Wedding Dress Sizing....

gillm66

Hi all.....just some re-assurance needed (I hope!!) please....

Not getting married until this time next year but had started having a quick mooch at wedding dresses to see what sort of style I might like. Have not done the whole "bridal shop" thing yet as ideally I was hoping to get something nice from the High Street as had seen a lovely dress I really liked on the BHS bridal web-site (Camille). I have today however realised that this is not going to be a route possible for me I think, as in bare feet I'm 5ft 9in and I want something with a bit of a heel on it shoe-wise as feel I slouch in flaties!!

Anyway I bit the bullet last week and decided to order the BHS dress to try for size, figuring I only had the delivery cost to lose when returning it if I didn't like it. It arrived today and although a nice dress I'm now sitting here feeling really quite low....not due to the height issue thing (as I suspected that would be the case) - it was way too short by the way, but I have this year been following a really good eating plan and have lost 61lbs.....I've now got 12lbs to go to get to my "healthy" weight and I'm really wanting to go no further than that.

I'm heading into a Next size 14 (16 is getting loose) and for my height of 5ft 9in I am more than happy with this and had thought I was looking "okay". Bearing in mind I had read some wedding dresses came up small I decided to order the BHS dress in a 16....well I got it over my head and on (after a real palava!!) but I kid you not the zip (at the side running from under armpit to just above the waist) well there was no chance that was moving anywhere.....I was not expecting that and am now sitting here with my confidence in my new figure very bruised and dreading going into any bridal shops as I'm assuming I'm going to have to go sizes up....and not just one size up juding by the one I had on earlier today..

I'm trying to think with my "adult" head on and tell myself it really doesn't matter what size of dress I end up wearing as I know my OH loves me for who I am anyway but I'm sure you ladies can empathise as I have worked SO hard to lose the weight and am now feeling a little deflated.

I suppose part of me was wanting to avoid the whole "bridal shop" experience partly because I am so un-confident when it comes to how I look but like any bride I want to look a million dollars on my special day and to feel happy and confident in how I look....I'm not going to be able to buy anything "off the peg" though unless I resort to wearing flatties and I really don't want to do that.....

Sorry to sound so negative....my mum bless her was telling me not to worry and that we'd have a look around but to be honest I'm dreading it which is silly as at the end of the day it's only a dress

mimosaurus

firstly - congratulations on your amazing weight loss, that is a phenomenal achievement and you should be so proud of yourself for the hard work you have put into it. You have a year to go, and that's easily time to lose the last 12lbs if you decide you want to.

Wedding dresses do come up small, and the people i spoke to immediately told me to try the size up from what i usually wear, even before i'd looked at the dresses! So try not to be too hard on yourself. Also remember that sizes are totally different all over the place.

I only ended up trying dresses in one shop because all of the others put me off within a few steps into the shop! The place where i've got my dress from made me feel so at ease and so comfortable, i wandered around looking for ages before i tried on the one i'd gone to see!

Find a shop with staff who make you feel comfortable and then ask them to suggest some styles to you - you don't have to buy or even try it if you don't want to, but it's so worth it for the experience if you can find a good shop to try! The staff were so helpful for me, able to tell me what size i would need just by looking, having tips for how to make it most flattering, etc. they're really briliant, and i'm certain you will end up looking a million dollars when you find the right dress for you xxx

lindaatno9

Yes, they do come up small and believe you me, having to wear a gown which the label states is simply not MY size is like saying I could never have chocolate again!
I think it's a psycological thing but still know how you feel.
I blogged about this. With the standard length of a wedding gown averaging at around 60" means if you are 5'8" or shorter you may require alterations to the hemline.
In your case, you come above this so will require a special length which will be made to order.
I'm sure there are shops like 'Long Tall Sally' Do they have wedding depts now? High street just may not be an option i'm afraid. xx

oops, congratulations by the way. xx

gillm66

Thank you both - I appreciate that. And Linda thanks for looking on-line for me re the lengths, you're the lady that makes the lovely dresses aren't you....how I wish I lived nearer but I'm in West Lothian, Scotland!!! I suppose that is another option but I don't know any local dressmakers at all and would prefer to have someone that comes recommended. I'll go and check "Long Tall Sally" now whilst I'm on a roll and see if they do anything. I'm glad you have both said the dresses do tend to come up smaller - that makes me feel a tad better.....

gillm66

On a more positive note, I did visit a local jewellers today who confirmed they will be able to melt down my darling dad's gold wedding ring and make it into a new one for me. I cannot tell you how pleased I am about that....it will mean more to me than any ring that money could buy....

It's going to be a very emotional day as it is with my dad not being there to give me away (I lost him 15 years ago just a week before I gave birth to my wonderful son)....so wonderful son is going to give me away on the day so how lucky am I and the ring will help me feel that dad is still with me on my special day....

GEEGEE8

I was saying the other day about wedding dress sizes.

Why on Earth do they make them come up small?? Surely it would be better for the Bride (and sales!!) if they actually came up the right size or even slightly larger!

I would think most brides will feel very upset that they have to go 1 or 2 sizes above their normal size, the label size does matter! lol.

If you are a Next size 14/16 then you should be very pleased. Next sizes I have found to be the least lenient of all, and usually have to have a size larger in Next clothes than any other store.

Well done on the weight loss! I bet you feel great

lindaatno9

gillm66 wrote: »

how I wish I lived nearer but I'm in West Lothian, Scotland!!! I suppose that is another option but I don't know any local dressmakers at all and would prefer to have someone that comes recommended. QUOTE]

I may just know someone. :T

lindaatno9

I actually avoid shopping in Primark with my daughter. She gets so depressed with the sizeing. Not good for her esteem at all!

loupee

Hey congrats on your weight loss!
When I was looking for my dress a couple of months a go I would have liked something from the high street, but at 6ft tall, nothing was long enough. And I was desperate for a floor length dress,
In the end I went down the bridal shop route, they had to order a size 16 for me (I am normally a 10) but by the time the alterations had been done, it fit perfectly and was so comfortable to wear all day!
I didn't find any wedding dresses at LTS, they did have a white maxi dress when I was looking but if i'd bought it, it would have been for the price, not because I loved it!

frannyann

lindaatno9 wrote: »

I actually avoid shopping in Primark with my daughter. She gets so depressed with the sizeing. Not good for her esteem at all!

,

This is soo true, in Next etc I am a size 6/8, yet in Primark I need a size 10, which is going to mean so seriously upset people out there, thinking they are bigger than they are! :mad:

Swinstie73

I know the feeling gillm, I'm dreading going dress shopping as had a look on ebay and according to my measurements I need a size 16 - 18, when I'm usually a 12 - 14, hoping to lose a few pounds too but at only 5' 3" I'm too heavy for my height!

Congratulations by the way!