Wedding Dress shopping pics... please help me rank them!

[Kim N]

You ladies have such good taste, I would love to hear what you think!

I''m having the hardest time deciding on a dress. I can''t say that I''ve been totally over the moon about any dress so far, but then again, it''s not really in my personality to cry or gush about a dress. I''ve just been discouraged from my shopping experiences so far, and I''ve already tried on 30 dresses.

I''d love to hear how you''d rank these dresses from #1-4. I realize they''re very similar--I tended to go for the empire or dropped waist gowns with a-line or modified a-line skirts. I''m very short, so I''m looking for something that won''t shorten me. In all of these, I''m standing on a pedestal, so obviously the skirts won''t be as long.

One of them is significantly more expensive than the others, so it would have to be totally worth it for me to buy it. Even if I bought a sample, it would be 2-3 sizes too big and require a lot of alterations that would almost negate any savings from buying a sample.

For some context, the wedding is going to be in the summer in a park. So I''m looking for something that''s relatively simple and classic with unique touches, and light enough for summer.

Looking forward to hearing your rankings and comments!

 

[FrekeChild]

Dress A- 3
Dress B- 4
Dress C- 2
Dress D- 1

I had a hard time between C and D because I really like that neckline on you better than the other one. I picked D because of the slimmer silhouette kind of makes you look taller. I don't know. This is hard because they all look really really good on you.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

My favorites are 1 and 2. And I am tied between those two. I think I love number 1 the most. Is number 1 lace and number 2 taffeta? I guess we'll have to see what everyone else says!

ETA: Sorry that's probably confusing. But I meant the two dresses closest to the left. So A and B I think?

 

[miraclesrule]

Yeah, I only like 1 and 2. I don''t like 3 and 4 enough for you to even consider.

Between 1 and 2, eeeeeeeeeeee, okay I have to say 1. But I really do like the material of 2 as well as the way it fits you up at the top. 2 really looks like it loves you.

That''s assuming we are going left to right like the letter I am typing right now....

 

[rockzilla]

2 - 1 - 3 - 4 (from L to R)

First and second one look very similar, for some reason I prefer the second one.
I like the straight across strapless line better than then "smiling" one (don''t know what that''s called, comes up at the armpit)
Last one is too much detailing for my taste.

I am not a huge fan of beading though, so I might not be the best person to ask. Can''t wait to hear which is the $$$$ one

 

[FrekeChild]

I was going left to right. This is a hard one because I can''t really find flaw with any of them. You have a great figure m''dear that is apparently made for wedding dresses!

 

[choro72]

I''ll agree with Freke...I like the neckline of 3 and 4 better. Between those two...Eh, I like the bodice of 3 but the skirt is too plain to me. Between 1 and 2...I like 2 better.

I''m an extremely short person as well, but I found that dropped waist makes me look shorter. It looks good on you though!

 

[akmiss]

Dress #1 and #2 look great! Pick one of those

 

[Beth]

I like numbers 1 and 2. For daytime in the park I would do 2 over one (less beading etc).

 

[miraclesrule]

I'm changing the order of my two favorites. I like 2 better than 1.
I think it's due to the unique detail with the bow and I like the way it sits higher on your chest and really looks like it fits instead of making you look a bit "hunched over" like I think you do in 3 and 4. I don't like the cut of those dresses at the armpit or how low they go. They shorten your torso...which is tragedy, because that is a banging torso and waistline.

Oh fiddlewinks...I really can't decide which I like better, 1 or 2. I know...if I saw pictures of the back it might help me.

 

[Kim N]

Freke, Sarah, miraclesrule, rockzilla, choro, akmiss, Beth, thank you for your input! I really appreciate it! I''m actually very surprised by how the rankings are turning out, but I''ll wait before adding my comments.

If it helps or changes what you think of the dresses, I''m attaching close-up photos of the bodices. A, C, and D have beading. B is lace. I don''t have a real preference on either, but sometimes I lean towards beading (because of the sparkles

).

 

[VRBeauty]

At first glance, 2 or 1, in that order... depends on how much lace you want (I prefer the less fussy, more tailored look. Have I loaded that up with enough biased adjectives?). 4 Might be nice, but I''m guessing that the sample was way big on you and was clamped back, making it hard to tell how the contours would actually fit on you. I think the "neckline" on 3 is just kinda extreme for most brides.

I agree with Freke... your figure was made for wedding gowns!

 

[OUpearlgirl]

I like dress 3 the most, by far! But, all look lovely because you have such a great figure!

 

[miraclesrule]

Okay, I gotta nix 4, I am not a fan of the arm skin overhang...sorry (my Simon Cowell voice).

On the close up shot the waistline in number 3 is a knockout, but since I have already seen the overall dress...eh... If I was choosing on the closeups only, I would be loving 3, but I already saw the full length and I am not a fan of the material.

So that brings me back to my original choices. 1 and 2 or 2 and 1. I hear ya on the sparkly, bling thing. Who doesn''t like to sparkle? Big fan of sparkling here too.

But in the close up, guess which one is firing off the spark? The lace one....isn''t that wierd?

Anyway, which one do you like?!?!?!?!!? Comeon'' bring it Missy Kim!!

 

[FrekeChild]

How many sizes too big were these samples?

I''m wondering if that''s what is contributing to the "arm skin overhang" as miracles put it. I bet if it was in your size you wouldn''t have that problem.

 

[VRBeauty]

Can I change my vote(s)?


Nos. 2 and 1 (in that order, mind you!) are terrific if you''re looking for traditional and elegant with a touch of demure (think Anne Hathaway). But in those cropped photos... you''re rocking the bodice on # 3!

I''ll just bet that was really, really, helpful!

