Wedding Guest Dress Input and Suggestions

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#31
lill_canele said:
You could consider elements like organza. They can be a little itchy though depending on how it's used. And it doesn't have to be all organza or no silk at all. Various fabrics can be used together.

Also, sometimes it's not just the material but how the fabric is draped onto the individual or the overall design of the dress.

Here are some silk-like or lightweight dresses. They do not look night-gown like.

View attachment 5735318 View attachment 5735319 View attachment 5735322 View attachment 5735326 View attachment 5735328


And here's something that appears to be organza, maybe a mixture of chiffon and organza.
View attachment 5735327

Or consider something with a gentle print/pattern or something with a different texture?

View attachment 5735332 View attachment 5735334
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The suggestions above are more appealing to me & the styles seem to be a little more
sophisticated looking.. I like the first 5 that are pictured..
 
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#32
Love Of My Life said:
The suggestions above are more appealing to me & the styles seem to be a little more
sophisticated looking.. I like the first 5 that are pictured..
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I like them on the models, but have tried on similar styles enough throughout my life to know I’ll wind up looking like a mini linebacker.

I’d love something like the halter, material, and length of six, albeit with a more conservative neckline in the pink, purple, blue or green family, but I’m struggling to find something similar in a natural fiber in my size that isn’t too pastel or too wintery of a hue right now.
 
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#33
leechiyong said:
I like them on the models, but have tried on similar styles enough throughout my life to know I’ll wind up looking like a mini linebacker.

I’d love something like the halter, material, and length of six, albeit with a more conservative neckline in the pink, purple, blue or green family, but I’m struggling to find something similar in a natural fiber in my size that isn’t too pastel or too wintery of a hue right now.
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A good quality coton would work very well too. Poplin keeps cool and if iron properly (ie starched)can be cool for the body.
As far as looking like a linebacker. Nope. You are underestimating yourself.
What are you ok with showing body wise?
As far as upstaging the bride, it rarely happens, imo.
What is your budget for the dress?
 
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#34
limom said:
A good quality coton would work very well too. Poplin keeps cool and if iron properly (ie starched)can be cool for the body.
As far as looking like a linebacker. Nope. You are underestimating yourself.
What are you ok with showing body wise?
As far as upstaging the bride, it rarely happens, imo.
What is your budget for the dress?
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I can keep an eye out for cotton/poplin.

I’m not sure on that one; it’s been feedback I’ve received when trying on dresses with my sister and even DH has had me try on dresses he liked where his reaction wound up being that he liked it, but understood why I might feel that way, then be wowed by my default halter v-neck, going that’s the one. :lol:

I’m alright with some cleavage, my back, and some legs, but steer clear of anything strapless, spaghetti straps, or too short.

I know I wouldn’t, but I don’t want to come off like I’m trying to either. She also has a tendency to feel self-conscious about certain things and her wedding is not the time for me to be insensitive to those when she’s confided in me.

Ideally, around $500 as I might be hiking or bar hopping (or both) in it, but I’m flexible on that given my rigidity on other criteria. I’m only eliminating things above $3000 at this point.
 
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#37
Oh Zimmermann dresses are so gorgeous, non? I like that they look very feminine in a good way.
What might also be an option for you is probably the Issa dress. Remember the one Kate Middleton wore?
 
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#38
fettfleck said:
Oh Zimmermann dresses are so gorgeous, non? I like that they look very feminine in a good way.
What might also be an option for you is probably the Issa dress. Remember the one Kate Middleton wore?
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They really are. I need more events to wear the stunning soft pastels.

Issa is very much in line with what I’d like to find. I think they shuttered a few years ago, so would have to look at the second-hand market, which I am open to doing. I've found Azeeza is kind of similar, which includes the second dress from my original post, but I'm not sure if they come off too close to nightgown as their styles don't seem to have the same level of tailoring.

These options are perfect for my style. Now just to find one that meets the criteria for the wedding.
 
#40
I like a lot of what you posted! But for me, I really need to try it on to know. I don't like shopping for clothing online as sizing is very inconsistent. I also have issues with length as many dresses I like are way too short, I like that pink metallic dress but it looks very short on the model. If you can, I would go to some stores that have a good variety of dresses to try on and I bet you'll find something.

From experience, I would avoid satin and shiny fabrics. I was a bridesmaid in a summer outdoor wedding, 90 degree afternoon sun blazing no canopy over the bridal party, super windy. She chose a polyester satin for our dresses. Very wrinkly and sweaty. I was so hot and uncomfortable, I just kept praying the ceremony would be over soon :-s I would go for a chiffon lighter type fabric, or cotton.
 
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#42
I know this is way below your budget but I have found Lulu's dresses to be pretty decent quality.

They are online only but they are pretty true to size for me and they have a good return policy. (I have owned up to 6 or 7 dresses from them)

They have A TON of dresses (so I didn't look through all of them) but I tried to find summer dresses with lightweight fabric with shoulder straps or necklines of your preferences. I noticed you tend to like coral-pink, so there's a dress with that color in there.

1) https://www.lulus.com/products/vivid-imagination-neon-pink-cutout-maxi-dress/2020536.html

2) https://www.lulus.com/products/love-and-beyond-mauve-pink-burnout-floral-maxi-dress/1690216.html

3) https://www.lulus.com/products/grac...urnout-floral-print-tiered-dress/1764696.html

4) https://www.lulus.com/products/forever-be-burgundy-floral-jacquard-ruffled-maxi-dress/1249256.html

5) https://www.lulus.com/products/i-m-all-yours-slate-blue-ruffled-maxi-dress/840122.html

6) https://www.lulus.com/products/madalyn-dusty-lavender-lace-maxi-dress/598402.html

Just some options to look at, no need to take them too seriously or anything.
 
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#43
leechiyong said:
I'm looking for input on a jewel-toned wedding guest dress appropriate for a May wedding and hoping for some input. Based on my frame (petite, but with broad shoulders), I'm currently eyeing these:
View attachment 5733169
View attachment 5733176
or this without the shrug:
View attachment 5733171
They feel somewhat wintery to me, but most of the dresses I like that are more spring appropriate are on the pastel side. I'm open to other suggestions, but would like to keep it under $500.
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These are all gorgeous but I love the 2nd one.
 
#44
leechiyong said:
Right now, shopping online. If something's available to try on near me, great, but I hate trying on clothes without knowing what I'm going in to try.

Lol to the nightgown comments. Given that's what I keep gravitating towards, do you mind elaborating on what's giving them that feel for you. I get the first dress with the lace and jersey fabric, but is it the lack of embellishment, fabric, tailoring, or something else for the others? If it's the simplicity, I'm alright with that. I am going for comfort and really don't want to come off like I'm trying to upstage the bride.

It's a hard needle for me to thread because it's not a traditional wedding. There's only one other woman in attendance, there's not really a venue, and the bride's priority is the video and photographs, so I want to look like I'm attending wedding, while being mindful to not look like I'm attempting to outdo the bride or out of place in a nature preserve. Her dress is a very simple cut with no embellishments and she doesn't have much in the way of jewelry. Please let me know if this helps add context or if you're still, nope, still meh. I really appreciate the perspective because I don't want her looking at her photos down the road and thinking that I looked like I was in my nightgown either.
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I think given all this, I vote the original dress number 2 :)

It seems simpler and more relaxed than the later choices
 
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