Effortlessly stylish wedding outfit for a size 16

[HealthyWeightBy40]

Hello Style and Beauty queens. Please help! I'm going to a wedding in August, it's an immediate family member and a big wedding so I want to feel good on the day and look decent in the photos. I'm 39 and losing weight atm, won't be at my final target by the wedding but I have a mini-target. I want something comfortable and flattering but still stylish. Nothing too "old" or floral, I like classic styles and strong/bright colours. Preferably a dress, knee length or longer, with short sleeves. I have a large bust so no high necks! I'm hourglass/pear shape so tend to suit dresses that are fitted at the waist but with a skirt that flares out a bit. Currently size 16, might fit a size 14 by the wedding if I'm lucky. (NB if wearing separate top/bottom it would be size 14/16 on top and size 16/18 on bottom).

Any suggestions of places to look or specific dresses/outfits would be very welcome. TIA!

Heritage, who are similar in use of fabrics to Kemi Telford have a specific bit in their FAQ about cultural appropriation:

CAN I WEAR YOUR BEAUTIFUL DRESSES? WILL IT BE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE?
Our clothes are made to make every woman confident, beautiful and attractive regardless of age, size, race or nationality. We embrace everyone and we are proud and privileged to serve women all over the world thus integrating our African culture/fabrics with the western style through our gorgeous pieces.

Hi OP. I am similar size to you. I attended a wedding last summer and brought a Me + Em dress on ebay. They are really well made and suit all sizes. Too expensive new but worth a look second hand. I am a 14 - 16 and the dress i have is a comfortable 16. Good luck

That’s lovely!

https://www.johnlewis.com/baukjen-annmarie-sleeveless-floral-dress-pink-multi/p113558575?size=14&s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20151164127&gclid=CjwKCAjw3_PCBhA2EiwAkH_j4sMoU91vkc8T2YFQCAxJVjoqIQPr1XrhHt8IAgVeyke0w5GBhNpLmxoCffAQAvD_BwE

Saw this baukjen dress irl the other day and thought it looked fab

Since you have posted some floral yourself, what about this kind of thing:

https://www.debenhams.com/product/coast-organza-floral-placement-lace-trim-midaxi-dress_bcc07080?colour=navy&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=444911&awc=22735_1750956878_0eaa6b673d20d7d7ddb29567e8f020de&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=awin&utm_campaign=UK_444911&utm_content=Social+Content

This dress is gorgeous and I'm wearing it to a wedding on Saturday. If you look on the Scamp & Dude Facebook group there are lots of examples of people dressing it up.

It's true, I've broken my own rule
It's very difficult to find dresses without floral prints, it seems!
I guess it depends on the print, I like the bolder ones.
This one for example https://www.boden.com/products/christabel-cotton-maxi-dress-gallery-blue-walled-garden

Ooh thanks! Enjoy the wedding, I bet you'll look fab

Have a look for Mollie Campsie on Instagram. She’s a size 18 influencer who always looks stylish and put together. She has definitely done a number of wedding guest dress videos this summer

I know you've already bought that dress, but what about this:
https://farmrio.com/en-au/products/delicate-flower-arabesques-short-sleeve-midi-dress

Thanks. That's not my style, but I'd admire it on someone else!

I have ordered two now (the pink Ro&Zo one as well) and still open to others, I like to have a few to try on and choose from.

Rent Designer Women's Resale | RIXO Rental you can buy or rent these - fabulous dresses

This stuff mostly doesn’t look any different than the blue dress that the Op liked!

How about this?

Sam - Shirred Puff Sleeve Dress - Dark Green – This is Unfolded https://share.google/8ZAbbCi3p5yyagS1T

I have this one and I love the fit:

Camilla Dress Black Linear Floral – This is Unfolded https://share.google/SVVQih5WjVlz2t5ZF

I ordered a couple of things from them last summer. The first dress that arrived was supposed to be size 16 but they sent me a 22! And the next dress - which took months - wasn't quite right so I returned it.

I've had a look though at the dresses you suggested, and I'm impressed that they show models wearing the dress in different sizes. The "Sam" looks awful in most sizes (sorry!) but the "Camilla" looks very flattering (this model is wearing a size 18).

This might not be wedding y enough but it’s a nice dress. I’m a 14/16 and have had compliments in it. I’ve recommended it about 3x this week!

www.fatface.com/us/en/style/su496683/ak9444

I recently came across the brand Scarlett & Jo. Cater for larger sizes, very well fitted at the waist and fab patterns and colours.

www.scarlettandjo.com/

That dress is gorgeous! Which colour did you get? I love the teal.

The teal! It is a lovely colour. I’m only short so is more a midaxi length on me but it works.

Thank you but those are the kind of styles my mum and her generation would wear. (And I thought that even before scrolling down and seeing the customer photos!)

Be careful with anything puff sleeved or sleeves that end at bust level as you’ll look wider if you have a big bust. Me and Em dresses are aimed at slim women i think- they’re often low cut.

"Me and Em dresses are aimed at slim women i think"

Agree. That's what I was trying to say in an earlier post when I was patronisingly told that would be a bad business model

I wore a silky dress from All Saints to my sibling's wedding recently, you could look there?

This is glorious. Am surprised at how unexceptional nearly every other dress on this thread has been (and I consider myself quite a safe dresser). Don’t think there has been anything else that I would consider as a wedding outfit, rather than a ‘pop out to a restaurant’ dress.

Interesting how MN threads go sometimes. Normally I’m the one thinking everything is far too outrageous for ‘normal people’.😆

I bought a Jolie Moi one for a wedding last year and felt very comfortable but dressy in it. I am size 16 but 20 years older than you! Next have a good selection. https://www.next.co.uk/shop/gender-women-category-dresses/brand-joliemoi-use-weddingguest?p=11#774.296875