Wedding Gear - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Wedding Gear

Beth Ann

Veteran

Need assistance, pretty please! I have two weddings to attend, one on June 8, one on June 9. One will be swanky, in a ballroom on Geneva Lake in WI. One will be low key and practical in a Love Jesus and Hug the Earth way. I do both quite liberally, btw).

My dresses need updating, but I'm feeling sartorially stuck right now. What would you recommend? I will say that I don't want to compete with the bridesmaids, nor look too MOB (even though I hope to be an amazing one someday), and no more than an inch or so above my 5'6" knee!

Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Are there any contenders in your closet, or are you planning to just shop for something new?
Do you want something that would work for both, or is that even a possibility?

Beth Ann

Veteran

Hi FC! I might have something for the more casual wedding, but I haven't bought a dressy dress (except the skirt I made for the Messiah) in 4 years. I am open to sewing, as long as the difficulty level isn't too high --- I'm recovering my sewing skills.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Is the first one swanky as in daytime swanky or as in an evening reception?
If it's daytime a silk sheath or wrap dress would be lovely.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Caro: It' daytime swanky, and wrap dresses are always high on my list. I have two, but they're more work and play than party.

Diana

Veteran

Beth Ann, what style of dress were you thinking of?

Without knowing that, here are a couple of ones I like. (I have tried on approximately 8 million dresses in the last few weeks!)

The greek goddess dress. I bought this one for my rehearsal dinner. It's sold out in most sizes at Nordies but still available at NM:
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/.....038;search

Here is the jersey version in teal, for a more casual event:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/su.....6?origin=c

A tulip dress. I would have tried this one but I didn't want black for my events:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/su.....gin=keywor

Angie suggested I try Tadashi Shoji dresses. They were a little out of my price range though, and the ones I liked were too high-necked for my short neck:
a pretty peplum:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ta.....ch&co
This one in black was an Angie pick:
http://shop.tadashishoji.com/e.....-dress-in-

And White House | Black Market has lots of pretty dresses right now too. I bought this one for post-wedding Mother's Day brunch and luncheon:
http://www.whitehouseblackmark.....d=57007049=
I think this one is really pretty too:
http://www.whitehouseblackmark.....=570075389=

Glory

Veteran

I love the idea of a sheath dress which I think could work for both weddings by using different accessories. Not sure what colours you like but here are some ideas of style that perhaps might work.

This post has 5 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I vote a long gown for the swanky affair. You can purchase beautiful options for under $300 these days. And how about a full skirt and tucked shirt for the other affair? Or even long wide silky trousers with a tucked dressy shirt.

I've seen all these frocks on clients who have a similar body type, Beth Ann. I almost wept they looked THAT killer beautiful. I'm not sure which size you wear, but I'm pretty sure you'll find the right size in these styles, AND you can have the frock altered to fit perfectly. Formal wear almost always needs alteration:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ta.....&cont

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ad.....igin=categ

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ta.....=keywordse

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ta.....ywordsearc

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ad.....rigin=Pred

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ad.....tiveSearch

Furthermore, I wanted to add that I think your style has been extra wonderful this year

jenanded

Veteran

Beth Ann I vote with Angie. You are rocking some beautiful things and wow to have a chnce to wear a real frock, go for it. I am not sure what age you are, and maybe I am still dealing with 50 but I rue that I did not dress up more, esp at those times when I was more lush etc than I am now. Go the gorgeous frock!!!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Caro and Glory: I do not own a sheath dress, and, as lot as it fit really well and had a nice length, it would be a good addition to my wardrobe. Glory: I think at least some of your links were from BR -- I need to check them out --- J.Crew, alas, is not made from my body!

Diana: Thanks for sharing from your copious dress research! You have linked to some lovely frocks. I loves the Tadashi and the last WHBM --- a place I hadn't thought of, but which I've purchased from with good luck in the past.

Angie: I so appreciate you taking the time to give me some beautiful links. Many of the dresses have a balance of "form with flow" that is part of my style rubric. They also have beautiful lengths and details that are exquisite and elegant without being either matronly or too juvenile. I consider myself a 14 now. A year ago, I would have said 12. I'm actually 5 lbs lighter, than I was then, but had long had the habit of searching diligently for vanity sizing, and dismissing smaller garments out of hand. I'm sure I'm not the first to do that! I find Papeill to run quite small, so I'm glad you liinked to the Plus sizes in those.

The idea of the full skirt is in the front of my mind these days -- it's on my list of priorities for the summer, and I think it's a natural for a sewing project. Fabric selection would be key for the dressy version, but I could make a marvelous chambray first. Doesn't that sound springy?

Jen: I'm right with you. I turn 50 the day before the weddings. So far, I'm holding steady! hee! Hope you're having the time of your life being a world traveler!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Beth Ann, I always LOVE how you look in a pencil skirt so beautiful sheath MUST be in your future!
Angie linked to wonderful examples and I SO can see you in some of them.
Also I like the idea of a long flared skirt in a dressy fabric - your Messiah outfit was so wonderful and flattering. BTW, can you wear this skirt again for the wedding? It was pretty dressy as I remember.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My pleasure :). The frocks were chosen with your style persona and descriptor in mind, Beth Anne. I can so see you in all of them, and many of the options are not black. Bonus!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think you can go with a cute sundress for the casual affair. And sandals and bare legs.

For the more formal wedding, if you feel stuck you could always go with a black skirt, dressy button-down, simple but beautiful leather belt (in contrasting color or not), stockings and pumps. Very simple but a lot of class and not outshining any one.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Beth Ann, I can see you especially in #3 that Angie posted, the portrait collar long dress with black mesh over nude lining.
I was wondering if you'd be able to wear the dressier version for performances, too, if you went with a long dress.
I could see that White House/Black Market dress that Diana posted on you, too--the floral chiffon with the diamond-shaped cutout in back. It's a little retro, which I can see on you; is that part of the style rubric you're going for?
It would be fun to make a skirt, though, for the less formal wedding, and you can always get more wear out of a full skirt. Chambray would make a fun test for the pattern, and you might even be able to wear it to the wedding, depending on how you style it (I'm thinking the unexpected juxtapositions that are so on trend. Maybe a silver sequined sleeveless shell, in a slightly boxy or loose fit, for example.)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh! This is exciting. You are going to look so beautifully and effortlessly glamorous if you channel your Pinterest pics! I love the idea of a sheath in the future, because as Sveta says, you look amazing in a pencil skirt. But I am hugely in favour of a top and skirt, as Angie suggested, for the casual wedding. A beautiful silky shirt tucked into the skirt (or perhaps a crisp shirt with a silk taffeta-like skirt) would be so wonderful on you. And some pretty shoes and a clutch. I also love those long gowns that Angie linked to...but wondered if you could repurpose your amazing Messiah skirt with perhaps another top?

Beth Ann

Veteran

Such detailed and thought provoking feedback --- hmmmm. I have thought of the Messiah skirt at a midi length, although it's rich jewel tones, not exactly June. I also have enough fabric to do one of Angie's dressy tees (but not for the wedding, probably). LOVE all the ruching in some of Angie's pics.

Denise: I have a bright blue pencil skirt that might be fun dressed as you described, particularly if it's cooler temps (never know about the weather around here).

Suz: sounds like you're channeling Grace & Audrey! I need to try this silhouette, and it's one of my priorities for the summer.

FC: I like your ideas about juxtapositions -- it could be helpful is staying out of the whole matron/maid dilemma. Personal style is ageless when it's done well!