posted I'd wear are the Wiggy Kit and Alemais dresses.

The pattern on the Wiggy Kit dress is nice, but I can’t stand that style of sleeve.

I don’t know quite how to describe the Alemais dresses. “A very expensive cry for help” comes to mind with some of them!

My issue with the first dress is that you are definitely rooting for Ukraine. So am I , just don't need to wear it obviously. Second dress is fine but I'm sure you can do better.

What about these silk dresses - would look great with your height.
I think plain rather than patterned is more striking, timeless and elegant.
The midi is in lots of colours......plus the fab matching hat.

https://www.jasperconran.com/collections/new-in

Reformation have a selection of silk wedding guest dresses. Much nicer than Hobbs and more up to date.
https://www.thereformation.com/home?_gl=17x5upp_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlYHBBhD9ARIsALRu09rvJ75rds8j5OnmyLg1s1TCP0yFUmza-JRKWWoTGze5k8ybOx-5fYsaAq3yEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAABnwCweZi7TWoTcIs5vChUmW9VfhB

Agreed. All my Hobbs dresses are timeless and beautiful.

Are the Reformation people allergic to sleeves? They are also on the expensive side considering the OP was more comfortable around the £150-£200 mark.

@SnoozingFox their silk dresses are at the same price point as the Hobbs silk one. They do have dresses with sleeves!. OP’s dress two was sleeveless.

https://rixolondon.com/products/tania-miami-floral-emerald
https://rixolondon.com/products/tania-miami-floral-emerald

French Connection also did similar. I think I'm still firmly in that style 😁

Op, I like the shape of the first one but reckon you can find similar for cheaper. It is hard to find dresses that don't have massive puffy sleeves these days (which reminds me of 80s bridesmaid dresses).

BTW I find that silk is quite sweaty to wear. That may just be me.

The fabric on that Rixo one is gorgeous, but is very low cut and would only work well on someone with a small chest.

Silk is very very dificult to wear. It gets creased before you get to the venue, only by sitting down. Think well as it might affect your enjoyment of the day if you look like you just slept in it. Not sure wether all silk behaves like, maybe the more xpensive one is different that but the one I found did.

@mewkins yes, and absolutely nothing wrong with it. I loved that era for clothes.

You’ve made me remember as well, Oasis used to be really good for silk.

I love Reformation dresses but so many of them are not compatible with a bra.

And Warehouse. So many of their camisoles were in lovely silk. That would be unheard of now for a highstreet shop like that.

Have you actually tried the dresses on OP? I'd go shopping and try lots of dresses on.

I think I prefer the second sleeveless one, but it seems very expensive.

I'd also be worried about spilling something on the silk dress so that I couldn't wear it at the second one!!

Does this appeal?
https://www.wyselondon.com/products/arabella-silk-dress-lagoon-green-trailing-floral

The problem is … there’s a high chance you’ll be in the same outfit as someone else if you go for a ‘this year’s’ dress. Is there any chance you could wear something you already have or buy something abroad or adapt / customise a plainer item ? For example, I once had a navy and white gorgeous silk scarf that I already owned added as a bow by a tailor to a plain navy cocktail dress resulting in a unique and much loved occasion dress for years with no chance of anyone in the same outfit.

I love this.

Does anyone have any thoughts re accessories for this for a fairly formal wedding (ie hat/fascinator)?

Have you actually tried the dresses on OP? I'd go shopping and try lots of dresses on.

I’ve just looked and there’s a standalone Hobbs store, plus two department store concessions, in Kingston, which isn’t far from me, so I think I’m going to take a trip over on my day off. Many of the responses here are making me think I need to see the dresses in the flesh (or in the fabric 😄) rather than ordering online. Wish me luck!

Here’s some options

Both are expensive and none of them have a wow factor. I think you can do better.

I bought a silk Hobbs dress four years ago for a wedding and I've worn it a few times since. It's very similar to the two you're considering. It never creases and looked gorgeous in photos from the wedding, which was a long, hot day. I hope to wear it a lot more.

The price of your silk dress would put me off. Mine was around £150 in the sale. It's worth signing up for Hobbs' emails as they often do 20% off and have other targeted offers such as x amount off dresses.

I only started shopping in Hobbs for their petite range, and I generally find their clothes good quality and look better on me than a lot of high street brands, so the polyester option is likely to be a cut above.

It would be a no from me on these.

Hobbs dresses are well made and hang well. But, they are a bit staid, I have to agree with pp on that. If I was spending a few hundred quid on an occasion dress I’d want something a bit more interesting.

I like the blue Rixo dress - last year they did a mini dress in that print and I wore it to a wedding in Greece. Got SO many compliments, and I’m at the age now where that’s a rare event.

I recently bought a silk evening dress by Zac Posen from The Outnet, reduced from over £500 to £120. It hangs like an absolute dream. Might be worth scrolling through their sale stuff op, there are some bargains.

The second dress is massively over priced. I would definitely get the first out of those two. But honestly I think both have a slightly old look to them and I hate saying that!