I wouldn’t wear the jacket with this dress, so only look at it without the jacket. I like the lace and subtle sequins, but am not crazy about the trumpet bottom. In the petite size (I’m barely 5"4"), the dress is too short! I’d have to go barefoot for it to work, but the rest of it fits well. In the regular size, the armholes are a little large and there’s some gapping, so that would need to be altered.
This dress is very form-fitting (I could carry it off), but I keep readjusting the neckline and I wouldn’t want to do that the day of the wedding. I’m not sure if lined jersey would be too warm in upstate NY in late August. There’s also a strange bump along the bra line in the back on a seam where 4 layers of fabric come together. I’m also not sure if the dress is MOG appropriate.
DH prefers the RL dress, but admits he’s not a fashion expert. A friend prefers the Alex Evenings dress. She thought the RL dress was nice, but not nice enough for the MOG.
I’m looking for a long dress in navy, sleeveless or cap sleeves (not strapless), no slits, not overly beaded/sequined (I’m not the glitzy type and I’d probably look overdressed), simple lines.
I’ve been checking stores and websites, but I feel like I need fresh eyes since I’ve been looking at the same dresses over and over.
The two you selected are very nice. You have to be comfortable in whatever dress you select. I think I’m leaning toward the first one more (the Alex Evenings dress–without the jacket), however both are lovely.
I actually just tried on a short Patra dress at Macy’s this morning. Something I would have never tried on by looking at it on the hanger, but the dress has great reviews on-line and it was so comfortable! I ordered two in two different colors and will decide which one to keep…
I think you picked two real nice contenders…go with comfort & style!
I gotta say that I really like the Patra cap sleeve dress from cookies first link and my-3-sons link.
Wear what makes you feel comfortable…sitting, standing,walking, dancing. I was at a wedding this weekend and the MOB wore a full length matte sequined dress and the MOG had on a knee length sleeveless navy dress with white trim. Both ladies looked great.
Of the two I like the RL the best…but if you are fooling around with any part of the dress now, I wouldn’t buy it. However, the first one is quite lovely and and i love the peek lace at the top. I would definitely get it and then just keep looking. If you can’t find anything else you love more within 2 months, then go get the arms altered.
Well, 2 of you have chosen the same Patra dress. I can’t recall if I’ve actually tried that one on, but I’ll look for it at the store tomorrow or order it online. Any idea if it runs small or large? I’ve been ordering 2 sizes of every dress and my credit card bill is getting ridiculous.
My only issue with that dress is my psychological aversion to chiffon. When I got married, my dress had chiffon, and so did my mother’s, MIL’s, and MOH’s. I don’t want to look like my mother (even if I’m older than she was at my wedding) or relive 1979. It’s purely psychological.
Is the venue going to be air-conditioned? (assuming that it is indoors)
Late August evenings in upstate NY–how far upstate?–could be blazing hot or beginning to feel a bit of nip in the air. I would want to have some kind of wrap, probably a silk shawl or pashmina, available just in case, but I am not a bare arms person.
If it is hot and humid, I think that clinging lined jersey would be torture.
I like the Patra cap sleeve dress that chocchip and my-3-sons have linked to.
I know you said you don’t want a slit, but I really like this dress (you have to look at the zoom-in on the bodice):
Consolation - I really like the bodice on that dress, but that slit is really high up. My body is pretty good for someone my age, but my legs, not so much.
The wedding is in the Syracuse area. The ceremony takes place outdoors at 5:30; the reception is indoors with A/C. And we’ll be taking pictures outdoors before the ceremony. I appreciate your warning on wearing clingy jersey. And I plan to have a wrap, no matter which dress I choose.
I agree with you, gosmom, on chocchipcookie’s expertise at MOB/MOG dresses.
I’m pretty sure I’ve tried on the tiered dress in post #4. I didn’t like it on me, altho I have a friend who wore a dress like that to her d’s wedding and looked very nice in it.
Let me throw in my 2 cents. I would avoid Alex Evenings dresses b/c they are too ubiquitous. As the MOf…, you would want to be somewhat unique! How about something of a bit less beaten path?
shellfell, I don’t like the backs of either of the dresses in your post #15. I think you would have to wear a strapless bra, which would not be very comfortable and are rarely flattering, IMHO. The RL one looks kind of juvenile, for some reason, and the other one looks kind of cheap. To my eye, anyway.
I am not crazy about either one but between the two the RL is better. Agree with consolation on the other one. Do you have a budget for the dress (and if so do you want to stick to it?)
I was married mid August in Syracuse. It was quite warm - but it also can be cool-ish and damp.
