Are skirts as smart as dresses for weddings?

[HeadFairy]

I automatically think of dresses when looking for a wedding outfit, but in Hobbs today trying on a billion dresses (ok, 8) and none of them suited and I just thought, why do I have to stick to a dress? Problem is that most skirts I've seen are either too officey or too casual.

I think skirts are fine for weddings! If you're worried about it looking too casual go for something in silk or satin, there are some lovely things out there

No, the problem with skirts is what TOP to wear with them!

I think a skirt can easily be beautiful - but with a plain white t-shirt it brings the tone down significantly.

If you can find a lovely top, then a soft skirt can work wonders. I met DH at a wedding wearing a skirt from Hobbs and a gorgeous broderie anglais(spelling) vest/top/shirt thing.

Yeah, that's the thing, find a top to go with... A blouse looks a bit too officey, a tee shirt too relaxed.

I think if the top goes over the skirt and skims the hips it always looks smarter than if it stops at the waist (if that makes any sense at all).

Poss a strappy top and shrug / wispy cardie etc. looks more weddingy.

When you describe a top that goes over the hips, do you mean something tailored like that, because I just got an image of something a bit saggy and shapeless and that would be all wrong...

I think skirts are fine too
you can always smarten it up with a nice bolero cardi or even jacket

Yes i meant fitted in that i imagined it fitted into your waist .

I wore a floaty monsoon skirt to a wedding with a cream strappy embroidered top and a little shrug that tied under my bust. That's what i was thinking of.

I have seen women at weddings who look a bit officey - they usually have tops tucked into skirts.

I thought that's what you meant

I just can't seem to find anything that's fun yet formal enough for a wedding. I quite like the idea of a tulip skirt with a neat little top but that might be too officey too... bah! I hate wedding season, such a flaming minefield. Problem is we're going to a wedding with a group of friends we always bump in to at weddings, and the last four weddings I've been to with them I've either been pregnant or breastfeeding and have looked a total frump alongside their glamouressness.