Dress help needed

Hi guys,

I really need some help choosing my dress, never thought it would be this hard. I know the style I like, but the exact combo of what I want doesn't seem to exist.

Basically I want a fit & flare style: fitted bodice stopping just below the hips, so not too mermaidy (i.e hugging all the way round the bum, cause it makes my bum look huge).

I want the skirt to be fairly big & full, slightly princessy. The shape I want is like this one: Maggie Sottero Hunter:

The trouble with Hunter is I really didn't like the material (Taffeta), also I think it's too plain. I want more detail on the bodice and down the train.

Sooooo hard. Does anyone have any suggestions of dresses that fit this description?

Thanks guys 

Maybe these? 

Jasmine 141055 - http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/jasmine-collection/f141055/ (you could always get the top altered if you don't like it)

Enzoani Edinburgh - http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/blue-by-enzoani/edinburgh/

Benjamin Roberts 2251 - http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/benjamin-roberts/2251/

Fran x 

I didn't think I would go for taffeta either but I have because its so much lighter than the satin ones I tried on and given we're having a summer wedding I knew they would be too heavy to wear all day. But I did find the quality of taffeta used seemed to vary.

I also liked dresses that were fitted to the hip as they seemed to flatter my shape best. although I wasn't looking for a big skirt

This was my final 3-

Private Label by G - 1447

Maggie Sottero - Kirstin

Ronald Joyce - Isis (taffeta)

HTH 

L x 

This one is nice: http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/blue-by-enzoani/edson/

Not too mermaid-y, detailed bodice, and it's tulle and lace, so not taffeta!

This one, too: http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/blue-by-enzoani/elkhart/

This: http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/blue-by-enzoani/elista/

This one: http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/enzoani/gloria/

http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/st-patrick/ribadeo/

http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/true-bride/w972/

http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/chic-by-hollywood-dreams/ch013/

http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/benjamin-roberts/2304-2/

http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/enzoani/georgina/

http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/justin-alexander/8625/

http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-dresses/justin-alexander/8643/

There's lots of dresses with a dropped waist that's almost mermaid-y.

Hope this helped.

Sounds similar to what I've got, mine's Alfred Angelo 2329, I can't find a decent picture of it though - mine's ivory and doesn't have the patterned section that the pictures i found on google all seem to show! Also, the models always look grumpy, have no curves and do weird poses so dresses always look better in real life.

What I'd say is don't rule a dress out because it doesn't have the big skirt, this can be added by wearing a hoop under it. I'll be wearing a hoop under mine so I can move in it and it totally changed the look of the dress.

Also, have you tried dresses on yet? I thought I wanted a really simple sleek satin type dress before I tried anything on and I ended up going for something totally different!

I am literally drooling over that Justin Alexander 8643

Wow thanks guys, some lovely dresses there. I agree Justin Alexander 8643 is stunning, just trying to google if there any stockists in Surrey but can't seem to find any.

The Ronald Joyce is gorgeous 2b_MrsB, which dress did you go for in the end? 

Alfred Angelo 2329 is really unique, I love the rose bit, but I see what you mean, what is that pattern on it? i think models do make dresses look worse which is why is so hard to just google dresses. 

I went dress shopping again today....loved Allure 8917 which is more mermaidy than I originally wanted, what you reckon?

Trouble is quite expensive and over budget so not sure I can have it after all :-( 

I got the Ronald Joyce one in the end ......

Don't worry you'll find "the one " for you ...It took me a dozen different bridal shops and countless !! dresses but I found what I was looking for in the end.

Good Luck 

L x 

OK these are all based in the same shop, i drove past it today and they had a dress in the window that made me think of you.  Any of the below any good?

http://www.marklesley.co.uk/Mark-Lesley.html

AJP2 in this one

http://www.allisonjayne.com/pronovias.htm#

loads of the maggie sotero...she's got that cut you want!

http://www.allisonjayne.com/maggie_sottero.htm#

OK these are all based in the same shop, i drove past it today and they had a dress in the window that made me think of you.  Any of the below any good?

http://www.marklesley.co.uk/Mark-Lesley.html

AJP2 in this one

http://www.allisonjayne.com/pronovias.htm#

loads of the maggie sotero...she's got that cut you want!

http://www.allisonjayne.com/maggie_sottero.htm#

OK these are all based in the same shop, i drove past it today and they had a dress in the window that made me think of you.  Any of the below any good?

http://www.marklesley.co.uk/Mark-Lesley.html

AJP2 in this one

http://www.allisonjayne.com/pronovias.htm#

loads of the maggie sotero...she's got that cut you want!

http://www.allisonjayne.com/maggie_sottero.htm#

Bridal Room Horsell in Woking stocks Justin Alexander, and so does a shop in Bromley (but I didn't have the best experience trying on dresses there..) if you're in the east of surrey it's not too far, or up in London at London Bride.

It sounds like you've tried on a full mermaid dress and like that shape, though, but if you're still looking for the dropped waist, not-quite-mermaid, it looks like JA and Enzoani have the most options. 

I'm personally not a fan of the mermaid style, but I do think it looks good on some people, it's just a personal opinion, and based on my size 16 self (18 in a wedding dress!).  It's really difficult to know what these dresses will look like on a real person, though, as these models are damn near anorexic, and most brides won't have hips bones poking through the dress! 

love the allure one - it's stunning xx

Wow, loads of stunning designs but love the Allure one you recently tried on.  Gorgeous!