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Another ‘is this too white’ one…!

120 replies

Sandysandybeaches · 09/06/2026 22:03

I’ve got it already - just arrived and fits a treat, I really like it! It’s a very pale blue but in dimmer light looks white, is it too white? I didn’t think so at first but now worrying it’s a bit little girl bridesmaidy. I would probably wear it with a navy jacket or cardigan but if v hot would like to be able to wear it as is. It also comes in navy with white spots which is a bit boring, but maybe more sensible?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
rainbowstardrops · Yesterday 14:33

All this, ‘Oh it’s too white/pale for a wedding’ is absolute bollocks.
There is no way on this earth that you’ll be mixed up or compared to the bride.
Some people on MN are absolutely batshit and I’m sure (well I hope) they wouldn’t say these sorts of things, or think them in real life.
Total parallel universe to the one I live in.
Go for it OP. I’d hazard a guess that the bride will most probably be in a long white/ivory dress complete with a veil et al. Your dress looks lovely.

EleanorMc67 · Yesterday 14:35

I think that we can probably all agree that this MIL's dress is NOT ok ...!!! (I wonder if the couple is still married, or whether he's back living with his mother ...)

Another ‘is this too white’ one…!
Chocyulelog · Yesterday 14:39

Unquestionably, absolutely fine.

Will you get mistaken for a bride, no way!

Very classy

Serenster · Yesterday 16:10

ThatCyanCat · Yesterday 10:43

When you're both the Queen, and a member of the bridal party so outfits are coordinated with the bride's input, you might wear white too. Under normal circumstances, as a peasant who's just a standard guest, you shouldn't.

Oh, and Kate wore yellow to Meghan and Harry's wedding, but yeah, it was pale and did photograph white in some pictures. Probably not the best choice. Even royals make mistakes, who knew.

Anyway, I am really bored now. The facts remain; this is a thing, like it or not. Adhere to it or don't, but it remains a thing, a longstanding thing. Sorry, but it's not my fault.

Firstly, look at this formal group photo of Meghan’s wedding and try and tell me that the key family members’ colour scheme wasn’t carefully co-ordinated by the bride. It’s so very harmonious and has the only strong colours being the green backdrop wallpaper and the mens’ suits while everything else tones beautifully - with the Queen in the brightest pastel shade - that it clearly was intentional.

Secondly, have a look at this photo of some of the guests at Kate and William’s wedding and see how many women are wearing all white/long white coats/pale blush/pale grey.

Another ‘is this too white’ one…!
Another ‘is this too white’ one…!
Oldtigernidster · Yesterday 16:18

Very pretty, not too white.

Zov · Yesterday 16:31

Of course it's too pale for a wedding guest, and if you have to ask, then you know it is.

Bakuchiol · Yesterday 17:50

Beekman · Yesterday 02:27

Sorry, I think it is too pale. There are tons of other colours to go with but still, we get these threads. As with all of them, it’s good to remember that it’s not just the bride you’re trying not to offend (who probably has other stuff to think about on the day and won’t even notice) but all the other guests who will wonder who you think you are. Don’t be that person.

If "all the other guest" are wondering "who you think you are" then they're not very nice people to begin with. Who would want to spend time with people who are so judgemental?

Especially as it's nothing like a wedding dress, due to polka dots, so they'd have to be extremely judgemental to really pick that out. Which are not the type of people you want to try and please, because you'll never succeed, they'll always have something to say even if you showed them the most perfect outfit in the world..

The only thing that matters is the bride and grooms opinion.

bootsroots · Yesterday 19:33

EleanorMc67 · Yesterday 14:35

I think that we can probably all agree that this MIL's dress is NOT ok ...!!! (I wonder if the couple is still married, or whether he's back living with his mother ...)

Ha! That one is definitely white-ish!!

MyEasterBonnet · Yesterday 19:41

I think it will look white at the night do

CinnamonJellyBeans · Yesterday 23:02

Great dress. It's blue. It's very guest appropriate.

(Usually these threads are : Is my low cut, long, strapless, white dress OK to wear to a wedding where I'm not actually the woman getting married?)

