Help me find a dress for groom''s dinner

[melpla]

My FMIL is hosting a "groom''s dinner" for our families the night before our wedding (which is June 1), since we are not having an actual rehearsal for the wedding. The dinner is going to be at a Japanese restaurant. The restaurant is one where most people do dress up, but not super dressy; it''s the kind of place where the chefs cook the food in front of you.

I haven''t been there in like 15 years, so I don''t know exactly what it''s like inside. I do know that kids go there before prom, etc. My FMIL is totally in charge of this dinner. Anyway, I am having the hardest time picking out a dress. My FMIL said she''s going with a black and white theme, which just means that the favor boxes she''s put together for the dinner are white with black ribbon, or vice versa. Not necessarily for that reason, I was thinking about wearing a black and white dress. I want something that is romantic and a bit sexy, but also tasteful enough to wear around our families (no super plunging necklines or anything). I''m 33, so I want something young, but not TOO young, around 5''8" and quite slim. Also have dark hair and pale skin. I could go with either knee length or long...

I''ve found only one dress so far that I kinda like. I like the halter look. This dress is a bit more than I wanted to pay; I was hoping to find something for under $150. But what do you think of the dress. There are some closeups of it here

Do you have any other ideas for dresses? I seriously need help! I''m getting burned out on the wedding decision stuff

 

[SarahLovesJS]

I love that dress!

Here are some I found at Nordstrom:

Cute Green Dress

Neckline might be a little too low, but I love this one

Love it

Pretty

Classy and sexy

Love this dress ETA: Sorry I didn't realize this last one was way out of the pricerange I just got too excited about it! Haha.

Do you like any of these?

 

[Sabine]

I''ve found a few at Macy''s under budget...

All black

Might be too short

don''t know how you''d feel about a bow

another lbd

something more casual, maybe a little young

shirtdress style

love this one!

This one''s my favorite, but is definitely over budget

I hope all those links work!

 

[melpla]

Thanks for all these great suggestions! I really like the last ones you each posted, the Nicole Miller and the Ralph Lauren! Of course, they would be the most expensive

I''m still tempted to order the one I posted. I like it, but I wonder if the pattern is too busy. Does anyone else want to weigh in on whether you like it or not?

 

[CJ2008]

Hi dress twin!

I don''t really like the dress, I don''t know why. I feel like it''s too long and it''s a little too flowery/busy. Is that a dress that they carry in their stores, so you can try it on in person?

If you do decide to order it, let me know, I have a $25 off coupon from them!

 

[melpla]

Hi! Thanks for the honest opinion. I feel the same way about the dress, like maybe it''s too long and too busy. And I can''t try the dress on, because they don''t have a store near where I live...

Why is this so hard!?

 

[melpla]

By the way, Claudinam, I''ve been meaning to ask you how you plan to wear the sash that comes with our wedding dress. Are you wearing it (I can''t remember if it''s detachable), and if so, how are you tying it? I don''t really want to tie it in a bow...but I''m not sure what else to do with it.

 

[MMM]

i think the pattern is a little overwhelming. especially if you are petite.

i did try on a dress at macys just yesterday that was quite similar to that one but a little more subtle patterning. it was almost the exact same cut (a halter v neck and to the floor, and flowy). the pattern for the top looked very similar to the pattern on the dress posted, but then the fabric changed right under the seaming to all black which then gradually transitioned back into a floral at the bottom. wow - i just did a really bad job of describing that! hah!! anyways, its not online but it was in the store. so, i guess the point is to shop around a little. i think you can do better!! : )

 

[CJ2008]

I know, it''s such a pain when you can''t find something you like. You still have a little bit of time, so keep trying. But -- it may be smart to just order this dress to see it in person? You may end up loving the way it looks on you.

I hate bows. You know, the couple of times I tried the dress on I put it to the back, but I''ve also wondered if there are other options. I''m supposed to have my fitting/tailoring done the weekend of April 25th. So I''ll practice a few different things that day and get back to you. Actually, maybe we should even ask on here? Do you have your dress at home, so that you can post some pictures with different options? (mine''s at my sister''s, 2 1/2 hours away)

Did you find your shoes yet?

