Need some fashion advice for a wedding - help?!

salander · Sep 3, 2012

Ladies, I need your esteemed fashion advice. I am one of those people who dresses themselves in the morning by sheer virtue of the fact that every item of clothing I own is black, grey or olive green, and I'm not even in the least bit trendy.

So, I have a wedding to attend September 14th, and I want to look awesome (but totally appropriate and tasteful and all that). I've lost enough weight that all of my typical "standby for dressing up" dresses are too big, so I need to shop. I can't get a response from anyone as to what the formality of the event is, but it's a Friday night wedding, the bridesmaids are wearing floor-length black gowns, and it's in the middle of nowhere Minnesota.

I want something that is comfortable-ish, can have a sweater thrown over it for when I inevitably get cold, and totally shows off the fact that I've lost almost 20lbs, haha. Also, I need shoes and prefer heels. I'd like something I can move around in easily. I'll probably be going out to actual stores instead of shopping online, but I want to know: what would you wear? I want to use this thread to get ideas of what to look for! If you can give me links or pictures that would be even more awesome, and huge bonus points for anyone willing to point me in the direction of things that would be flattering (if you need a photo of me or details, just let me know!).

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

Celestial · Sep 3, 2012

A photo of you would help or a description of your appearance.

salander · Sep 3, 2012

Celestial said:
A photo of you would help or a description of your appearance.

That's the most recent photo I have, weight is about the same too. I'm 5'1.5", weigh 100lbs, classic hourglass shape (33.5/23.5/33.5 measurements), red hair (it's very asymmetrical and short), prefer darker colors. I never wear pastels, yellow or orange ever, haha.

Help?

Celestial · Sep 3, 2012

salander said:
That's the most recent photo I have, weight is about the same too. I'm 5'1.5", weigh 100lbs, classic hourglass shape (33.5/23.5/33.5 measurements), red hair (it's very asymmetrical and short), prefer darker colors. I never wear pastels, yellow or orange ever, haha.

Help?

I think emerald green would look nice on you or even a royal blue

For length I would say, either long like to your feet or perhaps a couple inches above your knees since you are only 5'1.5.

mrsrusselbrand · Sep 3, 2012

I definitely agree with the green. I'd say wear a strapless dress because that way you can show off your lovely thin arms and collar bones which will easily show off your weight loss. If you've lost a lot of weight from your legs too go for an above the knee cut.

As for heels, I'd say maybe wedges? they'll go with a dress and are comfy!

salander · Sep 3, 2012

mrsrusselbrand said:
I definitely agree with the green. I'd say wear a strapless dress because that way you can show off your lovely thin arms and collar bones which will easily show off your weight loss. If you've lost a lot of weight from your legs too go for an above the knee cut.

As for heels, I'd say maybe wedges? they'll go with a dress and are comfy!

Thank you! I've been very self-conscious about my arms, so this post made my day!

I've lost weight everywhere, haha - I tend to take it off and put it on very evenly overall - I'm rocking a pretty good thigh gap now. For the shoes, should I do a color that matches the dress or a neutral? I want anything to make my legs look longer!

salander · Sep 3, 2012

Celestial said:
I think emerald green would look nice on you or even a royal blue

For length I would say, either long like to your feet or perhaps a couple inches above your knees since you are only 5'1.5.

Thank you so much for your help! I honestly don't own anything in either of those colors, but I have something to start with!

mrsrusselbrand · Sep 4, 2012

salander said:
Thank you! I've been very self-conscious about my arms, so this post made my day!

I've lost weight everywhere, haha - I tend to take it off and put it on very evenly overall - I'm rocking a pretty good thigh gap now. For the shoes, should I do a color that matches the dress or a neutral? I want anything to make my legs look longer!

I read somewhere that if you wear nude/skin colour heels it makes your legs look longer because it makes a seamless transition from your foot to your shoe (or something like that, ha) and as for heel size, the bigger the better as far as i'm concerned!

salander · Sep 4, 2012

mrsrusselbrand said:
I read somewhere that if you wear nude/skin colour heels it makes your legs look longer because it makes a seamless transition from your foot to your shoe (or something like that, ha) and as for heel size, the bigger the better as far as i'm concerned!

I'm with you on the tall heels - as you can see, next to my husband I am SHORT!

I'll look around for some nude shoes - what they say about leg line makes sense, because it's like skates - I have tan boots for skating to get the extra leg line, haha. I can also probably get more use out of them that way than if they just match one dress, too.

