Ask a Question

which dress style is best on me?

I like #1 the best.  But it really all depends on how much beading and "extras" to the dress you want.  Did any of them "wow" you when you put it on?  It also depends on how important the dress is too you...for some the dress is just something that is worn...for others it is very important to their wedding.  Good Luck!

Okay first things first... our weddings are like 2 wks apart... so girl i'm sooooooo feeling your drift. 7 mos till my wedding and i don't have shit started!!!  Okay about the dress... i really really like the first one. Very elegant... fits your body and your chest perfect! i like it. Good luck with dress shopping... keep us posted on your wedding plannng. Oh and i'm so with you on the diet thing. Starting monday my son goes back to daycare and my fiance is going back to work and i can start working out!

I love the dress 1 pics just gorgeous, go for it. I know how you feel I gained over the holiday's too but my dress is bought so wii fit here I come.

I love the first one the best, however, dress 3 makes you look skinniest. I am a lady of "larger proportions" my self and wanted a dress that made me look as skinny as possible. The first one is most elegant though.

As for "the dress". I don't think that there is one perfect dress. Don't feel bad if you don't have that moment. I didn't always feel like my FH was "the one". Don't believe that hype.

Which dress made you feel prettiest? I think it may be #1 because you took more pics of it.

Aack...on second thought I think the last one fits your body best.

My favourite is dress #1, it is really flattering on you and I love the little details on it.

2nd row #1. I think that's #7  Very nice!

Hi ladies, thanks for the input so far!

I felt good in all of these at some point. I've tried on probably 60 or more dresses believe it or not in the last 7 or so months, because I have gone about 5-7 times and tried on between 8-20 dresses each time. These are truly the best of the bunch. While I loved them all at the time of trying them on, when seeing photos, I see a very different girl than what I saw in the mirror when I had these babies on. :) Such is usually the case, right? :) We look in the mirror and let our imaginations run away with us... lol

We look in the photos and all we see is our flaws. At least I do. I love dress #1 and the reason we took the most pics of it was because it was at a dress shop where they allowed photos to be taken openly. The other dresses were in shops where photos were not allowed so we had to be sneaky in the change room and got really bad angles of them (i.e. you can't see the full dress in any other shots but those of dress #1), so that could be why the others don't look as appealing I'm not sure.

my only real worry about dress #1 is that it is made for someone w/ a longer waist than I have - I am only 5' tall - and I find it makes me look very short waisted while it tends to elongate me everywhere else which is good. I really do love that dress. It is the 2nd most expensive one of all these dresses posted here too, unfortunately. About $200 out of my budget, but I will live. It also has a lace hem which is the most expensive to alter - about $300 just for the hem alone (well, if i get it altered where I buy it if I buy it where I found it).

On a logical level I know the dress is "just" somethin you wear and that it doesn't matter what the dress is, it's what you make of your day that counts. But, it is important to me to have a dress that makes me feel beautiful. I am struggling with the fact that none of the samples are made for my size/body type, so it's hard to wrap my head around throwing down over $1000 on a dress that does not look all that good on me. None of these makes me go "wow" in the photos. Though #1 is the fave at least in the pics. Before I compared all the photos, my 2 faves were actually dresses 4 and 5.

When I last tried on #4 I was sure that was the dress and I nearly ordered it then and there but thought I should try #5 one more time to be sure before doing that. I went home, looked @ the pics and thought it looked cheap in the pics. So started to have 2nd thoughts. It looked so elegant on when I looked in the mirror... but again, the photo doesn't show the whole dress, just part of it. It is $975 + 10% off if I alter it elsewhere once it comes in (they are overwhelmed w/ biz I guess).

I got back to try on Dress #5 today, and didn't like it nearly as much as I did the first time I tried it on - after having gained all that weight. It's a gorgeous dress in reality, but it just feels like it's way too much dress for me, it overwhelms me I find. I can take out layers of crinoline and it will be less poofy so that's a plus. And the last time I tried it on I felt like it really gave me a beautiful shape. in this pic you can't tell because it's not done up unfortunately so now I have a bad image in my head of what it really looks like.

I came home and compared all these pics against pics of Dress #1 and I really think from the pics anyway, that it is the best too. The store I tried on Dress 1 at is having a huge up to 80% off annual sale Jan 15-18 so I'll go and see if my dress will be on sale then. If it is, I will likely buy it. It's almost $1300 otherwise.

I still welcome all input though and look forward to getting more opinions so I can average them out in the end. I will be decidign in the next 2 wks.

