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Style and beauty

Where/how to buy a frock for getting married in?

18 replies

Goldrill · 26/05/2013 21:18

This is not my natural turf so please bear with me! Apologies for the epic post...

I am getting married in October, in a woodland, in Scotland. Small do, pub lunch after, just us and a few friends. Am not a hippy btw, but I do like being outside. Nothing at all posh, though I fear DP will insist on wearing a kilt.

I need to buy a frock to get married in and I'm at a bit of a loss. I'd just like a nice dress which suits and flatters me, and that I can wear again for posh stuff. I like the look of lots in Phase eight and some in Monsoon, but I can't really work out how to decide which would be best (I know: I apologise). I haven't worn a dress for about three years due to PG/BF, and I wear mainly jeans or waders for work - I am totally out of my depth here! In the days where I did wear frocks, I was a bit of a hippy, and also had rather fabulous pre-baby figure: I really want something with a bit of structure and style now.

The city I live in has only small branches of most shops, with the odd dress in; and I have two small DDs and very little chance to go shopping - certainly no time to try stuff on. So am contemplating a day out in our nearest Proper shopping city, but have no-one I can take with me who has the first idea about dresses etc either. I am also aware I need the right underwear on/with me to make anything work.

I am tall and still slimish; good legs, good bust, dreadfully flabby arms and no waist. I would love something which gave me a good waist, but without any sausage-type overflowing anywhere. Budget around £200. Big fan of red or purple, no spaghetti straps, like a fullish skirt, no halternecks; must suit a 40 year old!

So... please can anyone point me at what to look for in a dress, which shops to look at or anything to avoid - and how do I get the neat waist thing? Is it worth finding a department store with a personal shopper; do the concessions in dept stores carry enough dresses to make that worth doing? Any advice at all would be appreciated...

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notnowImreading · 27/05/2013 07:55

Have you looked at Vivien of Holloway? It is an online shop as well as a place in London that specialises in 1950s style dresses (think of the sort of thing they wore in the first series of Mad Men or for the Jive bits on Strictly Oome Dancing). They do a huge range of colours, including big net petticoats. You might want a 'waspie' waist corset to make the most of the shape but these are much less uncomfortable than you might think. Could be fun and quirky, although the full skirts/petticoats might get caught on twigs etc in the woods.

www.vivienofholloway.com/

notnowImreading · 27/05/2013 08:00

What about this one?
www.vivienofholloway.com/en/category/grace-circle-dress/grace-circle-dress/1377/

MortifiedAdams · 27/05/2013 08:09

A bit 'hippyish' and bridal avaliable in red John Lewis

fitted tea dress

nellyjelly · 27/05/2013 08:11

How practical do you need it to be? Just thinking of potential weathet situations etc.

uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_4,mon_4.1/3530534608. Would suit yiur fiqure. I love this.

uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_4,mon_4.2/3231464653. Elegant with a little shrug.

uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_4,mon_4.2/3231474612

m.houseoffraser.co.uk/Phase+Eight+Daisy+embroidered+prom+dress/173443155,default,pd.html

Just noticed you like colour so the above may not help you but the styles are nice and all would suit a tall person.

nellyjelly · 27/05/2013 08:13

The red one above is gorgeus.

nellyjelly · 27/05/2013 08:15

Actually looking at my links, not sure they meet any of your requirements! Sorry!

Earthymama · 27/05/2013 08:17

Can I say that you may need a Good Coat too?
Are you in a structure in the woodland or out in the open? (Sounds lovely btw!)
I love the layered Lagenlook style and buy a lot of my clothes on line.
The Steampunk look would be lovely in that setting, without the goggles and clockwork if that's not your thing!

This shop is amazing but out of my league; I call in and gaze at the clothes on occasion.

like this?

Earthymama · 27/05/2013 08:18

Sorry missed the neat waist thing!
Some nice corset-y things about I am sure!!

nellyjelly · 27/05/2013 08:23

Btw any bridal shop will give you one to one advice and dpt stores have shopping consultants who will help.

PessimisticMissPiggy · 27/05/2013 08:24

Do you have a John Lewis nearby? Contact them for a free personal shopper appointment with your brief in full. Ask them to order in everything so it's in store for you to try in. They'll do shoes, accessories and underwear too (give them your measurements do they can get you a proper bra ordered in).

I like www.johnlewis.com/ghost-taya-lace-satin-dress/p336917?colour=Poinsettap

And
www.johnlewis.com/coast-leighton-jersey-dress/p386314?colour=Red

And
www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-minueta-full-length-dress-rose/p395135

And www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-monica-maxi-dress-iris/p473213

Wraps or bolero style cardi for your self consciousness over your arms ( but I bet they're fine)!

nellyjelly · 27/05/2013 08:26

Also ( sorry know I am going on) but i am tall myself and while I love the prom dress style on a tall person it can make you look a bit 'overgrown'. I prefer longer and bias cut can give good waist definition.

AntoinetteCosway · 27/05/2013 08:38

Ghost dresses are fabulously flattering-especially if you're tall. I'd find your nearest John Lewis and make an appt with a personal shopper!

Mollydoggerson · 27/05/2013 08:42

that first Monsoon dress is amazing (the tunic), I love it, I might buy it just to have it.

Goldrill · 27/05/2013 11:46

This is brilliant - thank you all!

Nelly - yes; I like the prom dress style but wondered if it would look right.

Do is outside, uncovered. You're right about the coat - had not factored that in.

Herding some poorly dds at the mo but will check links in a bit. Think it will be Glasgow or Edinburgh for shopping - must be a john Lewis somewhere there...

Really - thankyou!

OP posts:

tethersend · 27/05/2013 12:50

Yy, was also going to suggest ghost- this one

snowgal · 27/05/2013 13:27

I simply adore this dress and I keep going back to it even though I'm not getting married. Would look amazing on you with your height and the red colour is lurverly..

Allthingspretty · 27/05/2013 15:02

Try tk maxx online
www.tkmaxx.com/special-occasion-dresses/draped-red-evening-gown/invt/53104898

Goldrill · 27/05/2013 19:27

Cool - I am going to go for Edinburgh John Lewis personal shopper thingy and take it from there (I had no idea you could get them to order stuff in in advance, or that it would be free - thankyou MissPiggy!).

Really, really appreciate the advice: I have an idea where to start now!

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