Ideas for a flattering London summer wedding dress after a split

[PithyBeaker]

I would LOVE some ideas for gorgeous dresses that might work for a London summer wedding. Context is that I just split from partner I was expecting to go to the wedding with so I’d like to look smashing and like I DNGAF. I’m not much of one for dressing up and have nothing to wear. The couple are old friends from uni and there will be many old faces there. I’m almost 5,10 (so most dresses in shops are too short) and a size 10. Don’t want to wear heels. Thanks in advance!!!

The first two in particular are gorgeous, and very classy!

I agree, I think it’s as the op said to look fab, and like she didn’t care so some posters went all out. But her request doesn’t translate to over dressing and try hard.

to look great and like you don’t care, then keep it simple elegant, classy, not overtly sexy, modern, not ott, expensive looking and then you exude quiet confidence.. Some dresses are too try hard and that has the opposite effect, makes her look like she cares very much indeed. And she will feel self concious.

I love Wolf and Badger for some interesting stuff. Hear me out….

https://www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/abstract-print-one-shoulder-maxi-dress-with-asymmetric-drape/

https://www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/stewart-fragmented-landscape/

https://www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/maple-midi-dress/

https://www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/jennifer-rose-cloud-mini-sequin-dress/

Amazing dress, but I think it’s a bit too revealing for a wedding; would work great for a night out, though.

I’d go for something like the FOLD dress; it’s beautiful and much more appropriate for the occasion.

Reiss has some lovely dresses at the moment

Tall and size 10,the choice is almost infinite.

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/nita-navy-spot-maxi-10023600351.html

If I had your height and build, I would go for something like this

Absolutely this! Why would anyone wear an evening dress to a daytime wedding?.
I like the 2 Coast dresses especially the first, paler green one.

I love that pale Green one too. I wish that I had somewhere to wear it!

Would you really front up at someone’s wedding wearing that?

Oh goodness no.

*Tuhafeni woe test dress is stunning. *

You would absolutely steel the show in that Blanche Silk Dress £ 348 in pale blue.

Woe should be woh not woe!

The Salerno Silk Dress (£495) in Green And Ivory is stunning.

@PithyBeaker

OP, will the wedding be taking place in a church, with a hotel reception afterwards?

No. Unless you still follow 1950s wedding guest etiquette ...!!

However, I would say that it looks like a very strong, bright, intense orangey-red. And I think that works best on someone whose colouring is equally intense. The model is black, so has dark skin & eyes & black hair. If your own variant of dark colouring is less dramatic, then IMO it could overwhelm you?

But if you think the overall shape & look etc is what will make you look & feel great, then order it to see? Colours can be really deceptive online, & it could be just the right shade for you in the flesh!

This is an Indian brand but stocked by Harvey Nicks and a few independent UK shops

. https://frontiers-woman.com/products/lovebirds-selene-dress-navy

https://lovebirds-studio.com/products/caelis-dress-navy-1

https://lovebirds-studio.com/products/silver-night-dress-steel-blue

https://lovebirds-studio.com/products/hariet-dress

https://lovebirds-studio.com/products/bennet-dress-3

https://lovebirds-studio.com/products/odyssey-dress-1

https://lovebirds-studio.com/products/aero-dress

https://lovebirds-studio.com/products/hariet-dress-blue

https://lovebirds-studio.com/products/cosmic-floral-dress

https://lovebirds-studio.com/products/ella-embroidered-dress

https://lovebirds-studio.com/products/florentina-dress

https://lovebirds-studio.com/products/caelis-dress-navy-1

https://lovebirds-studio.com/collections/dresses

It was the principle of a "revenge dress" I was referring to - not the dress itself!

And having re-read the OP's posts, I think you're right - about both the amazing Reformation Daniela dress, & the Me & Em Eden dress. They're both a little too try hard. (Unless it is of course a black-tie type of "go all out" dress code that's been specified by the bride & groom, which would probably have been mentioned upfront by the OP?)

Something like the Reiss one suggested by a PP suggests relaxed body confidence - & would make those wearing more full-on outfits look rather overdressed by comparison ... The OP would stand out in a good way!

I loooooved this. Then I saw a close up of the neck line. Horrible :( What were they thinking?

Thanks for the link to their entire dress collection - it was lovely to look through them all.

I love a lot of them - & even the ones I don't especially like, I can admire the design vision. I don't even really like checks/gingham - but the pieces where they've fused it with silk & lace are fabulous & fun.

If I were to wear red to a wedding (which I would - & have!), I'd go for one of these ...

https://www.johnlewis.com/gina-bacconi-meg-floral-outline-midi-dress-navy/p115049175

Vampire's Wife dresses became a visual cliché because they were beautiful & romantic in a slightly Gothic way (like their designer). I still think they are all those things, & if I were lucky enough to own one I would happily trot it out (when I was in the mood) at any occasion - from attending a wedding, to making a trip to Waitrose on a Friday evening ...

Unlike a lot of other "of the moment" dresses & designers, Susie Cave's designs will stand the test of time &, IMO, become vintage classics. I'd hate to think that, if I bought a dress that I adored for several hundred/a couple of thousand pounds, I would feel obliged to retire it from public view simply because others considered it a "visual cliché" ...

It's also exactly the opposite of the mindset I try to cultivate, in relation to the fashion business & its promotion of the disposability of clothing.

I do think it's odd (not just on this thread, but on many others) that people always assume that a "London wedding" will inevitably be a very cool, very stylish (for those in the know of what is classed as "London-stylish"), very laidback affair ...

(The same wild generalities seem to be made about Irish weddings - apparently everyone is so dressed up that the Reformation dress posted above would look low-key?!!! Not the numerous ones that I have been a guest at - & I am Irish!)

For all we know (& it's strange that hardly anyone has asked for more details of what type of wedding it will be, etc), the bride's family could be coming from Shetland & the groom's from Scarborough - & the uni friends could all be visitors to London too???

@PithyBeaker - where is the wedding, & the reception afterwards, going to be held? Is there a suggested dress code &, if not, have you any idea of how relaxed/dressy the vibe might be? And how many guests will be wearing such cutting-edge fashion that their attire will be passé by the end of the evening ...?!!!

Also, I've just realised you mentioned that dresses are often too short for you. Does that mean you prefer to wear something ankle-length? And that a short dress is out?

I ignored the London element. I'm not keen on most of the dresses suggested. (apart from the Kindred of Ireland red rose, which I love)

I like the Lovebirds dresses and if I needed a new dress for a wedding I'd definitely look there or Kindred regardless of where the wedding is. Or maybe here.

karolinaozolinsiute.com/collections/dresses