So you're grand.

bridgetreilly · Yesterday 23:11

Namechangeforthisdilemma1 · Yesterday 08:30

There are so many lovely colours of dress to wear. It baffles me why a guest simply has to wear a white dress or a white-seeming dress. Is that not the true narcissistic behaviour?! The bride probably won’t notice but the other guests will and it will show in the photos. So strange.

Because it’s blue!

Beekman · Today 00:44

AvaGon · Yesterday 12:26

all the other guests who will wonder who you think you are.

I am so glad that I don’t have uptight people like this in my life! It’s just so petty and ridiculous. Going to a happy occasion and sitting there judging and bitching about a blue dress. Are you really getting someone dressed in this confused with the bride?! if so, I don’t think you should be at the wedding!

Not getting anyone confused with the bride but for goodness sake, there are endless colours available for wedding guest dresses, why would you want to risk it? It’s ridiculous.

And yes, I would think that someone wearing a dress that apprently looks white in real life to a wedding was a twat. Why would you do that?

I would say a general rule of thumb is that if you have to ask, don’t wear it.

EleanorMc67 · Today 00:59

Beekman · Today 00:44

Not getting anyone confused with the bride but for goodness sake, there are endless colours available for wedding guest dresses, why would you want to risk it? It’s ridiculous.

And yes, I would think that someone wearing a dress that apprently looks white in real life to a wedding was a twat. Why would you do that?

I would say a general rule of thumb is that if you have to ask, don’t wear it.

But ... it's blue. Not "apparently white". Blue - & very clearly so?

And as for "if you have to ask, it's a no" - I think the primary reason why women are doubting their own eyesight is the daftness of threads like these!

Another ‘is this too white’ one…!
Another ‘is this too white’ one…!
Beekman · Today 01:41

EleanorMc67 · Today 00:59

But ... it's blue. Not "apparently white". Blue - & very clearly so?

And as for "if you have to ask, it's a no" - I think the primary reason why women are doubting their own eyesight is the daftness of threads like these!

The OP said her daughter thought it looked white IRL

DappledThings · Today 05:13

Beekman · Today 01:41

The OP said her daughter thought it looked white IRL

It's got polka dots on. Even if the blue looks looks white it was a pattern. Claiming that dresses like this look like they are trying to compete with the bride just makes the bride sound ridiculous. Not the guest.

Beekman · Today 15:49

I don’t think she is trying to compete with the bride but why bother wearing something you’re not sure about when there are so many options?

DappledThings · Today 16:38

Beekman · Today 15:49

I don’t think she is trying to compete with the bride but why bother wearing something you’re not sure about when there are so many options?

I don't think she is going to now which is a shame. It's a nice dress.

Point being there was no need for her to be unsure about it or question it in the first place. If this nonsense that "white" actually means "anything slightly close to white if you squint a bit, even with a pattern" hadn't taken hold online OP wouldn't have been given the idea it was problematic in the first place. Because it isn't.

Toowhiteforawedding · Today 17:07

Does anybody outside Mumsnet ever have conversations like this about dress colours?

deeahgwitch · Today 17:47

I agree re “…there was no need for her to be unsure about it or question it in the first place………this nonsense that “white” actually means “ anything slightly close to white if you squint a bit, even with a pattern”……….”
Bonkers 🙄
If it’s not white, cream or ivory, you’re grand - good to go.

EleanorMc67 · Today 18:09

DappledThings · Today 16:38

I don't think she is going to now which is a shame. It's a nice dress.

Point being there was no need for her to be unsure about it or question it in the first place. If this nonsense that "white" actually means "anything slightly close to white if you squint a bit, even with a pattern" hadn't taken hold online OP wouldn't have been given the idea it was problematic in the first place. Because it isn't.

It is a shame. The OP really liked the dress - & it's not always easy to find something you love, IMO.

Yet all this ridiculous, seemingly wilful misinterpretation of etiquette has caused her to doubt herself so much she's not going to wear it. Even in the (very positive) reviews of the dress, several people said they wore it to weddings & felt great in it.

It's madness! Don't doubt yourself OP - go find some bright accessories for your dress & wear it!!

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