Lets play... help melissasue sort out her bridesmaid dress options

[AmberGretchen]

Hey Melissa - I can''t contribute anything re: the breastfeeding issue, however, as someone who is busty for her size (although probably not as much as your friend - I am 5''3" I wear about an 8 - although I''m getting closer to a 6 every day - and I have DDs), I can contribute from that perspective. I would say that anything with a v-neck or wrap/V neck will likely be flattering on her. Also, I think the bateau-neck dress could work because the black bow is a bit wider - I find that wider bows/sashes are much more flattering and when they hit at the actual waist (NOT on the hips) they do a good job of accentuating the curves without emphasizing overall size too much. Also, you could do something like that and if the neck/bust doesn''t look right on her, I bet a talented seamstress could make a slight V or some other modification that would make it fit her better but not make it too different from the other bridesmaids. Anyway, good luck and I hope that helps!

 

[flopkins]

whew- ok.

First of all, I want to play 'bridezilla' and just say that you are the bride. And no matter what, you are still the bride, and you get the final decision. period. It sounds like you have a lot of different body types and opinions involved, so no is going to be completely happy w/your choice, whatever it ends up being. If they are your friends, they will get over it.

But, of course, you want your bm to look good, and be relatively comfortable, etc... etc... so yes, take into consideration the preferences of your bm, just don't kill yourself trying to please everyone, bc it will be a miracle if it happens.

And, my vote is for the $93 dresses from netbride, or the first non-strapless one with the bow.

I like those two better than any of the others you posted, except for that one you said was super expensive. that one's actually my fav...

Good luck and keep us updated!

ETA: PS. DON'T LISTEN TO THE LADY AT THE SALON. There is no way it takes freaking 8 mo. to get bm dresses. You can have a baby in 8 mo ... almost. not a bm dress. It should tkae 4-6 TOPS. She's prob just trying to push a sale or something.

 

[Tybee]

PaulaW!
How beautiful! I agree that MelissaSue maybe should show that picture to her bridesmaids.
They all look so beautiful and happy!
Well done!

 

[JessesGrl]

Flopkins...they can take that long...my BM dresses took 7 months to come in!!!!

 

[MelissaSue]

PaulaW- Thanks sooo much for sharing those pics.. you and all of your bridesmaids look FANTASTIC in them. I definitely agree with you that strapless does look nicer on bigger girls that things with big straps or lots of fabric up top. There was a plus size bride on the knot, who originally had a dress that was a big thick halter strap dress, but it didn''t end up fitting her so Davids let her exchange it for a new dress, and she chose a strapless one and it looked 9000000 times better on her. Did all your BMs find strapless bras okay? Because I know a few years ago, back when my friend was a 34DD they were like impossible to find (shes a LOT bigger than a 34DD now.. ) I know Fredericks of Hollywood carries some, but I don''t know how good they are. I''m a Victorias Secret employee, so my general opinion of Fredericks is NOT high, but I must say that they are MUCH better at providing for larger chested women than VS


Thanks all for the comments/suggestions.. you are all super helpful. My shopping trip for tomorrow is off, because my sister couldn''t come with me tomorrow.. and I didn''t feel like going with just FSIL and FMIL... and I''d rather sleep, as it is 3AM and I am JUST getting in from my flight from NYC.. which I left for this morning at 4:40 am.. so I''ve been up for 23 hours straight, with about 2.5 hours of sleep before that! (it was a GREAT day trip, but the flight home was a nightmare!).. but maybe sometime next week.

I will add, that originally when I began my quest for BM dresses, I wanted something that "didn''t look like a bridesmaid dress" and to me, the bateau neckline dresses look exactly like BM dresses and not much else. I''m not opposed to straps or anything.. I just really don''t love the high necklines.. The pink one with the black ribbon is cute. I just think that its not THE dress for my bridesmaids.

So.. I havent really made much progress.
So far, the cheap dress.. which is Jordan (joanie g collection) 787.. wins, just by virtue of it being cheap and one of the only dresses we found for my friend to try on close to her size, but i know this new shop I found has the ballgown with the beaded waist.. (Jordan 1101.. $117 through netbride) so I want to have someone try it on.. Preferably not microscopic FSIL.

The last strapless dress I posted.. is so pretty.. and if it was a reasonable price, there would be no question in my mind that that was the dress we were getting, strapless or not.. BUT.. it is $191 through netbride ($270 from the bridal shop.. I nearly fainted).. None of my BMs have that kind of money.. especially not for a bridesmaid dress!

