Kill me now! I have to go dress and shoe shopping for a wedding next weekend.

[dirty ethel rackham]

I've been "La La La, I can't hear you" whenever I thought about this family wedding we were invited to.  I'm excited to go to this wedding ... except nothing in my closet fits since I gained a bunch of weight this year (stress, surgery and long recover period) and I even need to buy new shoes due to foot shape/size changes from the surgery..  Ack!!  It's next weekend.  How did it get here so fast?!

 

I need lower heeled shoes that are somewhat supportive since my ankle is still very weak.  (Yes, I am working on it, but the strength gains are incredibly small.)  I really don't want to limp and the only shoes I have where I don't limp are my Brooks Adrenalines with my custom orthotic insoles.  I want to look like the chic and stylish aunt that I picture myself to be, not the frumpy elderly aunt that has to be escorted to her table.

 

Looking online, it seems that all the dresses I see that don't scream "grandma of the bride" have very defined waists.  I need something more forgiving.  I am about a 10-12 on top, but more like a 12-14 in the middle.  I look pregnant in most figure skimming styles. Frustrating.  I don't have the stamina for long shopping sessions and I have to go by myself since I don't have any friends who would go with me.  Hubby says he'll take me but he's pretty useless.  Me:  "How does this one look?"  DH:  "It's ok, I guess."   Me:  "<heavy sigh.>  I guess I'll try on another one."

 

I'm not even sure where to go.  There is an outlet mall that may work.  We have a downtown with a few stores that might work, but that is a lot of walking.  There is an upscale mall about 30 minutes from me.  All of these options are far away from each other.  Forget about bargain shopping.  That is a needle in a haystack.  I don't relish the thought of putting on my "smoothing undergarments" several times today.

 

Ok.  I'm done whining. 

[trulycrabby]

How about amazon with prime two-day shipping and easy returns?

[Upward Journey]

I feel you.  I bought a dress for my own son's wedding the week prior, and my shoes the morning of! 

 

I hate shopping with a passion.

Edited October 2, 2016 by Upward Journey

[ThisIsTheDay]

I would totally avoid the outlet mall. I think the typical shopper has to look long and hard to find bargains on anything they really would want to buy.

 

I've been surprised to find several reasonably priced, nice dresses recently at Belk, all of which I would feel comfortable wearing to a wedding. By "reasonably priced," I mean originally priced at $70-$100, and I've paid anywhere from $15-$40. Some were summer dresses that I found in July, and last week I paid $15 for one with 3/4 sleeves, definitely a fall dress.

 

You said you don't have anyone to go with you. I'm not kidding--when you go shopping and try dresses on, take a picture of yourself from the neck down and post here. The Hive will help you shop and tell you what is the most flattering! Nothing like shopping with 300 of your closest (internet) friends, right?

 

 

 

[lewber]

Belk is good here too. Zappos has next day delivery and they have dresses and shoes.

[Jen500]

If you don't need to bargain shop I would go to Nordstrom's. They are great about spending time with you and finding specific outfits.

[MysteryJen]

I second Nordstrom's. The ease and time saved as well as the likelihood of finding something you can wear again and again make the higher price worth it.

[prairiewindmomma]

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/karen-kane-three-quarter-sleeve-cascade-faux-wrap-dress-regular-petite/3249939?origin=category-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=NAVY

 

Anything wrap dress should be fairly flattering.

 

Maybe a wider kitten heel with a padded sole bed? Depending on your orthotic, you could maybe slip it into the shoe or at least wear a gentle supportive neoprene wrap.  http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sofft-altessa-pump/3537866?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=ANTHRACITE%20LEATHER  

[lewber]

This is the exact type dress I would recommend! Wrap dresses are flattering. Add a great necklace and you're set.

 

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/karen-kane-three-quarter-sleeve-cascade-faux-wrap-dress-regular-petite/3249939?origin=category-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=NAVY

 

Anything wrap dress should be fairly flattering.

 

Maybe a wider kitten heel with a padded sole bed? Depending on your orthotic, you could maybe slip it into the shoe or at least wear a gentle supportive neoprene wrap. http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sofft-altessa-pump/3537866?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=ANTHRACITE%20LEATHER

Edited October 2, 2016 by lewber

[kitten18]

I can almost always find a dress at Macy's.

My sister and (adult) nieces have a lot of nice dresses from Dress Barn.

 

There's a lot of dressy, low, chunky heels out there right now.

 

 

We went to a family wedding yesterday. I was dreading the getting dressed part but I actually ending up feeling pretty good and we had a great time.

