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17 year old wedding guest

135 replies

JustADressPlease · 24/08/2025 16:46

Please help me. I'm going to try and cram enough details in, so please excuse the length of the post. We are due to attend a fairly small, fairly casual (in a church but then in a nice country pub afterwards), family wedding in a couple of weeks and I desperately need help. And I say that without any hyperbole! My daughter is 17, mildly ND, has issues with labels and things she feels are constricting. She is 5'10" and a size 6-8, but prefers an 8. She has really, really loooonnng legs (thank goodness she took after her dad and didn't get my stumpy legs with podgy knees and ridiculously long back because that would make this even harder) but doesn't particularly like to flaunt them! She has a model physique and could wear a bin bag and look amazing but is happiest in a pair of leggings and a fleecy jumper. She isn't overly girly, very untrendy, doesn't like jumpsuits as they, ahem, cut her in two, is willing to wear a dress (that's kind of a "must", don't ask!), and doesn't like yellow, overly bright patterns or flowers.

I took her and friend over to the nearest big city a couple of weeks ago and she found nothing. She said she would wear a dress she already has. I've kept asking her to try it on and to show me and she kept forgetting or saying she'd do it later and then that it would be fine, but still hadn't shown me. One of her ND side effects is avoidance of things that make her uncomfortable. I forced her to go and put it on and show me this morning. It's too small, which I suspected it would be. Sigh... I have been looking for something online for the past week or so because I foresaw this coming. I have probably spent about 15 hours, maybe more, trolling loads of sites (Nobody's Child, H&M, Next, Sosander, Roman, Phase Eight, River Island and probably more that I have forgotten) and opening about a million tabs which I sat her down and made her look at this morning. Just to give me some ideas. This is the ONLY one, from Nobody's Child, which was almost acceptable and of course, now it's flipping out of stock. I have emailed and hopefully it might come back in stock, although since it's summery it's unlikely: Acceptable Dress I have looked at every option within my budget (upto £150, I'm that desperate, but prefereably, much, much less as she's likely to only wear it this once!)

So please, please, help me and suggest other stores or even better actual dresses that might be acceptable. I would be unbelievably grateful.

Thanks, one tired,desperate internetted out mum...

Pink Sleeveless Tiered Charlie Midi Dress

Pink Sleeveless Tiered Charlie Midi Dress

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/pink-sleeveless-tiered-charlie-midi-dress-d255476pnk?cjdata=MXxZfDB8WXwxNzU4NjM3MTI0NDk2&cjevent=3e0e651580f511f083f302200a18b8fc&utm_source=CJ&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Easyfundraising+Ltd

OP posts:
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Doggymummar · 24/08/2025 16:50

Why can't she choose for herself, and you order it? I would try Karen Millen, Top Shop and Never Fully Dressed and then she's in her own.

AtomicBlondeRose · 24/08/2025 16:50

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/tall-brown-stripe-poplin-midi-dress/p/930926129

tall range, tiered, non-egregious pattern?

AtomicBlondeRose · 24/08/2025 16:56

https://www.stradivarius.com/gb/contrasting-midi-dress-l02368558?categoryId=1020087495&colorId=433&pelement=449711530

these have a jersey top and are very comfortable to wear

JustADressPlease · 24/08/2025 16:59

Doggymummar · 24/08/2025 16:50

Why can't she choose for herself, and you order it? I would try Karen Millen, Top Shop and Never Fully Dressed and then she's in her own.

You'd think so wouldn't you? Your average 17 year old girl would love to be given the absolute freedom of a large city, the whole of the internet and a fairly large budget... Not my gorgeous, special girl!😂 I've tried it, believe me! She spends hours looking but comes up with absolute zilch. She's dyspraxic (is indecisive and has problems sorting through info and translating it to real life) and mildly autistic (all the fun of dyspraxia, times 10!). And she really, really, doesn't care about clothes, especially ones that aren't 100% comfortable.