Thanks again for your help, it's appreciated!

Annabelle · Sep 4, 2012

Celestial said:
For length I would say, either long like to your feet or perhaps a couple inches above your knees since you are only 5'1.5.

I would go for the second option here, as long dresses (to your feet) can make a person look shorter and in my opinion only tall people can really pull off that look. With a long dress, you'd also ruin the elongating effect of the nude coloured heels and that would be too bad

.

I'm sure you will look lovely!

salander · Sep 4, 2012

Annabelle said:
I would go for the second option here, as long dresses (to your feet) can make a person look shorter and in my opinion only tall people can really pull off that look. With a long dress, you'd also ruin the elongating effect of the nude coloured heels and that would be too bad .

I'm sure you will look lovely!

I was kind of thinking I'd go shorter just because I'll be less likely to trip myself that way, haha! I wear jeans pretty much every day, so a long skirt or dress is actually a little intimidating! Plus, buying a long dress ineviatbly means needing to have it altered, because everything is always way too long.

Thanks for the advice! I don't know why I'm so nervous for this, but it's probably because I pretty much never have photos taken of me, well, ever, so knowing I'll be in pictures with my friends and feeling more confident about the way I look makes me want to put in the effort to look extra-good!

Annabelle · Sep 4, 2012

salander said:
Thanks for the advice! I don't know why I'm so nervous for this, but it's probably because I pretty much never have photos taken of me, well, ever, so knowing I'll be in pictures with my friends and feeling more confident about the way I look makes me want to put in the effort to look extra-good!

I know that feeling! I hate when someone takes pictures of me, but when i know it's unevitable (e.g. at a wedding or some event like that) i always try to look my best.

It's great that you're feeling more confident about yourself and it's good that you take it as a motivation to look/feel even better. Nothing is more motivational than some (any kind, really) of success

salander · Sep 4, 2012

Annabelle said:
I know that feeling! I hate when someone takes pictures of me, but when i know it's unevitable (e.g. at a wedding or some event like that) i always try to look my best.

It's great that you're feeling more confident about yourself and it's good that you take it as a motivation to look/feel even better. Nothing is more motivational than some (any kind, really) of success

I agree completely! It isn't that I actually mind being photographed so much as that I want to feel prepared for it first, haha. Especially with how fast photos get to social media and the like! I just want what documentation of me exists to be good representations, I guess - especially since I rarely go out with friends and when we do go out there are rarely cameras involved (probably because they are all self conscious of post-baby weight and their bodies, too).

And I wholeheartedly agree about confidence! I've been really motivated by the success I've had so far, and I'm thrilled I'm really close to 20lbs lost - I'm hoping this month I'll cross that threshold, which is almost my goal weight! But ultimately, it is the little successes along the way that keep me going and make me feel good about doing this!

BonnieN · Sep 4, 2012

.....

http://www.shopstyle.de/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=363648869
http://www.shopstyle.de/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=367036239
http://www.shopstyle.de/action/loadRetailerProductPage?id=366078648

BonnieN · Sep 4, 2012

Okay this ^ is pretty much, I think....

be aware: those links are simply an idea of what you could try, the colors are sometimes awful and don't match your expectations at all but maybe you can see for what kind of cuts you could go. Material wise I would pretty much go for cotton, cashmere or any smooth fabric, no velvet, satin or silk (although I love it!) since as soon as you sat down for some time you are 'covered' in wrinkles - doesn't look good on pics.. but a possibility to wear silk and still look good is lace! A silky dress that is covered in beautiful lace looks very classy and maybe you choose some gemstone colors for the silk like green or blue (the very dark versions...). Another way to show off your body without being too much 'in your face' are semi see-through fabrics in general. That's how you can wear sleeves without 'covering' your achievements

Another great thing to avoid the long/short length requirements for a wedding is the asymmetrical cut which is short in the front and longer in the backside - no worries about tripping or someone stepping on your dress and you can show off your legs without having marks on the backside of your legs from a chair plus no need to worry about bending forwards and giving too much of an 'impression' for everyone around! my worries all the time when I have to wear anything short :nopity:

be carefull with drapings! At the right places they enhance your figure at the wrong places they make you look.. um.. fat :nervous:

- try try try! The same goes for layers and ruffles.

