Dresses To Suit My Large Bridesmaid

Hello

This is one of my most pressing concerns of the entire wedding so far (ok only 2 days in so nothing else has really come up).

I am very much hoping my best friend will agree to be my 'Best Girl' for this wedding. She suffers from ME / CFS, and whilst being 5ft 1, has put on a lot of weight in the last few years simply because she can't exercise and also her boyfriend tends to give her overly large portions (she has to eat Something though as otherwise her blood sugar crashes and she gets even iller).

Now obviously I don't give a monkeys what size she is, she's my best friend and I love her and I realllllly want her to be my Best Girl. However she's lost a lot of confidence, and can't afford new clothes, and so not only do neither of us currently have any idea what would suit her, she's also likely to get very stressed out and upset if I start dragging her round dress shops to try on lots of things that potentially won't look nice :lol:

So I'm trying to pre-empt this by asking the opinion of you all, please please can you give me any hints and tips on the sort of things that will look nice on her. She's 5ft 1 with long, dark hair. Her weight as far as she tells it (it's hard to tell with what she wears) is fairly evenly distributed everywhere and I know she feels she has no waist, chubby legs, fat arms etc...

I am absolutely SURE that regardless of the weight gain, there will be some clothes that will look utterly sexy and incredible on her :lol: but not being a girl who's particularly gifted in the ways of fashion, I don't know what. I'm happy for any decade, any style and any colour. I'm also more than happy (and indeed intent upon) buying her shoes, accessories, underwear and possibly a hat.

So I throw myself upon your mercy fellow board-readers, please help if you can!

 

Don't know if I can be much help but I have one idea, before I tell you though I just wanted to say that you are a fantastic friend to already be considering/concerned about your friend and so desperately wanting her to be your best girl that you're willing to build your wedding theme, colour etc around her comfort, that is really an admirable quality in a person...YOU!
Anyway, my best friend is approx the same height and again sounds similar to your friend in proportion etc. My friend isn't actually going to be part of the actual ceremony (though obviously will be there) as our children are filling the main roles and it's a tweeny guest list anyway. Recently, we went shopping and she found a dress that really suited her and made her feel comfortable as she felt it hid a multitude of sins. The dress in this pic does not do it justice by the way!

http://www.bhs.co.uk...e/877478/230325

Your friend may feel more comfortable with a little shrug on too if she feels really conscious of her arms. It's quite Grecian in style, which is very in at the mo, this one only comes in a dark purple or black, but these style dresses are in a lot of places right now. With a decent bra and a pair of control pants (a girls best friend) she'll feel great, I bet!

Hope this is of some help.
Juxx

 

Hi hun totally agree with Ju that yo are a wonderful friend foe taking your friends feelings into consideration! x

You don't say what size your friend is but I have some large friends one of my best friends is a size 24 & she shops in YOURS. Don't know if you have one of those near you or if it is suitable as its a larger size store but they do some lovely clothes in there! Love the dress that Julie has put on here aswell it looks very flattering. xxx

 

Hi hun, my posts are normally whatver comes to mind first, and can be a bit disjointed, sorry!!

How bad is her ME/CFS? Would she be able to wear high heels all day & be comfortable?

I googled 'dresses for larger ladies' and curvety.com & yoursclothing.co.uk specialise in big girl clothes...BUT the really awesome reason I mention them, is they use plus sized models, who look all over big (dunno how airbrushed they are)....so at least that way you can see different styles on a bigger model & judge what would suit your friend?

One of my best mates, who came to my wedding, is a size 20 & really self conscious about it...she wore trousers & a really nice sparkly top (as she hates her legs most of all).
Personally, I think a 1950's swing dress style looks much better on a lady with curves (just because of the structure of the dress);
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002RAGR7G/ref=s9_ri_gw_ir03?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-6&pf_rd_r=0MGCH1APR3J5470WAAM2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=474908033&pf_rd_i=468294 is the sort of thing I mean

http://www.dangerousfx.co.uk/photodetails.asp?category=&PhotoID=4 ; Jamie Bahr (who has awesome rockabilly style, look her up on facebook) wears it well!

I'll go away & have a proper think about it....... x

 

I agree with the others, it's lovely that you are so considerate :lol:

I also like the dress/style Julia posted and totally agree that 1950s styles look amazing on curves and will give her the waist she thinks she doesn't have!

You can get some amazing corsets for any size whether you intend to have one as underwear or outerwear I'd recommend one, they make you feel so sexy and good about yourself.



I'd also try Fairy Goth Mother, this dress is from them and comes in a lovely dark purple as well as the black.

