I shop almost 100% online. Sometimes I will buy online and pick up in a store but not very often. Sizing for women has always been all over the place. I always envied my H who could walk into any store and grab his pant size off a rack and head directly to the register. Also, men are afforded a variety of numeric pant lengths, where women are confined mainly to arbitrary lengths of “petite”, “regular” and “tall”.
I’ve seen a lot of discourse online about “vanity sizing” for women - brands that purposely undersize their clothing so women feel thinner than they are by being able to purchase a smaller size. Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of sizing help from content creators who have my approximate build and who try on and model clothes from brands I like. I’ve learned that I have been buying clothes in larger sizes than I should be, and with some brands, I can even size down 2 sizes. It’s been eye-opening.
I will only buy from retailers with an easy return/exchange policy. I always check it before I hit “buy”. I’m also very brand loyal. When I find a brand whose fit I like and is consistent with their sizing, I will repurchase from them.
For instance I purchased a dress from Amazon recently. I am not a person who buys much from Amazon but this dress caught my eye.
It was featured on many influencers. I saw it on my various feeds, so I was influenced.
Amazon said I was a particular size. You buy this size and this is what we recommend
Came yesterday. It’s tight in the waist. It would probably be more comfortable in the next size up.
Do I return and size up? What if the size up and its now too roomy? Maybe I should keep the size I have and hope that the waist feels more comfortable while I’m wearing it, it’s only a touch too small. Do I just return and forget about the dress? That may be the option I go for.
Not sure if this is the right place but I’m stumped on what to wear.
Got an invite to my niece’s wedding with attire indicated. The preparty the evening before wants cocktail attire - “show us your sleekest, sassiest, night out, style” and the wedding is formal “Floor length of course! Dress to impress! Rich fabrics! Stunning solids! Wonderful colors!” Ugh. I’m a short gray-haired lady, not overweight but with boobs and a butt. I really liked my MOB dress and would wear that but it’s a dark color which is not what was shown in the dress suggestions. Also, the only cocktail attire I’ve ever worn is black. Unlike my sisters who had corporate jobs requiring a closet of very nice clothes, I’ve been in scrubs my entire career. I know no one will care what some aunt wears but for once I’d like to NOT look out of place. HELP PLEASE!
I’d wear your MOB dress for the wedding. I’m reading “Stunning solids!” “Wonderful colors!” as an OR situation not an AND situation.
As for the cocktail attire - I’d wear what is comfortable for you and just focus on cocktail attire for a night out part, and not worry about sleekest/sassiest. If you already have something that is in your closet that is black that you love, wear it and don’t give it another thought!
I don’t think you could ever go wrong with a nice black cocktail dress. The young folk interested in getting glitzy instagram photos together might want to get a little more sassy… methinks the detailed attire suggestions these days are mostly for them.
I can relate. I am struggling over a “colorful cocktail attire” requirement for a welcome party in late July on the coast of California. I’d love to wear black, but it feels wrong for the time of year, place and attire request. I’m a neutral color person and don’t reach for color. I’ll probably end up in navy, which I know is a copout. Trying not to overthink it since no one will care what I am wearing and the welcome party is just a 2-3 hour event. Like you though, I don’t want to look out of place. Also trying not to choose black for the wedding (black tie optional). The wedding is 100% outdoors. Maybe I am in the minority, but I hate dressing for weddings!
I was shopping at a mid-high end consignment shop last week out of town. I was looking at dresses and was holding up a cute dress (I bought it!) and another lady looking on the same rack, different size commented how much she liked it. She was there shopping for a dress for a wedding that had dress “stipulations” - I forget exactly but like “cocktail, floral, no black”. She was so annoyed to have to fit into a category and I don’t blame her! Appreciated that she was giving her best shot at a consignment shop and not spending big bucks to suit someone’s one-night fancy.
I’d look at a slightly brighter shade of blue if blues are your favorite colors. Something less structured, too. Not necessarily this particular one, but something along those lines.
“Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking." Remember that moment in the movie?
While I totally agree about not spending big bucks on a one day event, I’d appreciated the “cocktail, floral, no black” guidance. Which is way more helpful than “garden party glamour” or something like that. That guidance tells me that a short dress in non-black, brighter color, not necessarily floral is OK to wear at that event.
She may have said something more complicated - I can’t remember exactly. But in my book - maybe out of the norm - I cannot get over that we tell people how to dress for a wedding. I CAN NOT.
And I cannot get over the fact that some people have any difficulty ignoring the dress edict to wear whatever they want. No one tells me what to wear. Anywhere.
The question is, do they not ignore for fear for themselves not fitting in (so worrying about following the crowd) or do they fear upsetting the bridal couple/family???
In the spirit of this thread you can follow a trend or a request (like a wedding invite) and dress “young” or updated OR you can follow a trend or a request and just simply have bad taste in clothing or fit.
Just because there is a dress code doesn’t mean everyone will be fit for Instagram!!!
I haven’t had any problems dressing for weddings yet but perhaps it’s because I have yet to be invited to a wedding where the invitation has all kinds of stipulations on what to wear! Nor have I been invited to weddings that are in locations that require special attention - like certain footwear or outerwear. The weddings we have been to recently have been in more traditional settings - country club, hotel ballroom, etc. with the only requirements being a traditional “semi-formal,” “formal,” “casual” (second wedding, middle aged couple who got married in their backyard).
I would definitely hate dressing for a wedding if I was told to dress in a certain theme, color scheme, etc. Thankfully, we have yet to get an invitation like that. I am not a “themey” type person, have always hated costume parties, etc. so I’d probably decline an invitation that forced me to dress in something I was not comfortable in.
Generally, the weddings I’ve attended, the men wear “aloha shirts” and women wear short or long dresses that would be suitable for a nice dinner out or going to the theater. Most weddings we’ve attended don’t provide much guidance on attire and I honestly don’t think the couple care that much. I do ask the parents of the bride/groom if I have questions but generally they just expect people to dress tastefully and not particularly for “instagram.”
Aloha shirt would be my husband’s preferred wedding guest attire! We’ve observed a few Hawaiian wedding from afar when staying in hotels in Hawaii and wouldn’t have hesitated to attend! The guests all looked lovely ! There was always a mix of muumuus, sundresses, and sparkly dresses! Very festive.
Lonely or lovely @BunsenBurner ? Anyway, my H will on occasion wear a suit, specifically if requested, but otherwise, it’s WHICH aloha shirt should he wear. Haha!
Remember that moment in the movie?