Wedding guest outfit - something special

[Helpineedtoswimandwanttohide]

My little sister is getting married in July, and I’d really like a special dress for the day. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a summer wedding and since having a child, so feeling a bit lost.

I’m 37, a size 16 and tallish at 5’8, with G cup boobs. I have dark hair and suit jewel tones - no pastel colours please! Really worried about ending up looking frumpy in some of the more classic ‘wedding guest’ outfits. I do like the idea of a maxi dress.

Any help gratefully received! Budget up to £300.

Agree anything spaghetti strap/ halter will not support a G cup. OP I would go to a store that offers a personal shopper and try on some dresses.

This looks like the guest has stopped in at the wedding on their way back from the beach! I’d imagine the wedding of a close family member, deserves better than a sundress!

OP - I'm older than you, but a similar height & size & with F cup boobs. How do you feel about:

• Prints? Do you like small or large florals or other prints - as I think that prints can often look dated? There are a few really nice ones out there though, but would you prefer plain or printed - or does that all depend on the dress?

• You said jewel colours - emerald, ruby, sapphire I assume? Amethyst? So does that mean you're closest to a winter - dark hair & cool colouring?

• Do you need to wear a bra? With straps or can you do strapless (I hate them!)? As that rules out halternecks/spaghetti straps/low back etc. What about one-shouldered, which can be worn with a strapless bra? I like them - do you?

• Are you happy to have bare arms? And are you broad-shouldered? I am, so don't wear stuff that makes me look like a shot-putter ...

• Would you be willing to get a dress a size or two up to ensure boob fittage, & then get it tailored slightly?

• Is it going to be partly outdoors in summer if the weather is good? Do you know the vibe your sister is aiming for/what type of venue it will be? As I think I might wear different types of dresses to a baronial Scottish castle that will be all indoors, vs a marquee in a meadow in Somerset ...??

• When you look at possible dresses, do you tend to veer towards the pretty flowery vibe or the dramatic evening-adjacent style? (Like another poster, I dislike evening gowns at weddings.)

Think that's all - just wanted to narrow it down before I sent some options!!!

I agree with those who said to wait a bit as there'll be a much better selection around by spring. Unless you spot something you love now!!

How about these?

https://www.theprettydresscompany.com/sale-c16/the-pretty-dress-company-tilly-velvet-prom-dress-p346#attribute%5B1%5D=23

https://www.theprettydresscompany.com/sale-c16/the-pretty-dress-company-hourglass-swing-dress-p288#attribute%5B1%5D=12

https://lavishalice.com/collections/cocktail-dresses/products/grace-square-neck-embellished-cape-sleeve-maxi-dress-in-emerald-green

Really like this - but a bit casual?
https://www.johnlewis.com/whistles-taffeta-linen-rich-dress-red/p113614462

This is lovely too: https://www.next.co.uk/style/su998571/g81559

or https://www.debenhams.com/product/raishma-studio-darcie-blue-dress_p-6d207103-ab13-4760-9e70-4343d4e42016?colour=Blue&size=16 which is gorgeous but would need to be tried on for boob space.

Most of these were real awful bar the stunning blue ones in whoever posted first

That was a bit rude!

OP - This might be cut a bit trim over the bust, but I love this if a jumpsuit could be an option?

https://lavishalice.com/collections/wedding-guest/products/chantelle-cross-neck-straight-leg-jumpsuit-with-satin-drape-in-emerald

@QueenMummyTheFirst to be fair, the OP is clear about her colouring, size and boob-age. People posting wee strapless things or spaghetti straps are just not helpful. These threads are not about what you would wear, they're about taking into account the posters age, size, preferences etc and suggesting things they might want to wear.

True, it doesn't make them "awful" though, just unsuitable.

Thanks to all who have posted but don’t think I have seen anything suitable yet - it’s not easy which is why I’ve posted!

This is a very thorough list!

• Prints - I like but agree getting dated now.
• Not sure if I’m winter or deep autumn, one of the two I think.
• Could prob get away with a strapless bra but having worn one since having children, would need to be pretty industrial.
• getting fitted an idea.
• Yes outdoor, in a barn-type venue.
• I do prefer the evening type ones tbh but don’t think they’d be suitable for the venue. But the more flowery day dress ones are more like what I’d wear on a nice lunch out, so want something more special than that.