 

[melpla]

I''m going to call tomorrow to schedule my fitting/alterations ASAP. The dress needs to be shortened for me a little bit. I''ll ask them about ways to wear the sash and take some photos to post then.

I did get my shoes. I''ll post them here for you to check out. I went with something simple that wouldn''t snag the lace on the dress.

I''m going to keep looking for a groom''s dinner dress. There''s no good stores where I live, so it''s a pain to not be able to try things on easily. Thanks for all the ideas, everybody!

 

[CJ2008]

Mine needs to be taken in (I went a size bigger to make sure it didn''t pull at the hips, so it does need to be taken in a little bit), DEFINITELY needs to be taken in at the bust, and shortened. It would be GREAT if you would post some pictures with the sash worn in different ways.

These are the shoes I bought, they''re being dyed right now. I hope I made the right decision and that the rhinestone thing on the top doesn''t pull on the dress. But after MONTHS of searching for just the RIGHT shoe and not finding it, I started to feel like I was running out of time. I didn''t buy them before because David''s Bridal doesn''t allow returns, exchanges only. But these were exactly what I wanted, (a peep toe d''Orsay style), they''re actually very pretty, (they probably copied the Manolo Sedarabys, which are gorgeous), were available in wide, and they''re not too high. So I just ended up going with them.

 

[VRBeauty]

I think the dress you posted is a bit matronly to be a special occasion dress for someone your age. I mean... I'd feel comfortable wearing that to a church dinner, and I'm wayyyy older than you

. But I probably wouldn't choose it, unless the church was having a luau-themed dinner....

I love

that Ralph Lauren strapless number that Sabine posted! You'd definately stand out as the bride-to-be for the groom's dinner, but you'd also be able to use it later for a variety of other special occasions.... like on your honeymoon, or for your first anniversary dinner. Could you justify the extra cost on the basis of the other ways you'd be able to use that dress?

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=301398&CategoryID=5449

 

[CJ2008]

I hadn''t checked out the dresses the others posted, but when I saw the last post by Minims I had to go and check out the RL dress...

I LOVE IT!

What a beautiful dress, and she''s right, you would stand out AND you could wear it for all kinds of other occasions! Do you already own shoes you could wear with it, maybe you can justify the extra cost by not having to buy shoes for it?

 

[melpla]

cladinam--I love your shoes! I like that style a lot. They''ll look great with the dress.

I do really like the Ralph Lauren dress, but I''d have to get shoes and a strapless bra to wear with is as I don''t have what I''d need to go with it already. So, cost may be prohibitive. I''ve sent the pic to my fiance though to see what he thinks... thanks again!

If anybody has another other suggestions, let me know

 

[Missrocks]

Hi,

I don''t know if these are your style, but I''ve tried both of them on at the BCBG store. Last time I checked, they were on the sale rack at the store and have also found them on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/354-BCBG-WHITE-SILK-BURN-OUT-LONG-HALTER-DRESS-NEW-0_W0QQitemZ360036402191QQihZ023QQcategoryZ63861QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


I loved this one on! Ignore the "v" in the picture on the model. As you can see in the pictures shown of the actual dress at the bottom of the listing, it is not nearly deep as shown (I think it is a different version of the dress on the model) I tried this one on and found it very flattering.

http://cgi.ebay.com/358-BCBG-BLACK-WHITE-DEEP-V-RUCHED-PLEATED-DRESS-NWT-2_W0QQitemZ250228716691QQihZ015QQcategoryZ63861QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[VRBeauty]

Here are some other options:

http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2083104241&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1217&N=1119&Nao=360&Ns=Price%7c0%7c%7cProduct%2bCode%7c1&Nu=Product+ID

Slightly over budget, but really cute:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2980892/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014133?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014133&P=1


Pretty but not black & white:

http://www.jessicamcclintock.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&productId=130240&categoryId=10327&subcatname=Party%20Dresses&spage=1&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10317

http://www.jessicamcclintock.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&productId=130230&categoryId=10327&subcatname=Party%20Dresses&spage=1&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10317

White house black market:

http://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/browse/product.jsp?colorFamily=&productId=300110529&subCatId=&catId=cat210002&fromSearch=&inSeam=

And as an aside, provided here for entertainment value only, Jessica M suggestst that it might be appropriate for a wedding guest to wear this little number

:

http://www.jessicamcclintock.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&productId=132807&categoryId=10327&subcatname=Party%20Dresses&spage=1&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10317

 

[Fancy605]

What sorts of stores do you have near you where you could go try on dresses.

