What do you think of these dresses? take 2

[firebirdgold]

I''ve had the worst time finding something I like. I want to feel like a beautiful princess but without feeling like I''m wearing armour. I''ve found this place that makes very interesting dresses. And even better they do custom design work and they''re local. I''ve been thinking that maybe a laceup back might help with any last minute weight loss. (crossing fingers). I''m hoping to be a size 12 by my wedding. It should be very doable even without being perfect.

I''d love your opinions!
Option 1: simple strapless... wouldn''t be in shiny fabric though.

Option 2:

Or a custom based on Option 3:

Here are bigger pics: here
They have a limited number of the embroideried bodices in various silk blend fabrics. (that one isnt'' silk it''s a tencel blend which I hate). I love love the sleeves. And I would totally have a simple a-line skirt rather than what ever the heck that is.

An idea I had is to make a princess-seemed A-line dress out of soft silk blend (maybe jaccquard with fern pattern) with the lace up back, have that style sleeves and basically the same style of bodice but without the embroidery. I love the idea of the fabric which is this silk-hemp blend.

What do you guys think? Would one of these look good on a well-endowed curvy if a bit plump 34 yr old on a beach?


If it helps with the visualzation: think long wavey dark brown with honey (and a bit of silver *sigh*) hair in a simple style with the front portions pulled back but the back loose and flowers woven in.

 

[VRBeauty]

Indie: I''d stay away from a place that does "custom" work but can''t even fit dresses to their models correctly!

 

[amileegirl]

The workmanship looks amateur. The dresses are wrinkled, they look flimsy, and they don't look like they fit the models at all. A lace up back is supposed to make you look curvacious because of the way it comes to a V and should hug your body. The lace backs here makes the models look like boxes. The fabric chosen also makes each one look like a victorian undergarment.

This webstie: www.lynncarter.com Has dresses (check out Audrey) kind of like the style of number 2 without the laceup back; however, its a sheath style which is not flattering on everyone. Or alfredangelo.com has some simple beachy styles.

For laceup backs, have you tried maggiesottero.com?

 

[amileegirl]

Here''s a MaggieSottero Called Belize that you might like:

The Back:

 

[amileegirl]

The Belize Front

 

[indecisive]

Date: 10/22/2006 8:56:35 PM
Author: MINIMS
Indie: I''d stay away from a place that does ''custom'' work but can''t even fit dresses to their models correctly!

I agree... they kind of look like unflattering nightgowns.

 

[mercoledi]

Hmm, I understand if you really want cotton or linen (or something else non-shiney) but those dresses don''t look especially nice; This one is umm, hemp.... but it looks to be better made and is a pretty shape. What are you looking for in a gown? Do you still want a flower detail/embellishment?

 

[mercoledi]

Or maybe one of the Jenney Yoo dresses?

 

[AChiOAlumna]

I''m also in my mid"ish" 30s (hitting that "late" but won''t admit it yet!!

) I''ve also been looking for a beach wedding dress for our renewal ceremony next summer in Jamaica...

Here are some of the dresses I''ve found that seems to be what you''re looking for as well:

http://www.weddinggowndress.com/economical-detail.php?id=189

http://www.illuna-fashion.com/illuna-34-100.html

This Link has a lot of simplistic, but beautiful dresses too!

This link has my favorite style so far at Style # 4031 (they encode the pix so you can''t download them

)

This link also has an informal page great for beach weddings!!!

This link has a GREAT collection for more informal looks!!

And finally, this site has great informal/destination dresses as well!!

Hope this helps! This is my research so far!!!

 

[E B]

I like the idea of #3, but it seems way too hot for a beach wedding. Long sleeves + heat = uncomfortable.

I faintly remember you talking about liking floral detail (forgive me if it was someone else), and I found this Shoshanna gown on bluefly.com that I thought you might like. It might completely miss the mark, but, hey, who knows?

