September wedding - all black dress code

[HotGazpacho]

I’m attending a family friend’s wedding in Italy in September and have been informed it’s an all black dress code. Nobody other than the bride will be wearing colour.

I’m finding it so hard to identify something that I can wear that will be suitable for a wedding, but isn’t black tie. I’d imagine the weather will be quite warm.

Mid-40s, 5’ 8, size 12, if that makes any difference. I’d quite like something structured and that accentuates my waist. Budget up to £300. I’d love something McQueen or Westwood adjacent, but without the hefty price tag. Is this a dream too far?

Good job you weren't invited!

I want to go to this wedding now!

Yeah my colouring doesn’t massively suit black but I’d throw myself into this.

There’ll be so many beautiful sundresses. I’d probably have a straw/raffia bag with black details (Chloe ish).

Then it really would be perfect!

But won’t it all look rather like a funeral?

Stella McCartney on Vinted

Oh now then, I love this idea!

This is gorgeous.

Audrey Hepburn’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s shorter lbd?

Me too. Absolutely love an LBD.

It will look like a wake.

It's a really beautiful shape.

I just can't believe that for it's original price tag and designer label, it's still only a rayon/ acrylic mix fabric.

Or #SadLibrarian

Something along these lines, perhaps.

I'm not familiar with this brand, though.

https://britishretro.co.uk/product/antoinette-noir-50s-style-evening-dress/

Seems to be quite the thing. I personally would refuse though. I'm not buying a new dress for every occasion. A black dress for a wedding is never going to be used again and may well not be suitable for any other kind of party someone might go to or a funeral, not to mention unsuitable for September in Italy if it's going to be hot.

Massive ostentatious black fan as an accessory

I wore black to a wedding once. A satin strapless fitted dress that came to under the knee, satin almond toe heels and a small hat with a veil with a short fur jacket. 😁😁

The bride wore a dramatic burgundy dress and the flowers were deep red with holly and ivy as it was close to Christmas time.

It was the most stylish wedding I’d ever been to!

I wonder whether the wedding is in Sicily, hence the 'staging', including the request to wear black.

What about something like this https://www.neverfullydressed.com/products/black-sophie-mini-dress

I really, really hope someone turns up in a black dress that's along the same lines as the one Raquel Welsh wore to her son's wedding all those years ago 🤭 Is no-one telling the couple to get their heads out of their arses?!

Some fantastic ideas already on here - I like the Sophia Loren suggestion upthread.

It's not that new, my cousin had a black and white theme wedding 15 years ago, it was also the first childfree wedding I'd ever heard of. My kids were little at the time so I politely declined!

Consider a jumpsuit www.monsoon.co.uk/clemence-gigi-velvet-burnout-palazzo-jumpsuit-black-70009950001.html

Think Sophia Loren (I’m old) but very classic knee length black dress with similar black sunhat and black heels and clutch bag. Try to find one in a style you love to feel ultra confident - you’ll look fabulous.

This one is a little bit Vivienne-esque!

https://www.asos.com/true-decadence/true-decadence-hi-low-hem-maxi-in-black/prd/207676149?affid=30756&_CjwKCAjwwdbPBhBgEiwAxBRA4RaT6BYSywBRnXRa4Zj7W1vLGVo7y-Yv_qxBaZV37t_H_8gYgPwVVRoC9GAQAvD_BwE&channelref=product+search&ppcadref=23592643649||&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=23592643649&utm_content=&utm_term=&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23587195386&gclid=CjwKCAjwwdbPBhBgEiwAxBRA4RaT6BYSywBRnXRa4Zj7W1vLGVo7y-Yv_qxBaZV37t_H_8gYgPwVVRoC9GAQAvD_BwE

I'd get the Stella McCartney dress from Vinted above, it's gorgeous 😍 (sad I don't have the cleavage to carry it off myself)

You could easily wear it to other occasions afterwards.

If you don’t mind second hand, LK Bennett’s Tina or Davina would be perfect.