Slogging along in the dress wilderness

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Slogging along in the dress wilderness

April

Veteran

Just so all my helpful guides know, here are the brand new ones I have rejected so far this morning.

https://www.ralphlauren.com/wo...../541399.ht
Because polyester miserable in our August weather.

https://www.ralphlauren.com/wo.....s/575717.h
Because look closely -- no darts at the bust whatsoever.

https://www.ralphlauren.com/wo.....77.html?dw
Same - even the mannequin has bust-gape.

3 years ago

General

22 replies

Latest reply was from April

Tanya

Veteran

April, you are a trooper. Too bad none of these work, because they look like lovely dresses, but one needs to be picky. I am sure the right one is somewhere out there.

3 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

So frustrating! Keep up the search. There are a lot of dresses available right now…..

3 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

So good you started early!
I still think Annadam might have something you’d like, once you scroll past all the brocade.

3 years ago

Anonymous

No polyester for sure but the other two might be fine even without darts.

The silk dress might even be better without darts. If it's the right size, the drape should be flattering. In a high contrast stripe a bust dart would be a conspicuous pattern interruption and in silk, very possibly weaken the structure of the dress.

If you want something sleeker but still relatively cool, maybe a silk jersey?

3 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

April, I have always admired Veronica Beard’s shirt dresses which come in cotton in black and white. Would a black dress be OK for the wedding? In Australia we are quite relaxed about colours as long as you don’t wear white. There is also a nice VB shirt dress in a dark blue marbled fabric in viscose which reminded me of the PS dress you tried but with less fabric.

3 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

So frustrating!

Did you actually try the shirtdresses? I wondered the same thing as Phoebe — sometimes if the cut is right, darts are not necessary. I have a couple of lightweight, drapey button front silk and cotton shirts that have no darts in the chest but somehow manage not to gape even on me. Meanwhile, I have tried other shirts with darts that do gape, or are darted at the wrong place for my bust, so I don’t think darts are the only factor.

Either way, I admire your perseverance and know the frustration firsthand (I went through a similar search and ended up wearing a dress I already owned). You will find the right solution, I’m sure!

3 years ago

cjh

(website)

Veteran

It’s a little hard to tell because of the stripes, but it looks like the third one has princess seaming in the front, which does the same thing as dart shaping.

I agree on the comments about silk and structure above.

3 years ago

April

Veteran

Ah, I suspect the sewists among us know things I don't know. Maybe I'm dismissing the shirtdresses too quickly.

My thought if I was in blue and white was to put a bright yellow crossbody over top (the bride's favorite color is yellow and she may or may not be wearing a bright yellow dress).

3 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

I salute you, soldier!

I’m sure the right dress will present itself when it’s good and ready

3 years ago

April

Veteran

So hard to choose mine before the bride chooses hers but as of this moment, she hasn't found hers yet.

I may just have to freestyle it and hope for the best.

3 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Do you know the bride’s price range for her dress? It’s not as solid a rule as not wearing white to someone else’s wedding, but I think it makes sense to keep the price of your dress under what she’s likely to spend.

3 years ago

Anonymous

In what way do you want to coordinate your dress with the brides?

The women at the last wedding I went to wore all different styles, colors and designers and the effect was like a beautiful bouquet.

3 years ago

smittie

Veteran

Keep on keeping on, April.
I love the second dress you chose.

3 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

I am rooting for you to find the perfect dress!

3 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

April, I wear shirt dresses without darts! Everything Janet and Phoebe said.

These are nice dresses, but I get the aversion to polyester in hot and humid heat.

You will get there!

3 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I did wear polyester in Vietnam? I got hot, sure, but everyone did... I didn’t regret my choice despite the heat and humidity. Just a thought, since you seem to be getting stuck.

3 years ago

April

Veteran

Thanks, Jenni and everyone in my cheering section!

So, I have no idea what the bride will be spending. She only went yesterday (in-person shopping) for the first time and I'm not sure she tried on anything at all. It sounds like she was at a mall.

My brother (the groom) is so generally clueless about such things, this is what he told me yesterday: "I think she wants chiffon." "You know, like something from the 1940s." "Like a flapper dress." Um...

3 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Like a flapper dress! From the 40s! Awesome help—not!

3 years ago

April

Veteran

BTW, I did go forth and order both the linen shirtwaist style and the silk stripe from RL that our seamstress experts thought might work.

I thought if I did blue and white on myself, I would add a bright yellow crossbody, belt, espadrilles - something like that.

3 years ago

Joy

Veteran

The second dress might work. I notice that the model basically wears the top buttons undone but a scarf underneath. Maybe a yellow scarf.? The dress looks like it would move beautifully. A scarf may be too warm no matter how airy.

3 years ago

Sloper

Veteran

Max Mara is having a sale. Pricey but excellent quality and good size range.

3 years ago

April

Veteran

Thanks, Sloper! I will take a look.

3 years ago

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