Dress Stress

KatieJane

Hi all!

I tried on some wedding dresses today - and i'm having a nightmare!!

I'm finding it so so hard to imagine what I will look like in the dress. I am 5ft tall and a size 6 so all the dresses are so big and so so long on me - I just cannot see how it will look!

I tried an amazing fairytail like dress - really stunning - decided it was the one (after having a heart attack over the price) and then stood down from my box and realized what a short frump I looked in it!

Does anyone have any advice for petite people? I'm thinking of giving up and wearing my dressing gown!!!! :rotfl:

wanchai_2

Be patient! Go to lots of shops and try on lots of dresses! Are you able to wear heels? Bring a comfyish pair with you instead of standing on the box. I'm 5'3" and I found the most stunning dress, had to visit about 25 shops but it was great fun!!! xx

sugarwalsh

my advice would be to be patient. Also play to your assets! I'm 5'2" and a size 16. I got a dress which shows off my curves and really emphasised them. On Saturday, when I wire it, everyone loved it. If I were a size 6 and small I may consider a tea length or short dress. I would also look for something with less material so I didn't get lost in it!
what's your best bit? Make sure you show it off. There is nothing sexier or more beautiful than a confident woman.
Good luck.

MrsDrink

please don't despair. There is definitely a dress out there for you. (I'm 5ft2.5 and a size 10).

What was stunning about the heart-stopping dress? And what made you feel like a short frump (hardly at a size 6) when you stood off the block? Did the shop try to kinda hold up the bottom to show you how it'd look once it had been fitted for you? Did they shove blocks in the back to pull it tighter so you can see what silhouette it'd give you?

Don't give up!
(I'm having a full length dress chopped up into a tea length dress and I can't wait to see it again, but I would say don't 'settle' for this if you have a full length dress in your heart. I never wanted a full length skirt because of the nature of our wedding) xx

johnswife

You will find a dress!!!

My niece was a size 6 and had a strapless simple long dress, not fussy.
She had her hair up (makes you look taller) and she looked like Audrey Hepburn absolutely stunning.

I know what you mean about the dresses being too big.

When my daughter was looking for a prom dress we had to go home with her in tears as she was only a small size 6 and everything was huge.
The next day I found a lady not on the high street, and the first dress in her actually size she tried on we bought. It fit like a glove and I didn't care what it cost, she looked so happy.

Try ringing some shops first and found out if they stock your size.

Good luck.

daisiegg

Oh dear, I am so worried as I'm 4'11" (but somewhat larger than a Size 6 lol!) I am absolutely DREADING going dress shopping and I'm going to put it off for as long as I can. I'm sure you didn't look frumpy in your dream dress! Keep trying, you will find the perfect one that makes you feel fab xx

lollipop80

I'm also a size 6, and i'm only 5'3 so not much taller that yourself and I managed to find a fairytale style dress that looks stunning so don't give up.

For me I found the material dress made me feel short/ frumpy, not the length as this can easily be altered. My dress is chiffon with light/ fine detail. I found when I was trying on silk/ taffeta style dresses I looked like I had been buried in fabric.

Like Sugarwalsh said, emphasise your assets. With you being size 6, make sure you make the most of your small waist. It's difficult when trying on in dress shops because every sample seems to be size 12/14, so make sure they really pull you in to show you what it would look like. I had clips and hands everywhere to show me.

Best of luck, and have some fun trying them on x

wanchai_2

I agree! If you're petite steer clear of dresses in very heavy fabrics, they will drown you and they're so heavy!! You have a fab figure so you will defo find your dream dress and look amazing. I'm trying to lose a stone atm, would love to be a size 6 xx

PinkPrincess83

Dont give up, there is definately a dress out there for you.

Im just about 5 ft and a size 12 and I have a full length dress which I love. I did worry that I would look too short and swamped in a full length dress but I dont feel short at all when I wear it. I guess I was quite lucky that the sample dresses were in my size but im sure any good shop should be as accomodating and helpful as possible.

sharpee

I think this is a normal experience! Very common.

I'm 5ft2 size 8 and I had the same problem. It's so difficult as most stores sample dresses for you to try on are a size 16. Not very helpful for the petite ladies amongst us.

What you have to try and do is to imagine how it would look once its in the correct size and altered to fit.

I went to 10 shops and tried on 45 dresses over 3 days. At the end of each day I was in tears as I just found it so stressful:(

But when I tried on 'The 1' I just knew and even though it was 5 dress sizes too big and too long I knew once it was the right size and altered in length it would look amazing.

And it did! I had soo many comments from guests and people who have seen the photos. I opted for a satin dress as I had a winter wedding and yes it was heavy (which was forgotten as soon as I reached my H2B) but I looked amzing in it and it was just what I wanted.:j

Don't dispair you will find the dress, try to imagine how it will look in your size and altered.

I think a lot of films and tv programs make wedding dress shopping look so glamourous when in fact it isn't as your generally trying on dresses that have been worn by lots of people so are dirty, smelly damaged etc.

Chin up make sure you have a positive attitude, plenty of coffee breaks when you go shopping and take some chocolate as a pick me up!

Happy dress hunting:)

Brightside

I can so see the appeal of getting married in dressing gown and comfy slippers!

A friend of mine who's 4ft 11 and size 6 wore a very simple dress with about 3 inch heels and looked anything but a frump. She did say that with a lot of the wedding dresses it was almost like a little girl who had been in the dressing up box when she looked in a mirror.

I'm sure you'll find your perfect dress out there somewhere, it might just take some finding.