Another wedding dilemma. How to style this dress.

[Nc9623]

I’ve name changed after some of the comments in another style and beauty thread. If this is also dated please let me know.

I already have this dress and want to wear it to a wedding later in the year. I’m shorter, bigger and older than the model! I’m 5ft4, in my 50s, size 18.

The top half looks ok as the colours suit me. I’m very pale with blue eyes. I don’t like the pleats or the fact the skirt lands mid lower leg so makes my bottom half look bigger than it is (I’m a 14 in trousers). So what length jacket or maybe accessories would help with this please? I was thinking different colour jacket may draw away from the pleats? I don’t own anything else pleated though so I’m not sure if that works?

When I wore it a few years ago it was to a different sort of event. I just tied my hair up, a little make up and some nice earrings.

https://www.debenhams.com/product/hot-squash-v-neck-floral-lace-dress_p-c4290317-f01e-4521-ab9b-fffaf91e673f?colour=Silver&size=12&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22661679340&gbraid=0AAAAABevdS7rBpK7jq11dXDkkWGiaBNmG&gclid=CjwKCAjwjtTNBhB0EiwAuswYhtC69u55LbvXaxZsoA0eBIKogDWm98duct9VJM6THfKKgCckHRXZkRoCv_4QAvD_BwE

Would you consider taking it to a tailor / seamstress to get the skirt adjusted?

It's surprisingly cheap to do that.

I didn’t even know that was an option. My one problem with that would be if I put more weight on around my tummy, I’m up and down bigger there at the moment.

Plus if it’s going to cost a bit I could spend that instead on a different dress. I’m not sure but thank you.

I’m sorry - it’s awful. I hope you only paid a sale price. Please don’t waste money altering it.

Why not just buy something new?

This would be better:

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc147340430

Or this:

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc148103487

Or this one:

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc147281679

I am older and shorter than you. Nothing about a midi dress is going to detract from your appearance, I promise you. Looking as if you haven’t bought a dress this century will.

It doesn't have any pleats.

What is so awful about it? It's not to my taste particularly, but when I saw it I thought it was quite pretty and perfectly suitable for a wedding?

It has a nicer fit than any of these

It’s a nice dress inherently, but it would have been much more in fashion 10-20 years ago than now when clothes have become longer, looser, higher necked and less patterned.

If you like it and how it looks on, I’d maybe go all-out vintage with eg some 50s accessories and a petticoat, rather than trying to make it more current, which would be tricky given the number of ways in which it’s different from recent trends.

Personally I loved dresses like this but also like looking current, so I’m looking forward to them coming back in and am keeping them at the back of the wardrobe for now!

Honestly and kindly it is dated and you already feel uncomfortable in it given you don’t like the way the skirt fits and want a jacket to detract attention from it. What do you like? How can we help you find something that makes you feel good? What sort of budget?

That’s a hard shape, especially if you’re on the large side.

I think I’d wear a light summer coat in the same colour and exactly the same length as the dress.

Ice blue is supposed to be very "on trend" this spring, which sounds like it would go really nicely with your complexion.

If you like the top of the dress but not the bottom, what about a longline "romantic" blouse or cami top? You could pair with stylish, smart trousers even if you don't want midi or presumably a short skirt.

https://www.roman.co.uk/panelled-lace-puff-sleeve-top-20243745

https://www.lilyandlionel.com/products/abby-blouse-blue-solid?variant=44002136293624&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOoqt0_n48Gh0S5ZFTrXnibkTSXyez1LN34n2rs-TyjdSlWsth2D8wLQ

Agreed

I’m very puzzled as to how a dress the OP first wore a few years ago is still on that dreadful trading entity’s current website.

@TheFarriersDaughter. I prefer the ops dress to your options, the first 2 especially look really cheap. We all like different things, I like ops dress

I bought it from Next two and a bit years ago. Just used that link as they still have the photos and seem to still be selling it.

Some of the not so nice comments are implying I bought it decades ago but no only two years ago. I think its more suited to a wedding as it was listed as wedding guest dress when I bought it. I wore it for a special meal for my OH”s work. As the top section of the dress suits me and I was sitting at the table I thought it would be ok for that, and it was.

Also I attended a wedding where the mother of the bride was wearing the same dress the same year, luckily I wore something else. She looked really beautiful and is very petite so different on her than me. But her whole outfit was just the dress and heels, no jacket or anything. So that’s not helpful for ideas either.

I’ll have a look at the links but I saw some are just for Sainsbury’s and I’m not going to wear something from there if I have a nicer dress already.

I’d not wear any of those to a wedding ,sorry. Just casual dresses I own similar ones already. I’d not wear any of those to a special occasion just out for a coffee.

I maybe got the wording wrong. It feels like pleats. I’m not sure what you call it?

I really like it. But I can’t see a way you can hide your lower half without wearing a long, light mac and I don’t think that would be a good look.

I think you have to be happy to wear it as it is or look for an alternative. I would embrace it.

I didn’t think it was that bad either. I have other dresses but this is the dressier one.

I like the colour, the fact my bust fits in it fine as I’m bigger chested and it’s usually really hard to get a decent fit on that part of my body. I also like the lace and the v neck. The only thing I don’t like is the skirt section of it, but that’s me rather than the dress as I’m bigger on top.

Thank you

I don't think any of those look as though they would hang right.

I did not post those dresses as suggestions of what you should wear, @Nc9623. You asked if the dress you own looks dated, but were also considering having it altered. My point was that you would look more contemporary in random supermarket dresses that cost a fraction of the price of yours.

I was answering your question.

Very pretty especially the colour but would look awful on me. I’m bigger busted so I struggle with those sorts of styles.