When I was looking for my MOG dress, I found these “obscure” sites. I don’t recall how “florally” they were but you might enjoy browsing.
Hale Bob
Spell and the Gypsy Collective
Oh I love, love those florals. If I were a bride, I’d have everyone in florals :-). The Anthropolgie bhldn are especially dreamy. Mathmom that is just funny about a bridesmaid “who never wears anything but black” LOL. I don’t know what you do with someone with such limited vision and color pallet but it sounds like your sil moved her at least a tiny inch off the dime in the right direction.
TJ Maxx online has a surprising selection of formal dresses. Some are extremely affordable. They also have designer gowns at a fraction of the price.
runnersmom, what is her usual style?
It never occurred to me that TJMaxx would have stuff online. I always think of them as odd lots.
Those BHLDN dresses are soooooo pretty.
Tailored, structured, solid colors. She’s a lawyer, her work “uniform” is a sheath dress and blazer or sweater. She does not have a lot of “formal” wear, but what she has is all black. Now, in her case, she is trying to go with the flow and embrace the floral request, but it’s been hard. She likes the BHLDN dresses, but with her chest and short waist they don’t look as fluid as they do on the models. I will take a look at the other sites and we will continue to look. Thanks for all the help.
@momofthreeboys, floral in theory is great, identical floral dresses would likely look great…7 different floral dresses with no rhyme nor reason to color or pattern is, to my mind, a recipe for disaster in pictures. My FDIL doesn’t care, so neither do I (not!), but I’m staying quiet as I am trying to do on all things I see differently.
I do think the floral dresses are so pretty!
The eighth time has proven to be the charm, in my case. Finally found, loved, and committed to this dress: https://www.amazon.com/Tadashi-Shoji-Womens-Sleeve-Embroidered/dp/B01NAQAUIE/ref=sr_1_24?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1498603782&sr=1-24&nodeID=1045024&psd=1&refinements=p_4%3ATadashi%2BShoji&th=1 I got it in navy from Macy’s for a really nice discount, but for some reason I can’t link to the photo on their website.
It’s at the tailor shop for hemming and I am so glad to be done and so grateful for the input and ideas on this thread. I’ve never spent more time or effort (to say nothing of money) on looking for a dress and it’s nice that everyone here is so supportive.
@frazzled1, congratulations! I know how much of a project it is to find the right dress!
@runnersmom, how about something like this? There are a few photos of women wearing the dress to give you an idea. www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/badgley_mischka/water_lilies_maxi_dress
How come your links don’t ever come through as…links?
How about this? It’s more fitted at the top but the bottom is floral and flowy. It appeals to me and her wardrobe sounds a lot like mine, as one attorney to another.
https://www.nordstromrack.com/shop/product/2076285/sl-fashions-banded-v-neck-maxi-dress?color=BLK-RED
@ECmotherx2, that’s beautiful and I may forward the link, though she’s not too interested in Rent the Runway for this event because she’s picky, and if it doesn’t work, we’re sort of out of luck. I know she sounds like a nightmare, but she really isn’t. She just wants to look and feel good at her brother’s wedding. The dress in your link, @HImom, would not be that attractive on her because of what appears to be a figure-hugging tight fitted bodice. She also won’t wear black for this out of deference to the bride.
She loved this dress - http://www.bcbg.com/en/brea-lace-gown/LGB66L12-D24.html?dwvar_LGB66L12-D24_color=D24#start=26 - and it looked great on her, but for the deep “v” front and back. I picked it up at 40% off the sale price and am taking it to the seamstress to see if she can back the illusion on the front and create a similar effect in back so she can wear a bra. It can be returned for 45 days, so we’ll see if we can make this work.
I’ve never shopped at Dillard’s but they have quite a few, found by searching “floral gown.”
and more!
I really like the bottom 3 dresses linked above. Sorry the dress I link would not work for her. It’s a challenge. I do like the dress you bought and hope the dressmaker is able to use netting or lace nicely so that she can use the dress you found @runnersmom. It is quite lovely and perhaps could be used for other events she may have as well.
I missed your post with the dress your D likes. It’s lovely, and it should be very easy for a tailor to make the illusion more opaque.
I hope so - I realized that the bigger problem will be the back, but I’m convinced a good tailor can come up with a solution.
How about taking her to a really good “foundations” store…with the dress…and see if they can fit her with a bra that will work? My bet…they can.
runnersmom, I bet she’d look spectacular in this:
A different take on floral?
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374306619730&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524447104513&R=628709313452&P_name=David+Meister&N=306619730&bmUID=lPK__pC
This is really pretty. And it is silk.
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374306619730&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524447096206&R=882969626237&P_name=Shoshanna&N=306619730&bmUID=lPK.m1S
@Consolation, the first dress you linked is $1,300. Ouch. It is beautiful, though.
@runnersmom: There are bras that could work with that dress the way it is. See, for example: https://www.barenecessities.com/fine-lines-low-back-plunge-bustier-rl029a_product.htm?pf_id=FineLinesRL029A