Lovely ladies, I need your help!
I have two weddings coming up this summer and want to buy one dress to wear to both. I'm keen to look stunning, obvs, but also to avoid the boring "paint-by-numbers" wedding guest styles that are all I seem to be able to find.
The second wedding, in particular, is very formal (think cathedral and - I imagine - strong 4 weddings and a funeral vibes). I desperately don't want to be in Laura Ashely-type floral number which could double as sofa upholstery. However, many of the dresses out there do seem to be channelling that look.
In my mind I want to be fashion-forward and slightly edgy. However, in reality I'm a 40 year old mother of two who doesn't actually care about fashion and could look ridiculous if I try too hard.
A bit about me - I'm a size 12, although sometimes manage to get into size 10 on a good day/vanity-sized label. Pear-shaped, but with a reasonably flat belly. I don't like my upper arms and never usually show them, but I'm working on getting over that hang up, so sleeveless isn't necessarily a deal breaker. I find tea dresses usually work well for me, but I have approximately 62 in my wardrobe and would appreciate a nudge into a pastures new.
I like Saloni (only the less Boden-esque prints) and did find a dress I liked in the sale, but the quality was not good enough even for the reduced price so I returned it.
I like the idea of Rixo, but am always turned off by the frilly flounces which they attach to perfectly nice dresses.
I have looked at Zadig and Voltaire, but I fear I am not the body type to carry off the dresses.
BA&SH is a little beachy for the occasion.
Budget is £300-£400.
Any suggestions either for dresses, or places to seek dresses, would be very much appreciated. Otherwise I'll have to dust off a floral tea dress, like the last 4 weddings I went to!