 

[glaucomflecken]

hey melissa

both mine and my girls dresses are by jordan and if you choose them i think you will be pleased, for the inexpensive price I am pretty impressed with the quality of the dresses!

 

[moremoremore]

Punchnpie- is that green dress the dress you selected? If so, I think that''s a great option. The silhouette and the slit in the front will hide a multitude of sins and will flatter any shape!

Just some general comments about a big gal with big boobs. I know what flatters and what doesn''t. First of all, satin sucks. But they are just about all satin. So moving along.

A high neckline with no sleeves will make a bog busted gal with broad shoulders look bigger.
A v neck will thin out the bust and draw the eye down, calling attention away from big shoulders.
A flat front is a nono for big gals...Try an a-line with some shirring on the sides like that one dress above. I''m going to try to find some that I like...
The waistline that cuts someone off in the middle adds to the problem.

 

[moremoremore]

An aline two piece is very flattering. It huggs but lets go over the belly. Gives an nice illusion of curves. And the neck line plus empire bodice is great for small or big busts!

 

[moremoremore]

Chiffon is a great fabric too! THis has a raised waist with shirring! Also very flattering to all!

 

[just_looking!]

Have you tried looking online for a strapless bra for your busty bridesmaid?

Bravissimo have 4 strapless / multiway bras and 2 of these go up to a G cup.

 

[moremoremore]

if you have to have ribbon- this is a two piece aline so flattering. Notice the position of the ribbon. Chiffon also so is slimming. These are from watters and watters and w-too...

 

[moremoremore]

Oops. here it is.

And I'm sorry gals, but strapless bras just don't work for gals with huge boobs. Trust me

Although maybe it's b/c mine drag on the floor behind me... LOL

 

[Tybee]

moremoremore,
I LOVE your taste! That first dress, oh, AND the second dress that you posted, to die for!

 

[moremoremore]

Thanks Tybee! I''ve spent a lifetime trying to hide my sins LOL...So at this point I know what works...just plain and classic

 

[moremoremore]

This is another goodie...can tuck those hooters right in there and cover up the buddah as well

 

[rfath]

My bridesmaids ended up with a dress similar to the one that mmm posted (it's strapless, but similar gathers, fabric, and color and also from Watters). It really does a lot to hide imperfections in boobage and tummies.

I DID have to pull the bridezilla card and insist that my girls wear the same dress. If it were just two of them (my friend and my fiance's cousin), whose tastes I tend to trust, I would have been more open to them choosing their dresses... but my sister has totally different tastes that made me, uh... unsure how the others would react.

I don't envy your decision, Melissa...

 

[JCJD]

Duh! Why didn't I think to post pics of my girls before?!

So, my 4 BMs ranged in size from (Mackenzie Michaels size chart):
(BTW, the dress is Mack Michaels style 88122, less than $100 from www.netbride.com)

Sister, size 16, 38DD, 5'3" - hourglass
SIL, size 16 taken in to 14, 38Cish, 5'5" - apple
Blonde friend, size 12, 36C, 5'5" - pear
Brunette friend, size 8, 34A/B, 5'5" - stick figure

Dress is a 2 piece square neck halter Aline skirt in satin with boning. It was incredibly (surprisingly) flattering on all of the girls, from barely B to DD, and on all 4 diff body shapes. Of all the necklines we tried on, the square neck halter supported and flattered my sis the best, even better than shirred wrap tops. Plus, it's semi-bra friendly (halter convertible).

Me and my sis - I'm in size 10 Maggie, 34C, 5'5" - pear

 

[JCJD]

Blurry pic of sis, but it shows her figure better.

 

[JCJD]

My wonderful new SIL!

 

[PaulaW]

You guys are making me blush, you''re so sweet!!
Melissa, all of my girls found bras ok. The larger chested ones did have a challenge though. One is a DD and the girl furthest left is a FF!! We are in southern CT and I believe she found her bra at Bare Necessities (I think they have a website). She aslo looked at Lane Bryant (a plus-sized clothes shop) and did find some, but they were bras and she wanted a bustier instead. I think long line bras like bustiers help considerably with support rather than just a bra, they can be slimming too!
Good luck to you sweetie, I''m sure whatever you choose will be beautiful! I agree with the above poster though, if you need to, pull the bride card to save you some stress!

