Is a dress the go to attire for a wedding - female guest

Broken Hearted Road

There's a wedding coming up. It's still ages away so I don't need to buy or panic just yet for an outfit.

I was browsing around online looking for ideas for an outfit. Looking at Facebook it appears dresses are the main thing many women wear.

I don't have a dress in my wardrobe and I don't think I would feel comfortable wearing a dress. Also finding a dress that would suit me might be hard. I'm 5ft 4 and a size 20. I have a big tummy and I'm an apple shape.

It took me a long time to wear skirts casually but I started this summer just gone and I like skirts now. If I was to find a nice skirt I think I would definitely consider wearing a skirt for a wedding. I found this online that I like:

I saw a few nice skirts too on Iclothing.com that I like too.

A lot of skirts are 24 inches in length. Modelled by tall women and they fall just below the knee on them in pictures online. At 5ft 4, a skirt of 24 inches would be at my shins and it might be a bit frumpy looking on me.

I wonder would I be better off at finding a dressmaker and getting a piece made up for me in my size and length?

dee_mc

A skirt and well matched top ore even some dressy trousers would be lovely, I've seen plenty of women wearing things other than dresses at weddings and looking great. Jumpsuits are popular again lately, I've seen a few at recent weddings, but in the main I think they're more suited to taller women.
The skirt you linked is nice but with a print like that it wouldn't stand up well to being shortened.
If I were you I'd order a load of skirts in your size to House of Fraser (maybe you can do collect in store type thing?) and try them all on! These were the ones I thought might work for you:
http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/HotSquash+Silky+skirt+with+CleverTech/208245127,default,pd.html (also in black)
http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Studio+8+Leona+Skirt/237783241,default,pd.html
http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Studio+8+Sabrina+skirt/228435768,default,pd.html
http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Dorothy+Perkins+Floral+Full+Skirt/252263826,default,pd.html
http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Dorothy+Perkins+Full+Skirt/252223850,default,pd.html (also in cream)
Getting something made might work but there's always the risk that you won't love it... seeing as you have plenty of time I'd be inclined to try to buy something and keep the dressmaker idea as a plan B

Day Lewin

I'm five feet three-and-a-half inches, about size 14, very apple-bellied, and I wear skirts all the time. Literally all the time, don't like trousers.

I've worn separates to weddings lots of times: just choose something dressy as in, stylish and smart: choose shoes carefully, too.

It is well possible to really sparkle in a top-and-skirt combo of some sort.

Weddings really are just an occasion to look dressed-up and festive: there's no laws about wearing frocks or hats, etc. Just pick what you feel pretty in!

PS The skirt in your picture is lovely and could be styled-up really nice.

Addle

I've seen a lot of jumpsuits at weddings lately.
I think they can be quite flattering and stylish.

SarahMollie

I'd say dresses are probably the norm, but I've seen plenty of skirts/jumpsuits etc over the summer at various weddings. Once they're dressy, theres really no issue.

whatdoicare

Skirt looks lovely to me - paired with a nice top and heels and you're good to go.

I've worn skirts to weddings, I've also worn dresses (I'm a size 22 , 5ft2 and apple shaped, mostly belly - dresses that are fitted at bust and loose everywhere else are lovely also tunic dresses look amazing on an apple shape, you know the ones that look like long tshirts - (I wore this one to the last wedding that I was at: http://www.evans.co.uk/en/evuk/product/clothing-250468/grey-lace-prom-dress-5495849?bi=40&ps=20) suits are suitable too, a nice fitted pants and jacket over a silky top is a great look.


Basically anything smart looking is acceptable.

Day Lewin

Wow, I love that grey lace! If it was me I'd wear that with a wide red hat and a bit of faux-fur.

whatdoicare

Go it in Evans, I wore it with pink gold accessories and pinkey beige metallic hair thing, shoes and bag I got from Penneys. Looked the biz. Got loads of praise for it.