 

OOh, like that one Helen! Also agree that 50's style does look good on curves may2010.

 

Thanks everyone This is all fab, all help is fab! :lol:

I do like the 50s style things, and have had several thoughts about swing dresses, a little hat, etc. I'm quite keen on urg, how to explain, distinctive? outfits rather than standard bridesmaids style, so say 50s or 20s or whatever, hats.

I've just remembered one thing though which I thought I would add. Despite putting on weight, her um, chest area, hasn't really gone up, so she's quite angsty about empire line stylee, as apparently they just make her feel like she looks really pregnant.

As far as heels go, I suspect maybe we'll look at very low heels, and she can always change out of them if she wants to (or we'll just get her flats if they're easier). I must admit, whilst I'm adament about her being my Best Girl, I do have a bit of worry about whether she'll be physically up to it on the day and I don't want to make her ill. I'm trying to work out if there's any way I can get someone who's prepared to do all the running around for me and dealing with crisis if she can't, whilst not at the same time making them a bridesmaid - is there a girl equivalent of a groom? Minion?

To say - the reason I'd like to keep it as just her is because we have been best friends for over 15 years and I really do only want her with me when I walk up to get married. But anyway that's another thread, which I suspect I will start up another day For now - dresses! Thank you again lovely people :lol:

 

Oh wow! Helen, you posted whilst I was replying, but gosh that fairygothmother one does look sexy! Shall definitely suggest that!

 

Mmmm stay away from empire lines she is right they can make you look like you are expecting lol! :lol:

There is quite a bit of choice about for larger ladies it is just harder tracking them down!

If you like the 50s look try vivien of holloway they do fairly large standard sizes and I think they will do m2m too. If you wanted to have a 50s skirt/corset (if she is a different size top to bottom) look check out Marina Retro for skirts (with a Fairy Goth Morther corset) too, I'm getting my sisters bridesmaid skirt from her and she is lovely, she can make you anything 50s you want! :lol:

 

My friend doesn't look pregnant in hers, she's a size 22!

 

Lol it just depends on your body type! :lol:

 

Alfred angelo do bridesmaid dresses up to a size 32! obviously some styles will be better than others, but that wat she could look on line and choose some before you go look. You might need to check stockist though as not all shops stock all dress. Also not sure of your budget but the dresses also come in a huge range of choices which may be easier than trying to find the correct dress, in right size, in right colour.

Good luck

 

Worth checking out ebay for ideas as there are lots of makes of bridesmaids dressis in bigger sizes but it's hard to google the makes when you don't know them. If you look on ebay, find some styles you like and look at the manufacturers site for stockists or take her measurements and buy direct it will save you some cash and get her something she really likes.

Nowadays most of the wedding shops stock larger sizes and what they often forget to tell you is that what they hold is just shop stock, they can order in anything you like in bigger sizes if you ask.

Good luck, I can utterly understand her fears as I am a big bride and going into a wedding shop for me was not only traumatic but also took me months to get the courage to do. Amusingly, once in there, I couldn't stop trying things on It's lovely that you are so thoughtful and as for the female groom scenario - an usherette?

 

Hmmm reading this back, I don't think I mean groom, I mean, er... *asks fiance*... ushers!! That's what I mean! but yeah ok, yes the female version is an usherette and that's a good idea! Hmmm need to wake up more I think

 

wow i love the dress Helen put up, a dress like that looks great on almost everyone

 

What a wonderful bride to be and friend you are, so thoughtful! Besides thinking about the style of dress it's also worth thinking about the colour, some colours are really not good on larger women ... pale pink jumps to mind! Trinny and Suzannah recommend that larger women should wear bold bright colours and avoid black as it is too dense and can actually make people look heavier! I'm with Helen and would suggest a Vivien of Holloway dress too, I really really want one for myself but have nothing to wear one to! This type of dress



would look great on her and accentuate her waist without drawing attention to her chest. They also do boleros to match too and you could team it with some cute white ballet pumps. Gah, I want to be your bridesmaid! Hope you find something you both love!

 

That dress is fab!!

 

Ooooooh! That's SO cool and sounds really nice! I think we may have to have a trip to Vivien of Holloway then, and browse everything! Heh whilst pretending I can afford it until I actually get another job ;-) Failing that ebay!

Thankyou!!

 

OMG - Helen that Fairy Goth Mother site is AMAZING, thank you so much for bringing it into my life

There is so much I want. That dress you posted is gorge, I bet anybody would feel beautiful in it, although Rainbow, i'd be scared if I put my friend in that - nobody would notice me lol !

Just kidding, what a fantastic friend you are, she is very lucky to have you x