 

[JCJD]

Blonde and brunette college buds.

 

[MelissaSue]

moremoremore - all the dresses you posted are BEAUTIFUL- I love empire waisted gowns.. How ever.. empire waists will NOT work for my big busted friend. The empire line would probably be ABOVE her nipples.. lol.. Or if she found a way to get her boobs up in the teeny little boob area, she''d be falling RIGHT out the top. We had asked at the bridal shop whether these would work for (if the bigger sizes would give her enough room) and the answer was probably not.. she''s not just BIG chested.. shes BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG chested.. She was wearing a 40F for her wedding, and she''s gained weight and boob since then and can only be expected to gain more now that she is pregnant. Ive been friend with her since 5th grade, and she''s had big boobs since about 6th grade.. and they get bigger every year.

I also disagree in most cases that chiffon is the most flattering.. when ever i put on a chiffon dress, it shows my belly pooch BIG TIME. It also shows every lump and panty line. (I''m fairly small, but I have always had a big belly).. My friend tried on one chiffon BM dress when she was with me and it just stuck to her. I think satin, as long as it is fitted properly is very good at hiding imperfections.

Strapless bras, when they are good quality and fit correctly, can indeed be comfortable and supportive. I hated the way strapless bras made my boobs look and I always thought they were very uncomfortable until I found the right one for me. I could wear that one for days and be just as comfortable as wearing a normal bra. I''m rather small chested, but I know how a bad bra/bad fit can make a difference and I firmly beleive (along with Oprah) that if you have a great bra that fits you well, it can be super super comfortable.

JCJD- Thanks for posting your bm dress pics again, all your girls did look absolutely fantastic in that dress. There is one Halter
gown in consideration for my BMs, so like you said, we could find a bra with convertible halter straps. We also weree able to find this dress in an 18 for my best friend to try on. Its this one

and of course, I''d add a ribbon or a sash or something Because I love ribbons!


BTW- as of right now, my sis is MOH.. But I am seriously considering having her and my best friend be Co-MOHs.. because I originally could not decide, and everyone told me to pick my sister because my best friend was moving away and wouldn''t be around to help with the wedding.... and she''s my sister..who has practically been a second mother to me all my life. My sister is actually the only one who is "in town" full time. My best friend lives two hours away, the other 8 hours away, and FSIL goes to college 8 hours away and only comes home for vacations.. However.. guess who the one bridesmaid who has not yet gone to try on gowns with me or seen my wedding gown is? Yeah.. you guessed it.. My sister.. Even my friend who lives 8 hours away, is in law school, and planning her own wedding has goen dress shopping with me and seen me try on my gown. I was trying not to get my feelings hurt about it, but then when I asked my sister again to go dress shopping with me yesterday and she said she couldn''t.. it just sort of got to me. Obviosuly, I''m not going to demote her, becasue I love her.. and I know she is busy.. and she IS planning my shower..but its funny, in my heart, my best friend is my maid of honor.. I often have to stop myself when talking about her, because I often start to call her MOH.. So.. I think they are both going to be. FI is having two best men (he also has more GMs than I have BMs).. so I think it wil work out good that way.
Well, I guess I just decided that, now, didn''t I?

Oh.. I''m such a rambler.. I need to go get dressed and pick out a silverware pattern.. because apparently I''m getting silverware for my birthday from FMIL.

 

[MINE!!]

Date: 7/27/2005 2:06:16 PM
Author: PaulaW
Melissa, I totally feel your pain. I was in a very similar situation and thankfully had a very good sales person at my dress shop that helped me out. First and foremost, I''m plus size and find that an A-line cut looks the best on me and just about flatters everyone. I highly recommend it and in fact, the second dress you like from netbride.com fits that exactly! I think if you stay away from any horizontal stripe or major color change in the waist/hip area, you''ll be ok. The example of the dress in black with magenta sash is exactly why. Here''s a pic of my girls and I - you''ll notice the range in sizes and the fact that they are strapless. I think we looked pretty good! I would try and talk to the girls who are against strapless, that is actually the most flattering on plus sized girls since you''re eye tends to be drawn where material is so cap sleeves and straps actually accentuate more than anything. Good luck to you - you''ll figure it out!

Paula!! Where did you get these dresses and what are the colors? Coral? They are beautiful!! Very lovely !! Thank you for posting them!