You look beautiful in the dress:) I view it as a little conservative for your usual style, but I also understand that we are talking wedding attire:) I am concerned for your comfort and agree you should keep looking and keep this as a back up.

Debs said it better than me, but it is a great, quality dress!

I think you look stunning in it, Janet. But I agree that comfort is key. The wedding day will be a long and busy one and you need to have comfort in movement. Keep looking… but at least you know that you have a potential backup plan.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I'm waiting on some alternatives to be delivered.

I just realized that the problem with hanging on to this dress as a fallback is that the return period for Shopbop is 30 days. I will probably return this in the next week, because I'm pretty sure I'll find something I like better.

Hi Janet --

The "so close" items are the worst -- agree with other comments that it looks great but you don't look like you're in love -- and the lack of stretch and neckline would give me pause too.

I ordered/tried a LOT of "close" dresses for a close family member's wedding and when I found one I didn't want to take off that was the winner. Even though it needed alterations etc!

All I can say is keep marching on and order a few random ones you like but seem a little out there. What I ended up with was very different than my usual but right in line with my style. You never know!

Vix, you are so right. I've ordered a few that seem promising, but honestly I haven't seen many options that spark excitement in me AND are appropriate in color, cut, and print for the occasion. I don't want to get something that I'll only wear once -- I want to be excited to wear it again!

I have actually wondered if I could wear the dress from this post:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ght-floral

It is one of my favorite dresses ever. Very forgiving with some stretch. Photographs pretty well. Comfortable in warm weather. I love wearing it, and even took it to Europe last summer to wear for my 50th birthday dinner.

Janet -- I do not see why you couldn't wear the dress that you just referred to. You look amazing in it… and it goes with the "garden party" look of the MOB and attendant dresses that you showed earlier. You certainly deserve a new frock for this event, but I think you now have your backup plan.

I have a bit of additional perspective on this, too. My stepson's fiancé told me that the reception/party is going to be pretty loosey-goosey and outdoors (weather permitting) -- not only a cocktail hour and sit-down dinner, but music and dancing, and badminton and cornhole! So I'm thinking that the dress definitely needs to be comfortable, and should not be too precious or too dressy. At the very least, I'll be taking a change of clothes in case it gets really casual! Hmm, definitely food for thought.

Janet --

Ditto that dress being perfectly appropriate, photographing well, and looking like it would tone in with the wedding colors. Yes there's black -- but it doesn't read as heavy.

Try to relax knowing you have something that will work while keeping the compare and contrast contenders in play. If you get sick of looking you have your answer!

I think the dress from the post would be great for a wedding - perfectly appropriate AND it looks wonderful on you.

It never hurts to keep looking though.....

Listen to your instincts. You look lovely in both dresses, but wear the dress which makes you feel like smiling and dancing all day long--because that's the memory you want to take away from the wedding! As for coordinating with the event, maybe look for a clutch in the wedding colors if you decide on that gorgeous frock in your closet?

I was going to suggest that you keep the floral sheath that's already hanging in your closet as back up too. It's killer gorgeous, although wear it with your rock studs for the wedding!

I wore the floral sheath with the Rockstuds for my birthday dinner in Oslo. Loved the outfit and the memories! Those shoes are definitely going to be part of my outfit for the wedding. Great idea to find a clutch in the color of the wedding party. JCrew has a scarf/wrap that matches -- I've thought of snapping that up just in case I need something like that.

Which scarf, Janet?

You know what, I actually looked it up just now, and the color is not the same. The color of the bridesmaids' dresses is JCrew's "sea spray" -- the wrap I found is a more muted color, more grey. Oops. Well, I can keep an eye out for accessories to match the "sea spray" color. I have a fabric swatch, so that will make it easy to carry it with me while I'm out and about near the shops.

I LOVE the dress!
However, I think I would prefer it if it were with plain pumps or flats rather than the studs...

Why on earth would you not wear that stunning floral dress? It's so perfect on you! Looks like a Ted Baker print and a stellar fit.

The floral dress is amazing on you. I want one too! I am all for rewearing special perfect dresses.

The studs are an unconventional choice, but to me they would "Janet-ize" the dress. I love the whole outfit.