OP posts:
JustADressPlease · 24/08/2025 17:01

AtomicBlondeRose · 24/08/2025 16:50

Thank you, probably should have added (soooo many things....!) stripes of contrasting colour, oh and brown. I love brown, it suits me. But it's dulllllllll, sigh my darling, but you don't like bright colours either. Not sure how I'm not bald tearing my hair out! 😭😂😭

OP posts:
JustADressPlease · 24/08/2025 17:05

AtomicBlondeRose · 24/08/2025 16:56

Now, you see, that's th PERFECT style, but she won't wear cream, because it's too bride-like and then there's that brown again! 😂 But I haven't come across that site, so going to have a browse, thank you!!!

OP posts:
Passthecake30 · 24/08/2025 17:05

I had an awful time finding my dd something to wear for a wedding. I had success in tkmaxx of all places, which completely surprised me given that it’s usually like an overwhelming jumble sale to me!

JustADressPlease · 24/08/2025 17:08

Doggymummar · 24/08/2025 16:50

Why can't she choose for herself, and you order it? I would try Karen Millen, Top Shop and Never Fully Dressed and then she's in her own.

I should have added though, thank you for the site suggestions, I haven't looked at those, so shall go and have a mooch!!

OP posts:
AtomicBlondeRose · 24/08/2025 17:08

JustADressPlease · 24/08/2025 17:05

Now, you see, that's th PERFECT style, but she won't wear cream, because it's too bride-like and then there's that brown again! 😂 But I haven't come across that site, so going to have a browse, thank you!!!

There’s a navy one which I thought looked quite promising. I’ve got one from last year and it’s really non-constricting and nice to wear.

JustADressPlease · 24/08/2025 17:09

Passthecake30 · 24/08/2025 17:05

I had an awful time finding my dd something to wear for a wedding. I had success in tkmaxx of all places, which completely surprised me given that it’s usually like an overwhelming jumble sale to me!

We do have a TKMaxx in town, I might pop her down there. I don't think about it though as a rule as I hate the place due to the chaos. But it's not far away, so certainly worth a trip. Thank you!

OP posts:
JustADressPlease · 24/08/2025 17:14

AtomicBlondeRose · 24/08/2025 17:08

There’s a navy one which I thought looked quite promising. I’ve got one from last year and it’s really non-constricting and nice to wear.

Apparently plain navy is not weddingy.... Honestly, I could cry! 😂

OP posts:
JustADressPlease · 24/08/2025 17:16

It is a bit, but thank you, another site I wasn't aware of.

I should have probably put in my OP, I'm also very untrendy and have no clue about fashion and usually get something I'm happy to wear on Roman or Next... 😂

OP posts:
MouldyCandy · 24/08/2025 17:18

Can you find the next size up of the dress she likes on Vinted / eBay?

AtomicBlondeRose · 24/08/2025 17:23

https://www.hollisterco.com/shop/uk/p/onoff-the-shoulder-maxi-dress-60263927-1005?faceout=model&seq=01&pagefm=navigation-swatch&prodvm=navigation-swatch

https://www.hollisterco.com/shop/uk/p/babydoll-maxi-dress-59750324-1005?categoryId=85292&faceout=model&seq=02

Two from Hollister. I totally get the list of “rules” - had similar getting my 11yo a “prom” dress (end of school disco!) which had so many requirements I was going mad!

ranoutofquinoaandprosecco · 24/08/2025 17:24

Have you looked in Urban Outfitters or Holister?

AtomicBlondeRose · 24/08/2025 17:27

https://www.bershka.com/gb/flounce-bandeau-midi-dress-c0p193334223.html?colorId=671

dare I suggest strapless?

FrodoBiggins · 24/08/2025 17:36

OP - ASOS has "the acceptable dress" in lemon, if she likes light pink might she go for that? Also in brown in a lot of places but I hear that's a no no https://www.asos.com/nobodys-child/nobodys-child-charlie-sleeveless-tiered-midi-dress-in-lemon/prd/208754331#colourWayId-208754332

Onemoret1me · 24/08/2025 17:51

I could have written your exact post earlier this year

older teen that is ND, lives in leggings and hoodie. Very sensitive to clothing, textures etc. does not like colour. Wears black or grey.

I took her shopping for a wedding guest dress and was dreading it but she tried this dress on and loved it. I also bought it in colour but she refused so wore the brown one.

https://www.bershka.com/gb/strappy-midi-dress-c0p196951806.html?colorId=716