Shoshanna Creme Silk Flower Strapless Gown, $312

Here''s the flower detail right under the bust.

 

[firebirdgold]

oooh, I hadn't heard of Jenny Yoo before!
I like this one:

My base requirements are:
1) natural fabric preferably silk
2) Princess seam A-line.
3) No empire-waists. I love how they look... on other people.
4) No beading, all over modern lace, or fussy bits. I look better in simple dresses
5) No train.
6) I can't look like an idiot next to a guy in shorts and a white silk aloha shirt.

Preferences:
1) some kind of decoration, either some embroidery, hand-painted flowers, color trim, or old-fashion lace.
2) Straps and maybe even sleeves
3) Lace up back
4) Tea length through ankle length.
5) Interesting hem

AChiO: Thank you for the suggestions, I love the shape of the first dress! Those are alot of links I hadn't found before, thank you!

Martin McCrea is my last-resort designer. There's a local retailer and I tried some on last spring. Most of them are very ornamental which just doesn't work for me (and they're heavy!). But they have a couple of new styles that look interesting. The Melissa and the Fiona might still have too much decoration to work, but the Boutique section has a few simpler dresses. The Darlene in white with that red could look really nice. And the Fleur is adorable although I doubt it'd look good on my body type.

I think I'll call up the (only) Watters retailer in the state and see if they have those bridesmaids dresses with the painted flowers.

Thank you guys from preventing me from making a dress mistake! I appreciate it.

ETA: That shoshanna dress is gorgeous! While it's not white, I look fantastic in peach! And yes I'm the floral detail person.

 

[Gypsy]

Honey, what style looks best on you? There are three VERY different styles there. One is dropped waist, the others.... it''s hard to tell what the heck they are supposed to be as they are ill fitted (keep looking for a dress maker). But the point is... you need to settle on a silhouette first. All of those are A-line''s so that''s a start.

I''m a twelve and dropped waist Alines were the most flattering. I''m 5'' 6" and my body type is curvy-- even when I''m thinner (I was never larger than a 6 until I hit 26) I''m curvy. I would suggest you going to a store (not davids) with a nice selection and grabbing one or two gowns with each of the following silouettes:

One empire Aline.
Two dropped waist Alines
Two natural waist Alines.

Try to keep the other aspects of the gowns constant, so your not distracted. What I mean by that is try to keep them all strapless and with a similar type of fabric so that you can really get an idea which waistline is the most flattering. Then go custom from there. I have two fabulous seamstresses in my family and can sew myself. I would never just make an expensive item of clothing before making sture that the pattern/ style was flattering to begin with.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

I''m having too much fun now!!! I just found another website...check it out! LOTS of destination bridal gowns:

http://www.romanticbridals.com/6.htm

 

[E B]

Do you prefer a white gown? I found a couple pretty choices that aren''t white, but in champagne (or light-ish gold, which would be gorgeous on the beach!)

ABS Gold Silk Fishtail Dress, $210

ABS Light Gold Embroidered Halter Dress, $200 (in size 10 or 14)

 

[E B]

This one has a corset back and no train (that I can see), but straps would need to be added:

Eden Bridals Chiffon Wedding Gown

ETA:

BCBG Embroidered Cotton Gown

(It has long sleeves, but looks like it can be altered to short sleeves/sleeveless.)

BCBG Silk Vellum Wooden Bead Dress

 

[anacgarcia]

Date: 10/22/2006 11:43:37 PM
Author: IndieJones
oooh, I hadn''t heard of Jenny Yoo before!

I like this one:

That one is NICE!!

 

[mercoledi]

I hear ya on the natureal fabrics and non-empire waists. It''s a struggle to find. What about this one from the first company? Maybe you could have it made with the inset skirt but w/o the train.

I know I saw a simple white linen/cotton dress with a flower detail recently and thought of you, but I don''t know if I bookmarked it, if I run across it again I''ll pass it along.