[dirty ethel rackham]

Dh took me to the upscale outlet mall near us.  It was moderately successful.  I did find a dress that may work.  It was from Lands End of all places - a Navy sheath.  It is more conservative that I wanted, but it was the only one I tried on all day that didn't make me want to cry.  I can dress it up with accessories, I suppose.  The ones at Dress Barn were so poorly made.  They only had two that were of a style and color that would have been even close to flattering.  I tried on several wrap dresses, but they seem to hit me in my chubbiest parts and make me look heavier. 

 

Shoes were a bust.  I went to the Clark's store because I have usually had good luck there, but I didn't even find casual shoes (need some of those because I literally got rid of most of my shoes after the surgery.)  I can't use my orthotics in other shoes because they were cut to fit my athletic shoes.  They would be way to big to fit into any other type of shoe.  I do have a pair of Clark's that I saved, but the heel is higher than I am comfortable with (even though it is a wide enough heel for me to not fall over.)  I tried on some kitten heels (even some with a wider base), but I felt too unstable. 

 

Macy's here has been terrible.  The store is a mess, there is no help, and the clothes have been uninspiring.  It was a much better store when it was Marshall Field's.  I may try to take a trip to Nordstrom's this week and try to find a dress I like better.  If not, then I'll wear the one I bought, which is versatile. 

 

I need to find a good looking statement necklace to wear with this dress.  It is sleeveless so I will need a cardigan.  I have one that might work, but I am not sure. 

[ktgrok]

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/karen-kane-three-quarter-sleeve-cascade-faux-wrap-dress-regular-petite/3249939?origin=category-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=NAVY

 

Anything wrap dress should be fairly flattering.

 

Maybe a wider kitten heel with a padded sole bed? Depending on your orthotic, you could maybe slip it into the shoe or at least wear a gentle supportive neoprene wrap.  http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sofft-altessa-pump/3537866?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=ANTHRACITE%20LEATHER

 

I was gong to say a wrap dress too! I prefer on with a high waist 

[Alicia64]

White House/Black Market.

 

Ann Taylor Loft.

 

Nordstroms (who have great returns).

 

I realize you've gained, but you're not large. A nice outfit will do wonders for your well being. Make this fun.

 

Alley

[monstermama]

I actually found some lovely things (including a wrap dress) on clearance at a Land's End inside a Sears today.  The thing I struggle with is accessorizing!

[Seasider]

How about a solid black shift style dress paired with a pretty, flowy, exotically-printed kimono over it?

 

ETA just saw you got a blue dress. Still, a kimono over it could take the place of both a cardigan and statement jewelry. Sorry I have nothing to recommend on the shoes. I wish I could go barefoot everywhere.

Edited October 3, 2016 by Seasider

[kitten18]

Dh took me to the upscale outlet mall near us. It was moderately successful. I did find a dress that may work. It was from Lands End of all places - a Navy sheath. It is more conservative that I wanted, but it was the only one I tried on all day that didn't make me want to cry. I can dress it up with accessories, I suppose. The ones at Dress Barn were so poorly made. They only had two that were of a style and color that would have been even close to flattering. I tried on several wrap dresses, but they seem to hit me in my chubbiest parts and make me look heavier.

 

Shoes were a bust. I went to the Clark's store because I have usually had good luck there, but I didn't even find casual shoes (need some of those because I literally got rid of most of my shoes after the surgery.) I can't use my orthotics in other shoes because they were cut to fit my athletic shoes. They would be way to big to fit into any other type of shoe. I do have a pair of Clark's that I saved, but the heel is higher than I am comfortable with (even though it is a wide enough heel for me to not fall over.) I tried on some kitten heels (even some with a wider base), but I felt too unstable.

 

Macy's here has been terrible. The store is a mess, there is no help, and the clothes have been uninspiring. It was a much better store when it was Marshall Field's. I may try to take a trip to Nordstrom's this week and try to find a dress I like better. If not, then I'll wear the one I bought, which is versatile.

 

I need to find a good looking statement necklace to wear with this dress. It is sleeveless so I will need a cardigan. I have one that might work, but I am not sure.

Wrap dresses look terrible on me, and any kind of full skirt. I only wear sheaths.

[kitten18]

These shoes look nice. Flats, but dressy.

 

Clarks Women's Corabeth Abby Flat, Black Leather, 7 M US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T3IN2E6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GdF8xbFBFCZYC

[Lizzie in Ma]

You have my sympathy.  Ugh.  Good luck!