Thanks again! :)

Oh!! I just realized in my last post I confused dresses #4 and #5. Oh well. You get my point. LOL

Rhonda - thanks. :)

All the pics in the first row plus the 1st photo in the 2nd row of pics are of the same dress - I labelled it Dress #1 in my original post. :) It's a Private Label by G dress - style #1350.

It just looks a little different in that photos because I turned and the train stayed in teh same place, making it look like a mermaid style dress (which is originally what I wanted but couldn't find any samples in that style that would fit over my massive hips LOL). :)

I like the first one the best (private label by G dress). Im soo feeling you on the holiday weight thingy. I asked my mom to please not make my favorite cookies because I have no will power when it comes to them and she did anyway.

I have to go with Dress 1 the Private label by G - Style 1350. I love how it give you a great hour glass shape, I mean doesn't everyone want one of those?? (ME ME ME) I also hear you on the holiday gain, dang family cooking, lol

I like 1st dress too but if the truth is you have yet to find a dress that you truly love then keep looking. Dont get put down by the sizes not fitting find the dress you love and go for it.

I didnt even try any dresses on I saw the dress I wanted in a magazine, got professionally measured and got it €1000 cheaper in the US so I ordered it online. Then I figured I might save money on everyone elses dresses too so got all theirs, all the shoes, my veil even my mom got her dresses online. We have to get them altered to fit right but other than that they are all perfect and exactly what we wanted. Couldnt be happier.

So I know the feeling of the dresses just not being "you" and I would never want a bride feeling she was picking the best of a bunch. You should feel out of this world in your dress so dont put yourself down just find the dress and go for it. I am working my ass off again after the holidays to lose extra weight and tone up, my wedding is 5 wks away! Oh the pressure LOL best of luck with it all ; )

Dress 4 (pic 11): "Anson" from the Blu by Enzoani 2009 collection was my favorite on you! I think everyone is picking the first dress cause you posted so many pictures of it! (Which makes me wonder if that is YOUR favorite...in which case, you DO look sooo hot in that one too..especially the last picture-picture #7!) Good luck deciding!

PS I hear ya on the holiday weight gain..bah..damn food! I'm getting on the treadmill on Monday! (after work)

I really like #5 the best... it's my favourite by far.  It accentuates your best features.

The first dress, in my humble opinion, makes you look bigger in the area than I think you really are!  

You look beautiful and perfectly preportioned in #5.

(Preportioned?  Proportioned?  How the heck do you spell that?  LOL!)

***that was meant to say "bigger in the HIP area than I think you really are...

sorry!

I like the Dress 4 (Pic 11)

I really like the 1st one the best!

$200 over your dress budget is not really a lot when you think about it in the long run. Don't become a two dress bride because you didn't want to pay $200 more the first time around. You can recoup that cost after the wedding by reselling the dress. Call around to all of the bridal shops in your area that sell Private Label by G. I know a bride who did this for a different designer, and she found her dress for $1400 cheaper at a shop a few hours away from her.

Also look into a seamstress who works out of his/her home. A lot of times these seamstresses are just tired of having a 9-5 seamstress job in a shop. You don't have to have the alterations done at the shop that you buy the dress at. Another question to ask is if the dress can be ordered in petite. Some designers don't advertise this fact. Good luck!

I think dress 5 is the most flattering on your figure, but it comes down to what you are comfortable in.

I personally think that #10 and #12-15 are beautiful on you. They are the most flattering. I am sorry that you have not had that "this is it" moment yet, hopefully soon!!

i like #5 best. I think it looks stunning on your figure! You're getting married about a week before me. I haven't even looked or tried on a wedding dress yet. eeek. haha.

Love the Private Label by G, and the Enzoani dress on you! I am partial to Enzoani though, I really love their dresses! I am having such a hard time too...I went dress shopping for the second time yesterday, and I have no idea what style I want...they are all so beautiful and look good ahh I have had the "wow" moment a couple times....I am an extremely indecisive person so I can see that this is going to be very difficult lol

wow ladies this feedback is great.... so confusing though. LOL

I should rephrase - it's not that I haven't had any "wow" moments... I fell in LOVE with each of these dresses in some way, shape or form, at the time they were ON me. The dresses posted here are, of all the ones I've tried on so far, the ones I liked the best, of all the ones I tried on. I just haven't had ONE particular "omg this is my dress - this is IT - this is the ONLY dress I want and I don't need to look any further" feeling... because I am always left feeling like there is something better out there. Natalie - I can totally relate to your indecisiveness. I am all ABOUT indecisiveness. *sigh*

I loved dress #1 when I had it on, but after seeing the photos (before getting photos of all the others), I had 2nd thoughts and thought I could do a lot better. I also looked at it online on the designer website and thought it was too traditional looking for me - I had wanted something more chic and couture looking. I love Watters & Watters, or Priscilla of Boston, Amsale, Enzoani, Jim Hjelm, Justina McCaffrey, Justin Alexander, etc. - i.e. high fashion style. ANd for the price of these other dresses which in my opinion aren't "as" impressive, I felt like I should have it!