 

[mercoledi]

Found it! It's an Alfred Sung maids dress with beaded flowers on the bodice. It's shorter an comes in a ton of colors.
Link!

Or white sating with flowers; you could cut the train off:
http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/listing/1642.htm

ETA: Wrap dress with flower

 

[firebirdgold]

That Alfred Sung one does look really pretty, and it''s alot like a dress that my fi pointed out as liking.

The flower wrap dress has a lovely hem, maybe the no-synthetic thing isn''t really that necessary. And I hadn''t thought of checking out non-wedding dresses at bluefly or ebay.

You know how people are always saying that they get talked into trying on a dress that''s not what they were thinking of and it looks great? Well the one David''s dress that looked half-way decent on me was like that. I really hadn''t been wanting strapless or overly structured but despite the undergarment from hell (I know I had a waist the last time I looked!) it actually looked rather pretty. Of course it was probably so structured it''d look like that no matter what!

It looks not bad even though my waist is a) smaller than that (w/o the undergarment) and b) lower than that.

It''s not an option though since it''s a full formal dress with a train.

 

[mercoledi]

Hmm, then maybe you're a candidate for the AT bridal gown. 100% silk satin and charmeuse for $600.


Link!

Tadashi at Nordstrom.com

Nicole Miller applique gown

BCBG tiers

BCBG emboidered tulle- look at the zoom view.

And Nicole Miller again

I adore this dress, it's very light and much prettier in person. Link!

From Anthropologie

Comes in white but the detail is easier to see in yellow here.

Link! Lighthouse dress in cream.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Date: 10/23/2006 2:07:05 PM
Author: mercoledi

I adore this dress, it''s very light and much prettier in person.

I like this one too!! I would need to long-line bra to fit into it though....hmmmmm......

 

[firebirdgold]

Wow!! That's alot of dresses you found! I'm so impressed.

I love that AT dress! It'd look great on me.... however I'm not so sure it would work next to my groom.
For visual purposes picture the dress next to this shirt and a pair of light tan shorts.

+
See what I mean?

*sigh* I hate living in this shopping wasteland. We don't even have a Norstroms! How do you guys get the courage to order a dress you've never tried on? Well, worst case I can go shopping for ready-to-wear pieces with my fmil in Portland this christmas!

 

[E B]

Indie,

Did you try on this David's Bridal Gown (VW8897)? It's organza, which is light and flowy next to your husband's light, flowy gear, and has embroidered flowers.

ETA: This is pretty, and hemp/linen/raw silk (several pictures of it if you scroll down):

Audrey Hemp Wedding Gown

 

[firebirdgold]

Ooh, that audry hemp gown is really nice! Great Find!!

I did try that David''s dress on... or rather I attempted to. They didn''t have one that was big enough, so I tried on a smaller size and she sort of held the back.. It looked totally dreadful! I looked like a giant floral tube with a puffy skirt on! Granted part of that was the horrid undergarment, and it not fitting. I''m thinking of going back to a David''s bridal with my mother next week, but we''ll trek down to the larger one in the ''big'' city.

 

[princessv]

Hey Indie!

I saw the Maggie Belize today that amilee posted and it was gorgeous! Of course, I''m a bit biased to Maggie dresses

 

[mercoledi]

I still have a lot of dress bookmarks from my own search....

Are you sure you can't talk you groom into pants? It seems as though you want something a little fancier than he does even though you're both thinking "beach wedding" Look at TravelingGal's wedding; pretty dress, groom in shirt and slacks.

You'll find something that will work. It's just hard to make silk casual...
Perhaps a shorter or asymmetic skirt is the way to go. You should call the Watters shop by you, I still think that dress is a great option. Their gowns are structured (flexible plastic boning) without being too heavy or binding.