The WHBM dress you posted is pretty in person on some people. I think it overwhelms others though.

 

[sna77]

2 words for a rehersal dinner in June: Lilly Pulitzer.


I like:
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446181905&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574492704866&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474399545537&bmUID=1206927152670&ev19=2:5


also this one:
http://shop.inthepinkonline.com/product/943-dexter-dress-silk-?tab=ladies

 

[sna77]

Dug up a picture... My FI... from my sister''s rehersal dinner last summer... Lilly dress... Especially for spring / summer i think its the perfect dressy, but not-too dressy dress... Granted we grew up summering on Cape Cod so we''re probably biased... haha

 

[melpla]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I''m going through and bookmarking several of them.

There are literally no good stores where I live. I''d need to drive an hour or so to find good stores, which is an option, but things are just so busy now up until the wedding.

 

[CJ2008]

Date: 3/30/2008 5:13:26 PM
Author: melpla
cladinam--I love your shoes! I like that style a lot. They''ll look great with the dress.

So glad you liked the shoes! Thanks!

 

[Stephanie]

Melpla - I hope that I am not too late to weigh in on the dress that you posted. I am not fond of that dress. I tried it on the moment it came in the store (I work at a WHBM store) and wasn't that impressed. We will get others as the season progresses. Also, the stores get items in that are never posted on the site so it may help just to drop in, if you can. Some of the others that were posted look wonderful (of course, it seems that all the Psers know where to look.)

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_dynSessConf=-5938811483933580339&id=833021&parentid=APP_DRESS_SOLID&pushId=APP_DRESS_SOLID&popId=APP_DRESSES&sortProperties=%2BmarketingPriority%2C-saleDate&navCount=25&navAction=poppushpush&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=bla

http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=301&langId=-1&storeId=301&productId=501499768&N=1000894&searchUrl=%2Fendeca%2FEndecaStartServlet%3FN%3D1000894&R=02635452 A smaller pattern would be less overwhelming

http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=301&langId=-1&storeId=301&productId=501515736&view=20&No=140&N=1000894&searchUrl=%2Fendeca%2FEndecaStartServlet%3Fview%3D20%26No%3D140%26N%3D1000894&R=02791734 I love the color of this dress, especially for pale skin

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jhtml?id=prod78054181&catId=cat301190 a little out of your price range, but it is such a perfect dress. It comes in 8 colors and the style is flattering to everyone

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jhtml?id=prod78054181&catId=cat301190 love the fabric
http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=15560&No=45&pCategoryId=101&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_180&N=1200003&Nty=1&categoryId=180&defaultColorNameFromCategory=Meadow%20Green&defaultSizeTypeFromCategory=Misses

 

[Sabine]

I really love that first dress from Dillards that BIH posted!

 

[melpla]

Stephanie--you''re not too late. Thanks for sharing your experience with the dress I posted. I''m not going to order it, since I can''t try it on in person first.

Thanks everyone for all these new suggestions. Some of these stores, like Ann Taylor, I hadn''t even thought of, and they''ve got really cute things at good prices!

To be honest, I ordered this inexpensive dress from Gap.com this morning. I''m not sure if I''ll like it or not...it''s not as dressy, though the fabric does have a bit of silk mixed with the cotten. It was the only style so far my fiance said looked "like me" so I thought I''d try it. I have a hard time defining my style. Other people seem to know what looks like me, but I don''t! This dress is all black though...I thought maybe I could dress it up with some cute peep toe heels in silver and nice accessories. I am still looking at the ones you guys have posted in case this one doesn''t work out. Thank you so much!!! You guys are awesome.

 

[CJ2008]

melpla - I actually like the Gap dress a lot...let us know how it goes when you get it.

 

[FrekeChild]

I like the GAP dress a lot too! Very pretty!

 

[Stephanie]

The Gap dress looks great! And would work perfectly with the white and black theme that has been chosen. Even if you wanted to stand out a little, with that dress you could do some colored accessories instead of silver.