Bridesmaid dress - your choice

purplecow1977

Bridesmaid for a family wedding. It's a small affair and left to choose own dress. Late 20s, short, 'rotund' body shape - what style/colour would you choose? I should also add that I am pale skinned but will have a light tan for the wedding, and I have bright red hair! She's thinking pastel colours! (Nightmare for somebody overweight!!!)

miezekatze

Choose something that shows off whatever part of your body you like most. I'm a bit bigger as well and my tummy is the part I hate most. Empire line or something that shows off my legs usually look best on me. Don't get something too tight either. I'd try and talk her out of the pastel colours, maybe navy would be good?

purplecow1977

miezekatze wrote: »

Choose something that shows off whatever part of your body you like most. I'm a bit bigger as well and my tummy is the part I hate most. Empire line or something that shows off my legs usually look best on me. Don't get something too tight either. I'd try and talk her out of the pastel colours, maybe navy would be good?

Haha yes she's quite headstrong on this one though and would have me in baby pink if she had her way fully! It's in July so is navy suitable?

Dolbert

Vivien of Holloway all the way! Seriously flattering and glamorous.

purplecow1977

Suitable or unsuitable?

ynul31f47k6b59

Have a look at Lindybop - they have really gorgeous flattering 50s style dresses in every colour, I want to get one for my own sisters wedding as a Bridesmaid dress and I am also overweight. I do like the polka dot one you posted but wouldn't be mad about it as a Bridesmaid dress. Would something like this be your style?

http://www.lindybop.co.uk/wedding-bridesmaid-t51

I have seen "Ophelia" and "Audrey" on larger frames and they are incredibly flattering on. Lots of lovely colours too!

convert

purplecow1977 wrote: »

Suitable or unsuitable?
<SNIP>

I love the dress. I think the suitability really depends on the dress the bride is going to wear and the type of wedding/reception she's having.

purplecow1977

convert wrote: »

I love the dress. I think the suitability really depends on the dress the bride is going to wear and the type of wedding/reception she's having.

It's just very close family. Her loose theme is 'vintage'.

StupidLikeAFox

Try www.rockfrocks.com - they are based in athy and Cat in there is very helpful, if you see a dress you like she might be able to get your size in

emmiou

http://retrodublin.com/swing-dresses/100-lindy-bop-ophelia-navy-polka.html retro have some gorgeous vintage dresses- I got the Ophelia in cream satin as my wedding dress but ending up wearing one a little longer. You can get it in red too, very nice for a bridesmaid dress.

emmiou

http://retrodublin.com/fitted-dresses/44-ava-teal.html#/size-m. this one would look great with red hair & curves

fits

I think you should try to fit in with her colour scheme. Some pastel colours look great with pale skin and red hair. I think those polka dresses are too busy and distracting for a bridesmaid to be honest unless the bride has that kind of theme.

Neyite

This is gorgeous and would look lovely with red hair. A bit different from the greens that everyone tries to put on a redhead.

purplecow1977

fits wrote: »

I think you should try to fit in with her colour scheme. Some pastel colours look great with pale skin and red hair. I think those polka dresses are too busy and distracting for a bridesmaid to be honest unless the bride has that kind of theme.

Exactly the type of advice I'm after, thank you! Polka dot dress - scrapped! Wasn't feeling it anyway, just looking

purplecow1977

Neyite wrote: »

This is gorgeous and would look lovely with red hair. A bit different from the greens that everyone tries to put on a redhead.

that is beautiful but I don't think strapless would suit me! :-(

dee_mc

purplecow1977 wrote: »

that is beautiful but I don't think strapless would suit me! :-(

I don't think it's strapless? Pretty sure I've seen this on someone, it was cut very high with a slash neck.

thalia_13

Im 16-18 mainly on top due to.huge boobs, I think the Ophelia and Audrey dresses by Lindybop are extremely flattering

Neyite

dee_mc wrote: »

I don't think it's strapless? Pretty sure I've seen this on someone, it was cut very high with a slash neck.

Yes, its a high neck

fits

Some links to browse for ideas.
http://www.bhldn.com/bridal-party-guests-bridesmaids/
https://www.jcrew.com/ie/wedding/Wedding_Bridesmaid.jsp
http://onefabday.com/ie/budget-bridesmaids-dresses-in-the-sales/
http://onefabday.com/ie/bridesmaid-dress-palette-of-shades/

amdublin

Check out this multiway dress (doesn't have to be strapless)

http://www.marksandspencer.com/laser-cut-multiway-bridesmaid-skater-dress/p/p22356873

Actually check out all the m&s dresses...

emmiou

Stop Staring! have some gorgeous dreeses too http://www.stopstaringclothing.com/dream-swing-dress-silver-1448.htmlhttp://www.stopstaringclothing.com/dresses-1-6.html. and this would have been a contender for my wedding dress if i'd seen it http://www.stopstaringclothing.com/pearl-ivory-1523.html
Monsoon's Oriane dress in blue or teal is a lovely flattering shape, you can get them bnwt on ebay.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MONSOON-CAMILLE-ORIANE-size-16-GREEN-SILK-MIX-MARILYN-MONROE-COCKTAIL-DRESS-/251858621343?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3aa3f1939f