 

[Kim N]

MINIMS and OUpeargirl, thanks for your comments! MINIMS, you're right, I was using clamps for #4, actually for all four of them.

miraclesrule and Freke, good point about the overhang. Freke, I think you might be right that it wouldn't be there if the dress fit. All of these dresses were at least 2 sizes too big, so hopefully the right size would fit correctly.

miraclesrule, haha, I didn't notice the lace one was the only one that was sparkling in the photos. When comparing 1 and 2, I hesitate a little on #1 because I'm worried it might be too much beading for a park wedding. Also, the skirt is satin compared to taffeta (which is the material for #2's skirt), so it's heavier. But I do love them both. #1 seems maybe more elegant, #2 a little younger because it uses sequins rather than beading.

ETA: MINIMS, lol at your change in vote! All of these comments are really helpful, so I totally welcome changing your mind!

 

[havernell]

I like the necklines on 3 and 4 (or C and D) better on you- they give more definition to the chest area and just makes you look more womanly, in a subtle, good way! They make the entire dress more visually interesting and slightly unique, which you mentioned you wanted. A and B are just "fine" in my book. They look nice enough but I''m not wow-ed by either. I''m not a big fan of the "draping" or whatever the fabric that meets at a point right under your chest and then drapes around the bodice is called- it''s slightly distracting to me. Have you tried on any gowns that have lace tops and plain(er) skirts just like A and B but that don''t have that draping thing going on? That could look nice on you.

So, overall my preference rankings goes 3, 4, 2, 1. (I think same as Freke''s).

BUT, I think you should do a bit more gown shopping just to make sure there is nothing else out there that you like better. I know 30 dresses seems like a lot, but there are so many gowns out there that you''ve barely scratched the surface! I am also not the type of person to get all emotional about a dress- I love my gown but there were no tears when I tried it on. So, I''m not saying you have to try on gowns until you have that moment, but I just think looking around a bit more wouldn''t hurt. Have you let yourself try on other silhouettes? That could be one place to start. Good luck with it!!

 

[JulieN]

3, 1, 4, 2. 2 just looks kind of too big, so it's hard to say, though.

overall, I like the swoopy neckline rather than the straight neckline-it's an enhancing illusion.

 

[NYCsparkle]

2, 3, 4, 1......#1 looks like a dress for an older woman up close. They are all beautiful on you though.

 

[NYCsparkle]

hey kim...i hated the whole dress shopping experience at 1st, but then i began to enjoy it. i tried on at least 50 mdresses until i put on the "one". it will happen once you put on the "one". keep trying on more dresses---make sure you try on dress styles you''d never "be caught dead in", because those are the ones you wind up with...lol

 

[allycat0303]

I love the 3. But it doesn`t seem like a very popular choice

 

[honey22]

The straight neckline (is that what it''s even called?

in 1 & 2 really suits you, much better than 3 or 4 I think. I mean, they are all gorgeous dresses! I really love the colour of number 2 though - it seems to really work well with your skintone, but not sure if that''s just the pic or lighting etc.

 

[lauralu]

1-2-4-3 I Is my vote!

1-luv how the bust part and how the lace and beading are at your waistline.

2-same reasons for neckline/bust area and bodice. Both are very flattering IMO Oh and the color Fab!

3 and 4 I am not liking how the strapless dips n front

 

[bee*]

Number 3 is my fave out of them all.

 

[PostIt]

2 or 1

 

[Fancy605]

I love #1. To me, the design flows the best. The other 3 all look like sort of like they are divided into 2 separate sections. They are all lovely, but with the other's it's sort of like: here's the top, and that's the bottom. I like the neck line on #1 too.

ETA: Although, upon looking, I suppose #4 has the same, non-2 separate sections look to it. I guess it just looks that way at first glance because of the strategic placement of the wrinkle (probably from being clipped back). Anyway, I still prefer #1.

 

[scarlet16]

Date: 6/27/2008 4:51:08 AM
Author: havernell
I like the necklines on 3 and 4 (or C and D) better on you- they give more definition to the chest area and just makes you look more womanly, in a subtle, good way! They make the entire dress more visually interesting and slightly unique, which you mentioned you wanted. A and B are just ''fine'' in my book. They look nice enough but I''m not wow-ed by either. I''m not a big fan of the ''draping'' or whatever the fabric that meets at a point right under your chest and then drapes around the bodice is called- it''s slightly distracting to me. Have you tried on any gowns that have lace tops and plain(er) skirts just like A and B but that don''t have that draping thing going on? That could look nice on you.


So, overall my preference rankings goes 3, 4, 2, 1. (I think same as Freke''s).


BUT, I think you should do a bit more gown shopping just to make sure there is nothing else out there that you like better. I know 30 dresses seems like a lot, but there are so many gowns out there that you''ve barely scratched the surface! I am also not the type of person to get all emotional about a dress- I love my gown but there were no tears when I tried it on. So, I''m not saying you have to try on gowns until you have that moment, but I just think looking around a bit more wouldn''t hurt. Have you let yourself try on other silhouettes? That could be one place to start. Good luck with it!!

I agree with Freke and Havernell...that neckline is to die for on you!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I love three. I think it does the most for your figure, has just the right amount of decoration for a park wedding and the sparkles would be great in the sunlight. I actually think that neckline can be very flattering as well.

I like 2 next, then 4 and 1.

 

[claireabelle]

Number one. Or two... I wouldn''t consider three or four. The shape is dated and the fabric looks a little cheap to me. The first one flows beautifully (no distracting seams or lines at the hips)... the lace, fabric and color look beautiful to me. It also fits really well and looks very comfortable and secure at the chest/bust area.

I''m not sure of your age...however I will say that I believe one and two look suited to a younger bride - three and four look older...

just my opinion, though...