Enzoani was the most couture style I've tried on so far but I'm not sure it does it for me - I think it makes me look very short and squat... I'm 5' tall and it's a LOT of skirt for me!

I loved Dress #2 when I tried it on, but no one else seems to think it's all that great. It also fit a little weird so probably wasn't made all that well. And, while I loved it at the time it was on, in the pics it really isn't the best I can do shape wise, for me.

I loved Dress #3 because of the boning in the corset bodice, and I love the gathers in the skirt, but it's too ball-gowny for my chic outdoor tent wedding. I'm not even considering that one, I just thought I'd throw in the pic to show another dress style on me. I think it does wonders for my figure but so do the others when they're actually done up properly. The problem is that none of the others actually ARE.

Dress 4 is the Enzoani dress. I LOVED this dress the first time I put it on, but I thought then too that it was too much skirt for me. It's pure dupioni silk and a stunning gown. But again it's very ballgown-y and maybe just too much dress for my chic outdoor wedding.

Dress 5 is the Jayne Louis and I absolutely fell in LOVE with this when I put it on... I loved the gathers in the skirt, it's such a modern design, and not too ornate. My problem w/ it is that it looks a bit cheap to me, and the style is more trendy than high fashion or couture, or even striking. I want to be striking and glamorous on my big day, but the right kind of glam for the occasion. It's so VERY hard to choose... !!! I don't want to look back in 15-25 years and say "omg I can't believe I wore that!" I want a look that is chic and appropriate for my outdoor wedding but which is still timeless and classic and which is flattering on ME. The mission continues...

Anson" - Blu by Enzoani

OK, I looked at your reasons along with all of the pics again. While #1 is a beautiful dress I understand that it does cut off your torso. I am short waisted and voluptuous as well ;) Take a look at my tips for good photographs.

I really love the last one on you (Jayne Louis). I am curious why you think it looks "cheap".  Can you explain? Do not feel like your dress needs tons of bling. My dress has no ornamentation, just lots of ruching but I get to go crazier with the accessories. I think that is classier than a gown with lots of beading. I do love the bling that it has though!!

I'm four months out and just starting dieting like crazy. I'm not huge but I have had people ask me if I am pregnant every now and then (I'm NOT!)

Jen

i like the first one best. looks great on you!!

@ JMathews - thx - I'll definitely check out your tips. :) I need them!! I am SO fearful of the "arm wings" and the double chin shots... OMG that is what I fear the most. I NEVER wear tanks out in public when I am going anywhere I care about what I look like so wearing a strapless gown is going out on a limb for me, but I just  haven't seen any dresses with sleeves that I like, so I'm going for the strapless look anyway and trying to work on my arms (and whole body) in the process. I'll deal. :)

Why do I think the last dress looks cheap? I dunno... the fabric in comparison. It's like a shiny taffeta... not a luxurious feeling fabric at all and the draping looks like it hangs wrong (mind you it's a sample that's probably been tried on many times but still)... and the beading under teh bust is pretty but very chunky. I love simple dresses like from Watters&Watters, Priscilla of Boston, Amsale, Justina McCaffrey, Justin Alexander, etc. - but this just doesn't even TOUCH those in my opinion. It's just sort of reminds me of a knock off look of a designer dress instead of the real thing (though I could just be thinking that because I know it's a private brand exclusive to the store I found it at, not a "designer" dress per se).

I do question if, once altered to fit ME that dress #1 would not cut me off the way it does in that photo. That one I have on in the photos is laced up but it's wide open in the back with my rear hanging out (no, I wn't be posting photos of that LOL) because it didn't fit, so was cutting me in the waist area hence the attention to the short waist. I think if it fit me properly it might not do that the way it does in these photos though I am not SURE.

Anyway more food for thought. Thanks again!!

I tried on Dress 1--or at least one just like it!  I didn't get it because I didn't have time for alterations (my wedding was only 3 months away)!

I love all the rouching (however you spell that world)--it is so slimming.  