Betty Bloggs

If it has to be pastel dresses a very pale mint green like this colour:




or else a pale sky blue might be nice with your colouring like in these dresses:



http://dkxtl9ygz60r5.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/photographer_images/kt_merry_photography/5531/bridesmaid_pale_blue_light_dress_one_shoulder_chiffon_draped_pastel_0.jpg

purplecow1977

Love that green dress above

Betty Bloggs

purplecow1977 wrote: »

Love that green dress above

This is a link to that exact dress. It is being sold on Etsy for 423 euro.
https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/159578791/hi-low-hem-bridesmaid-dress-chiffon-knee?ref=market

This is an almost identical dress selling for 96 dollars:

http://www.adoringdress.com/chic-halter-a-line-knee-length-layered-chiffon-dress-with-beaded-neckline-and-keyhole-p304922.html

I'd say if you look around some bridal or debs/graduation shops it wouldn't be too hard to find something similar either.

rainbow kirby

thalia_13 wrote: »

Im 16-18 mainly on top due to.huge boobs, I think the Ophelia and Audrey dresses by Lindybop are extremely flattering

I have the Ophelia in gold for a spare dress for my wedding (I'm a bit too fond of red wine and a bit too klutzy not to have a spare). Love it

If anyone happens to be in London over the next few weeks, Vivien of Holloway have a popup shop at the moment and they have a lot of dresses (media samples and dresses with very minor flaws) for around half price. I got a media sample green polka dot Grace for £40 - normally £110.

Neyite

Betty Bloggs wrote: »

This is a link to that exact dress. It is being sold on Etsy for 423 euro.
https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/159578791/hi-low-hem-bridesmaid-dress-chiffon-knee?ref=market

This is an almost identical dress selling for 96 dollars:

http://www.adoringdress.com/chic-halter-a-line-knee-length-layered-chiffon-dress-with-beaded-neckline-and-keyhole-p304922.html

I'd say if you look around some bridal or debs/graduation shops it wouldn't be too hard to find something similar either.

I actually prefer the second, cheaper dress.

meeeeh

Me too. Not to mention that hem stitching looks absolutely dreadful on the first one. Plus whoever is making the dress didn't bother properly ironing the dress before it was photographed. That is not a critique of the fit and look because I think they are both nice dresses but you would think that when selling something for that money some effort would be put into the presentation.

purplecow1977

Would those dresses require a separate underskirt to get that fullness?

ceadaoin.

I'm a bridesmaid in July and we picked a wrap dress from Eliza and Ethan. There are literally dozens of ways to style it. Mine is full length but it comes in a shorter length too. Depending on how it is styled, it could fit a vintage theme.

Betty Bloggs

Neyite wrote: »

I actually prefer the second, cheaper dress.

I agree. I think the cheaper dress has a nicer neckline, it's got little jewels on it. I also like the way the ruching/gathering in the midsection goes in a criss cross instead of a straight band of ruching. The ruching in the cheaper dress also goes all the way around whereas the more expensive dress has no ruching at the back. The material also looks a bit stronger and more expensive looking overall. That dress is on sale. It's usually 243 dollars.

purplecow1977 wrote: »

Would those dresses require a separate underskirt to get that fullness?

I don't think so. I think it is just the way the fabric is cut and layered in a flowy type of way that gives it a little bit of fullness/flowiness.
I could be wrong about that though?

emmiou

rainbow kirby wrote: »

I have the Ophelia in gold for a spare dress for my wedding (I'm a bit too fond of red wine and a bit too klutzy not to have a spare). Love it

If anyone happens to be in London over the next few weeks, Vivien of Holloway have a popup shop at the moment and they have a lot of dresses (media samples and dresses with very minor flaws) for around half price. I got a media sample green polka dot Grace for £40 - normally £110.

I had it in cream as my spare- didn't need it but really loved it but have it up on adverts as there is just too much wedding stuff in my wardrobe and I think it is a bit too bridal to wear for anything else... if it sells i'm going to buy the exact same dress in red polka dots instead. Had a hard time finding the right shoe to go with it so had to get busy with the glue gun.
Lidl and Penny's have ugly spanx-like slips - a must for chiffon dresses for me and my lumps & bumps anyway. Stops dress clinging to stockings/tights if you plan wearing them.

SparkySpitfire

You wouldn't need the underskirt but if you do want the exact fullness in the pic then get one. Some of the styles, Ophelia for example, look better without them!

I have the Ophelia and Audrey styles, my sister has a big chest and I have a small one...Ophelia looks amazing on her but just looks ridiculous on me.

Also if you're buying a lindybop dress, buy it off their website, it's so much cheaper than buying them in Dublin. The price nearly doubles in town in comparison to the lindybop site.

Candy_Girl

The pretty dress company have some beautiful styles that can be used as bridesmaids dresses. If you pop over to their facebook page you can see some bridesmaids have sent in their photos.

I absolutely love the hourglass swing dresses, my favorite is this coral colour



Some pastels

purplecow1977

Candy girl those dresses are fabulous.