As for buying online, you just have to learn which places have good return policies. Nordstrom.com has $5 flat rate shipping, no limit on when you can return things and either free or $5 returns. You can order $800 in dresses, try them on, and return what doesn't fit and you're only out $5-10 more than going to a store. I abuse Ann Taylor that way; I buy gobs of stuff when they run sales online and then return what doesn't fit to the store. No harm, no foul, no time spent trying to get to the mall after work. Bluefly is pretty good too, I think their shipping is $8.

Good luck!

ETA: JCrew did dresses this summer in seersucker; that might be a cool option for you. Right now all their sale stuff (totally un-returnable) is 20% off.
Halter:

$60 on sale

Linen strapless with floral lace detail at hem:

I didn't see this one in you size, but maybe they'd have one in the store or on Ebay link.

They don't seem to have the strapless seersucker I was thinking of, but maybe they'll have them again next year. Here's one on ebay.

 

[firebirdgold]

Date: 10/24/2006 11:32:11 AM
Author: mercoledi

Are you sure you can't talk you groom into pants? It seems as though you want something a little fancier than he does even though you're both thinking 'beach wedding' Look at TravelingGal's wedding; pretty dress, groom in shirt and slacks.


You'll find something that will work. It's just hard to make silk casual...

Perhaps a shorter or asymmetric skirt is the way to go. You should call the Watters shop by you, I still think that dress is a great option. Their gowns are structured (flexible plastic boning) without being too heavy or binding.

*sigh* I seriously doubt I can talk him into shorts, he's kinda fixated. Besides it'd probably turn into another 'toilet seat' discussion. (Logically there's no reason why I shouldn't have to leave the seat up for him rather than him leaving it down for me.)

At least I can insist on nice shorts!

Unfortunately I look far better in longer dresses than shorter ones, especially in pictures. Actually I look best in either long dresses (floor or ankle) or really short dresses, but I'm not doing a mid-thigh wedding dress!

As for buying online, you just have to learn which places have good return policies. Nordstrom.com has $5 flat rate shipping, no limit on when you can return things and either free or $5 returns. You can order $800 in dresses, try them on, and return what doesn't fit and you're only out $5-10 more than going to a store. I abuse Ann Taylor that way; I buy gobs of stuff when they run sales online and then return what doesn't fit to the store. No harm, no foul, no time spent trying to get to the mall after work. Bluefly is pretty good too, I think their shipping is $8.

Good luck!

That's a very good idea, Thanks! I'll try that if this new thing doesn't work out....

oooh, I'm scared to put this down on paper, so to speak, in case I jinx it.... but I think I may have found The One!

I found a sweetheart neckline strapless dress in an Ebay store, and I'm waiting to hear back if it has the natural waist it appears to have or if it's an empire waist and s/he just clipped it onto the form in a way that makes it look like a natural waist. When I saw the picture I just gasped! It looks soooo perfect for me! It's a classy and elegant style but the fabric keeps it informal enough to go next to shorts! oh, I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one! I'm reluctant to show the picture, but... I can't resist!

(it's clipped to make it fit a size 6 form for the pic)

It's a discontinued jCrew dress in japanese silk seersucker fabric.

ETA: Merc, I just saw your edits! Great minds think alike, huh?

 

[indecisive]

I think the "one" looks really good! It looks really well made from the picture... I hope it works out!

 

[mercoledi]

Good luck! It looks really pretty, better than it did in the JCrew adds! I remember seeing those this summer and thinking "silk seersucker? Wha?" and then eventually "hmm, I can think of a lot of place to wear silk seersucker now that you mention it..."

I hope it works out! Maybe even if it is empire you could have it altered to fit like a natural-waisted dress with the little empire detail.

yay!

 

[decodelighted]

I think THIS ONE is a new Jcrew addition.

THIS sleveless wool number would be an uncoventional choice for sure!

But I''m really obsessed with THIS little girl mary jane look ... and THIS red & white polka dot strapless number. NEITHER of which are probably "beach wedding" appropriate. Damn it.

Wish I was a 12-14! Sob!