Did you look at Scarlett and Jo - they are just perfect for our shape?

I'm a very thorough kind of person! My partner would say obsessive/anally retentive - he's probably right ... 😁!!!

Thanks for the answers - that helps! You didn't say whether you like one-shouldered dresses or not, so I might fire a couple in just to see ...

Ok, here's my first choice.

It'll work for winter or dark autumn colouring, is perfect to waft around a barn in on a summer evening, & will look fab with metallic or contrasting sandals & bag. I like the golden-topaz bag she's wearing it with. And it's pure silk so will be cool for summer.

You can wear a bra (though will need to get one made specially for a low-cut dress - depending on how low it sits I'd maybe also wear a camisole below?).

Plus (unlike the more OTT evening options) it's the kind of dress that you could wear for a special evening out, even in winter with heeled boots. So much better value for money IMO.

Boob-wise, you may need to go up a size or two & get it tweaked.

Unfortunately, a minus point is that it's quite a bit over budget ... 😶 (15% off though, & you can pay with Klarna ...!!).

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/peacock-manor-silk-soir%C3%A9e-dress-000854245.html

Another lovely silk one in the same print. Same comments as above apply - but you will definitely need to size up & get adjusted.

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/peacock-manor-silk-satin-gala-maxi-dress-000798996.html

I love the v-neck Liberty one that @EleanorMc67 has posted.

For what you’re looking for, I wonder if you’d consider renting. I have discovered Double JJ recently but it’s about twice or three times your budget. Example -
. double JJ on By Rotation

A bit of an outlier suggestion, also on the Liberty website. It's one-shouldered but you could definitely wear a strapless bra. It's brilliantly well-reduced but there's just a 14. I can't tell if the fit is loose enough around the top though to potentially fit (as a lot of more kaftan-y styles will). Might be worth a look for it elsewhere if you like it.

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/nick-red-buttercups-off-the-shoulder-dress-000841459.html

(I love this brand - https://bernadetteantwerp.com/en-gb/collections/dresses - though they're very expensive & mostly OTT, but I dream of sweeping down the aisle in Lidl in one of them - as it's probably the only kind of aisle I'll ever experience ... 😁!!!)

Good idea, if the OP isn't attached to keeping the dress afterwards.

This silk habutai one is reduced to around your budget in the coral-red colour. It's lovely worn without the sash (as shown in the blue shade). The coral one is styled really badly with clumpy black sandals when it should be with strappy gold flats or similar - but looks much nicer in a floaty way in the second picture.

https://joseph-fashion.com/products/plumet-habotai-silk-dress-orange-jf0091941812

Another Joseph one in a strong blue - good with dark hair & pale skin - that's really well reduced. It's satinised cotton so will be fine for summer. Both floaty enough & dramatic enough?

https://joseph-fashion.com/products/bellan-cotton-sateen-dress-blue-jf0093721410

Possibly too pastel for you - but to me it's a strong pastel, & is jewel-toned if you think of aquamarine! It's also a jumpsuit ...

https://joseph-fashion.com/products/sofia-airy-plisse-jumpsuit-blue-jf0092391440

Not sure if you'd consider a kimono- or kaftan-style dress? (I have two vintage Bernat Klein ones & I love them. They're both dramatic & so easy to wear.)

This red one is rather lovely & is pure silk?

https://www.faraboutique.com/products/rise-kaftan-red

A linen-mix maxi in cream & green from the archive reduced section of Bernadette? Great shape up top for big boobs ... Maybe a bit quiet though?

https://bernadetteantwerp.com/en-gb/products/dress-mara

Tallulah & Hope - a great colour mix & it's a wrap-style kimono so flexible with big boobs? And it comes in long so will be a proper maxi.

https://tallulahandhope.com/products/dorothy-wrap-double-georgette-copal-print

A bit over budget, but how about something like this?
https://alemais.com/collections/dresses/products/aquatica-gown-exclusive