Honest opinions needed

[sinderstorm]

My brother is getting married in October, and today I sucked it up and went dress shopping. I think I found the dress I want, but thought I'd post it here to make sure I'm not making a dreadful mistake. The red is the size that fit correctly, but the brown is the color I'm ordering (bride's orders only the bridal party is wearing red for pics :rolleyes: )

I'd be pairing it with a pink shawl in the color/material of the ribbon as the wedding is going to be in Alaska. Also- if you think I should keep it, should I do chocolate, pink, or another color of shoe?

Brutal honesty- will this be ok or should I keep looking???

FWIW, the bridesmaids dresses are all burgundy, which is why I can't wear the red, which I love.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/sinderstorm/SSPX0015.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/sinderstorm/SSPX0018.jpg

[kindermom]

I like the brown dress. Totally cute. I would wear it with a brown shoe but I am anal about shoes matching. As for shawl color, I am not sure. It will be interesting to hear what others say.

[laura]

I think it's cute. I'm not sure for shoes, maybe gold? I'm not sure how easy it would be to match that brown, and I'm kind of anal about things matching, but that's just me. I would lean toward saying matching your shoes to the shawl isn't a bad idea, but I think pink shoes could go easily awry.

ETA: I don't really think GOLD, but I was thinking something metallic. Hello, I meant bronze! Sorry - I've been staring at spreadsheets too long today!

[Fenway]

Really cute dress! I say brown shoes and pink shawl to match the ribbon.

[ginastorm]

My SIL wore the same dress to a wedding last month. It's a very cute dress and it looks nice on you.

I wonder if you could find some brown and pink shoes, or would that be too matchy-matchy?

[greenbunny]

Aw, you look so happy in the red dress, and miserable in the brown one! That sucks that you can't get red.

Maybe a shoe in the shade of whatever shawl you choose? I think bronze could work, like a PP said. Is the ribbon removable? Maybe if you can't figure something out, you could replace it with another color sash from a fabric store?

I definitely like the peep toe pump style with the kicky, swingy skirt.

[maplekitty]

I personally do not like the tie at all. I think it cuts your waist in half and really isn't all that flattering. The style of dress, however looks lovely on you. Are you *in* the wedding? or doing something in the wedding?

The bride is going to get a rude awakening when *someone* may show up at the wedding, god forbid, wearing red! *gasp* :p

Do *you* like the chocolate brown? It's unfortunate you can't wear the red one, since you like it so much. What other colours does the dress come in?

If you go wtih the chocolate brown, I agree that a metallic shoe, in a broze colour would look best!

[wendalah]

Hmmm, is there any way you can change the pink ribbon? I like the dress, but my eye keeps being distracted by the pink ribbon. (It didn't bother me as much on the red dress). I think if you had a brown ribbon to match the dress, you could do a metallic champagne gold sandal and a camel or beige wrap.

[villanelle75]

I agree with Wendy. I think the pink on the red dress looks okay but I don't love it on the brown. I think I'd buy a metalic shoe adn replace the ribbon with something else, possibely in a slightly lighter brown or something that coordinates with the shoe/wrap color.

[GeekGirl]

I say to hell with it - wear the red. It looks fantastic on you! The bride just needs to put her big girl panties on and realize that while she may be able to dictate what her BMs wear, she can't dictate what everyone else wears too.

You could always compromise and say you won't be in any pictures. :D

[prudies]

I'm sorry to say this, but I don't think the halter is flattering on you. You have a cute figure, but the halter sort of exagerates your arms. I'd go for something with a similar skirt but with a strapless or thin straps on the top with a little cardigan.

[tenofcups]

I also don't think it's the best cut for your body. It might just be that it needs to be altered, but the halter seems to be gaping on the sides (right under your armpits) and gives a wide appearance to your top. And the tie is an awkward position and just kind of bisects your body (truthfully I'm not really sure a ribbon in that position would be flattering to any body style except perhaps stick-thin with no bust). It sounds like you're anxious to get a dress, but I think you could find something a lot more flattering to you. Also, it looks like that pic was taken in a wedding shop -- you might have better luck in a regular department store or boutique.

[tenofcups]

Sinderstorm, I seem to remember that you posted a beautiful silvery gray long dress a couple of months ago that you were considering for this wedding. I remember it because I thought it was so beautiful! I checked it out to see if it came in burgandy for a wedding I was just in, but no such luck. Did you ever order that one to try?

[sinderstorm]

Queen- I did order it, but it wasn't flattering at all, so I returned it. Too bad, it was a beautiful dress.

I'm going to keep it in mind, but keep looking. I have about 10 days before I really would need to order it from David's, and Nordstrom had several on their website that really appealed to me, so I'm heading down to Denver today to check them out and see if I find something I like better there.

[Cricket4]

Can I make another ribbon suggestion? This may just be me, but I'm LOVING the wider, sash style ties going on these days, and I think that dress would look great if you got a fabric in a contrasting color, and had a seamstress cut it into a wider *swath* and did something like that.

This dress makes me drool every time I see it
http://www.jessicamcclintock.com/wcsstore/jmcstore1/IMAGES/52466F.JPG

It even has the halter neck and the a-line skirt, just like your dress. I think it would complement it nicely. Maybe not quite that wide, but something more substantial than that little ribbon would make it less bridesmaid-y, more up-to-the-minute stylish, and would be really attention catching in any color or pattern you wanted. Maybe a heavy bronze taffeta? I wouldn't do satin, but something with a little teeny bit of stiffness to it, like a taffeta.

[nic]

It's a very pretty dress but I like the red much better. I agree with the poster above, the bride really has no say in what color the guests wear. I'd order the red dress, it's not as if you'll be wearing white afterall.

[prudies]

We all know the bride should have no say, but why piss her off? This is your SIL, right?

[sinderstorm]

yep, she's my FSIL, and I won the "DH isn't in the BP, so why in the hell do we HAVE to get him a $135 tux rental when he has a perfectly good suit" argument, so I feel like I should let her win this one. I know Emily Post would side with me, but I'm siding with keeping peace in the family.

[wendalah]

I agree with Prudies. Why piss the SIL off? FWIW I don't think the red is that much better than the brown. They're both a nice color.

[nic]

wendalah & prudies, you're absolutely right, I was just being grouchy.

There are so many beautiful dresses out there, I'm sure you'll find something great.