For the footwear:
look for heels that have a plateau as well, it gives more stability and adds some centimeters. Make sure you have an eyecatcher in your overall look, shoes, hair, bag or dress and the rest somehow 'tributes' and therefore enhances it. For example, you have a gemstone (green) silk dress covered in black lace that has a satin bow at the hip (or wherever) than wear shoes in black patent leather with a little bow at the side of the tip or wear peep toes with your nails painted in a deep red that matches your hair color and a simple silver or gold necklace with an tiny bow or an antique 'comb' for your hair that has a bow on it

I'm sure you'll find classier versions of it, but I just needed a pic..
I hope you understand what I'm trying to say?? Find a kind of a theme for your look based on the first piece you find and really like: have the dress and then look for shoes, bag, jewelry to create a look. But don't be like I have a green bag so I need green shoes! Work with complementary (contrasting) colors especially if you are wearing darker colors to not look too monochrome and therefore maybe a little boring - it's a wedding! You won't be too colourful, looking like a clown but still enhance every colour itself and let it make you look elegant. (for example a green colour to have a complemetary color for your hair..)
It would be nice to know what you are imagining to do with your hair, make up, do you already have a bag or jewelry you would like to wear?!

More preparation:
break your shoes in as soon as possible (but regarding you are a skater I guess your familiar with how to deal footwear?!) and there are kind of rubberish pads you can put inside the shoe to cushion your ball of foot

confused

as well as anaesthetics like lidocain that numb a little bit if your not used to wearing heels for a whole night (of course: use carefully!!). or try 'Tensolvet' it's a lotion against any kind of bruises - for horses

many ballet dancers use it as well... works!

Go shopping in the evening since it's an evening wedding - take the time to try on as many dresses and shoes as possible and take pics!! Go home and the next day have a look at them to decide which 'look' you like the most and then go again and buy your favourites!

That's everything I can think of right now.. sorry for such a huuuge post (I love fashion :sneaky:

) and I hope you will find what makes you look awesome and feel comfortable through the event! maybe you could even find some ideas for an outfit you didn't think of before.
I wish you a great skinny appearance at the wedding (don't steal all the attention from the bride though....) and my best wishes for the couple :luv:

(I'm sorry for my bad English, if there are things you don't understand at all please tell me and I will try to translate it again...)

Have fun shopping!

Kisses....

Silent Night · Sep 5, 2012

I agree that an emerald green would look incredible with your red hair. You have very strong hair and features so I say nothing floaty or frilly - go for something with a strong, simple cut.

I am currently in love with a 'sweetheart' style of dress; this is the shape (very flattering for an hourglass figure with a belt and the little flare at the hips, and it will certainly show off your weight loss):

But I think a green would look better than the blue.

For jewellery, I'd go for a deco design:

And then shoes following the deco theme:

And for warmth, I think all that would look great with a piano shawl (maybe a plain one without the embroidery) in a colour matching your shoes:

Let us know what you choose!

salander · Oct 7, 2012

Hey everyone who was so helpful and generous to me in giving fashion advice ( @Celestial, @mrsrusselbrand, @Annabelle, @BonnieN, @SilentNight ), I thought I'd actually update this now that I've had a chance to get some photos of my outfit uploaded!

I ended up choosing a strapless, dark blue dress, but due to it being cold I skipped bare legs and nude heels and went with black tights and shoes instead, with a short little sweater to keep me warm until after my husband and I hit the dance floor.

I felt pretty good about my choice (ordinarily never wear blue, so that was exciting!), and I really do appreciate all the help you guys gave me! It was like having my own personal fashion team!

Celestial · Oct 7, 2012

@salander I'm glad everything worked out for you!

Annabelle · Oct 8, 2012

salander said:
Hey everyone who was so helpful and generous to me in giving fashion advice ( @Celestial, @mrsrusselbrand, @Annabelle, @BonnieN, @SilentNight ), I thought I'd actually update this now that I've had a chance to get some photos of my outfit uploaded!

I ended up choosing a strapless, dark blue dress, but due to it being cold I skipped bare legs and nude heels and went with black tights and shoes instead, with a short little sweater to keep me warm until after my husband and I hit the dance floor. I felt pretty good about my choice (ordinarily never wear blue, so that was exciting!), and I really do appreciate all the help you guys gave me! It was like having my own personal fashion team!

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-

prn1/564133_10151149781439246_1440725615_n.jpg

Oh cute dress!

It's nice to hear that you felt good about yourself and your choice and had fun :kiss:

Need some fashion advice for a wedding - help?!

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