WIWore after all to that fancy wedding: Lady Mary Meets DWTS

Hi all --

So many folks were helpful following my "WTH do I wear to a super-fancy but outdoor fall wedding?" Qs this summer I wanted to share the final result.
Due to family dynamics not sure I'll have more than selfies and one dim candid with the uber-private Mr Vix to share, so....

I call it my "Black Sheep Who Loves Her Sparkles" number aka the Lady Mary meets Dancing With the Stars dress.

I just fell in love the minute I put it on and didn't want to take it off...extra-ridiculous as we are renovating a broken bath and I've spent months in dust and disarray! So no Rent the Runway dress for me. Bonus: I just mashed this in my carryon and it came out great.

Knowing it was a high-drama dress and not wanting to take it too retro or theatrical, I went very minimal on accessories and very oh I just woke up this way on makeup to seem a little more modern. Hair was up to better show off my month 14, all grown-in grey with silver streak.

Thanks for encouragement to be true to thine own style self! Got lots of compliments from my non-immediate family.

PHOTOS
1) I need more walls or less dress!
2) Front view in not-my-bathroom + stock photo -- this moved beautifully
3) Accessories: Ancient $10 ring, vintage etsy earrings I DIY'd to dangles
4) Repurposed vintage clutch and silver shoes I wore to last big family wedding

5) added since this *is* YLF -- textured ribbon detail (lightened to try to show detail)

9 years ago

viva

Veteran

Not much time to comment because we are boarding (at airport) but WOW! I think you did a stellar job with this outfit, avoiding costume and looking glamorous at the same time. So lovely and sophisticated. I really love the contrast between the natural softness of your hair and makeup and the obvious drama of your ring and dress. And your figure: yikes! You look just amazing.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Killer Stunning Dress. I love it on you.

Suz

Beautiful on you!! Wow. I love the sparkly silver bits with the similar bits in your hair. You look incredibly glam but also real. Fabulous.

Kate

You look gorgeous in that dress!

Sal

Perfect choice, you look terrific.

El Cee

You look stunning, Vix. Perfect choice.

JAileen

Wow! You look like a million bucks!

Anonymous

Wow. This dress is amazing and amazing on you!
Love your jewelry details as well.

Brooklyn

You look beautiful. I love the sparkle in your dress and that shoulder line is so flattering. I think the ring adds extra drama and individuality. I am in search of a big black ring (2 coordinating rings actually, I know exactly what I want!), and this has spurred me on. I hope you had a good time.

LACeleste

I love this look! Every detail is perfection! You are stunning!

pil

Thanks for sharing your final decision with us, what a stunner!

Vix

Angie, Suz, Kate, KiwiGal, El Cee, and Pil -- thank you all so much! I'm currently wrapped in a bathrobe recovering from thankfully non-flu fever/chills etc so the glamour feels worlds away though the hair looks about the same!

Viva, Smittie and LA Celeste -- thanks for stating your love of the details, too. The lure of silver nails, red lips, and my 4" rhinestone drops was strong but I think simpler was better.

Viva, let's just say at late-40s this look involves flattering sequin patterns plus more brussel sprouts and fewer french fries than I'd prefer, sigh. It does benefit the skin, at least.

JAileen -- thank you! I do try for a champagne look on a beer budget, ha!

Brooklyn -- thanks much; it was definitely lovely to see old family friends and older family relatives. I think this dress is made for those with a little less bosom but the halter felt very modern.

Don't give up on the ring(s). It took me years to find a silver-tone cuff bracelet and I just found mine (iridescent coating, too!) for ~ $20 at a museum gift shop. Almost wore it instead of the ring but the ring won.

UmmLila (Lisa)

So beautiful. What a good choice you made.

Ooooh, Vix--you look divine! I'm so glad you found the perfect piece after all the trials. Following along as the RtR possibilities unfolded, I was always impressed with your analysis. All that hard assessment paid off: when the right dress came along, you knew it in an instant. You are positively glowing!

Zibbets

Absolutely my favorite neckline ever! What a fabulous dress and you are gorgeous. Well done!

Momo

Wow vix. Beautiful just beautiful .

bj1111

Spot on! Even with the sacrificial Brussels sprouts and the French fry fast.

Elizabeth P

Vix, this dress is so amazing. And perfect for you. All that work paid off! I love how it mirrors your hair, which is looking fab too.

Janet

Wow, totally gorgeous. You hit it out of the park.

Eliza

Vix- whatever may have been complicated, you made it smooth, elegant and refined. Well played! Gorgeous dress and you rock the look.

anne

Vix, what a stunner!

Diana

You look incredible. So glamorous!

Jaime

Sparkly hair, sparkly dress, and beautiful you are a gorgeous mix!

Banoffi

You look great!

kathryn

Active Member

You look amazing! The dress is divine.

UmmLila, Zibbets, Momo, Janet, Anne, Diana, Banoffi, Kathryn --

Thank you! It was a really fun dress to wear, and I'm glad I didn't go for understated. Better to be hung for a lion than a lamb. One guest from the other side was in knee-length but full-on sparkle and I wish I'd gotten over to compliment her!

BJ -- Ha and thank you! Zippers certainly do have a way of keeping a person aware, little buggers.

Eliza -- That's what I was going for so glad you think I hit the right note; I'm such a lover of sparkle it was hard to resist adding more more more but whenever I did it seemed I was either too young or too old to get away with it!

Aliona, Elizabeth P, and Shevia -- a special shout out to the silver-haired brigade (hope I didn't miss anyone else!).

This was a the debut of my grow-out to a horde of familiar faces and naturally I got a lot of varied reactions (from "you joined the club" to "not for me" to no comment). So nice to go into it feeling like yes, the right choice for me...but that was made easier by having so many examples of stylish YLFers who'd taken the leap before me! So thanks again.

ps to Aliona -- Absolutely it was great to have had the compare/contrast of prior dresses! Confession: I actually stepped on the dress taking it off and ripped a hole in the tulle hem...so no going back...and I was so happy! [When I Gorilla Glue'd the tear it formed an upside down "V" -- for Vix of course, ha!]

Bonnie

Beautiful dress and you look wonderful in it.

RobinF

Wow, you look fabulous! The dress is gorgeous and the accessories just right.

CocoLion

So beautiful!

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