I like both Dresses 1 and 5, but 1 is a tad more "princess like" with all the detail work on the bust.

When I went dress shopping i didn't really get the "wow" factor. apparently i was told that when i try it on i would know it was the one but yea ..NO that didn't happen. so i drove myself crazy because i had to order my dress. the one i did order  at the time i was just like.. yea ok whatever but ...i now love it and is satisfied with and now i can't wait till it comes in! i'm so excited!

HI there,

I never really wanted to be a princess bride - no ballgowns for me. I have always loved simple styles with GREAT, high quality details. For me, taht doesn't mean I need to have a ton of beading, or that I don't need any beading at all. I love some dresses that have beading and love others that have none at all. I want to be sexy, chic, stylish and glamorous on my wedding day but still look like a bride of course. :)

Just not sure any of these really fits the bill. It KILLS me that the dresses I want are not available in sample sizes that I can get ON. The best I can do is hold them up to me. LOL Or put them over my head and have them bunch up all around my mid-section so I can't even see what it actually looks like. I end up looking like I got into a fight w/ a curtain. LOL

I LOVE the dresses that NAtaliePink picked out and tried on. She and i have the exact same taste. :)  I LOVE the lace dress she tried on in pic 1 on her page. STUNNING.

Nat, you will be a beautiful bride! :)

JulyBride, thanks for the comment. :) What did you end up getting? Post pics if you have them, or describe. What brand was it?

I love the "ella rosa" dress. It is so beautiful, and it drapes very well on you! I also like the "Anson" dress too!

Don't let your body hang ups get you down.  Try to remember that your FH loves you how you are, and its not going to change because its your wedding day.  That being said, we are women, and that's what we do.  Post holiday clothing shopping is rarely a fun task for any woman!    
 Decide what you don't like in a dress and weed out any with those qualities and for with the qualities you do like, begin looking for dresses that compile those qualities.  From there you should be able to find one you love!  For example, if corset feels good and you like detailed beading with an a-line, go for dresses that only have those qualities!  Either way I think if you haven't found a dress that you really love you should keep looking.  Go with what feels most comfortable, and ignore what other people say looks good- you are your own best judge on what feels right, so go with your gut.

I like #3 or #5 I think they are the best.   They both fit you in a different way, and are both beautiful.

Okay so I am totally confused about which dress is which but i personally prefer the dress in the 10th picture on you.  I think it looks very slimming.  Plus, dresses with folds and horizontal lines across the stomache may make you look larger than you would want to on your wedding day.  The dress in picture 10 has a corset built in and has a straight front on it which does not add any bulk to your body.  I think it would look beautiful on you on your wedding day.  Good luck deciding which one you want...you will look gorgeous no matter what...it is your wedding day and all brides look pretty on their wedding day!

You rock that Jayne Ella Rose dress!!

Hi girls, thanks for the new comments, "soontobenovakowski" and "littlelady93".

Ok - for those who are confused (soontobenovakowski), each picture has a caption under it, stating the name of the designer for that dress. In the original post, I also state the name of each designer, next to a number (i.e. #1, #2, etc.). For example, #1 is Private Label by G. Though there are about 7 photos of this dress in a row, you'll note it is the first dress in all the photos shown, which is why it's #1.

The 2nd dress to be shown, though it doesn't start to be shown until picture #8 and continues through picture #9, is the Ella Rosa dress, and so I named it dress #2 (and again, this corresponds to the list of dress names and numbers I included in my original post, where you'll see that Dress #2 is listed as Ella Rosa with "Pics 8-9" listed beside it to help you correlate which is which.

@LittleLady93 - thanks for the post, unfortunately I'm confused as there is a Jayne Louis dress (I named it Dress 5 in the list in the original post as it's the last to be shown in the pics at left) and there is an Ella Rosa dress, which was shown in pics 8-9, which I called Dress #2 in the original post. Which one did you like the best? You said you liked the Jayne Ella Rose the best. Can you clarify? :) Thanks!

I really appreciate the input ladies. :)

private label by G for sure. Its very becoming.

i love dress #1. it is very flattering on you and very elegant.

i vote for dress #1

dress 1...it's so pretty on you!

oops I meant Ella Rose lol not jayne ella rose

I think dress 5 looks the nicest on you

Well ladies, I have found yet another dress that I like better than I think any of these other ones. Wanted to share it here and see what you think! I have added it in a new post. :)

Thanks again for all your thoughts and comments!

Definitely like this new Jayne Louis dress the best (minus the bra straps) !
go buy it I say!:)