This night is a pretty big deal for me. I was really geeky throughout most of school. Zero confidence, mullet hair in 4th grade (yes you read that one right), and bullied through most of elementary school. Things have changed since then for me in a pretty big way. I’ve finally figured out how to handle my thick, wavy, frizzy hair. I got married to the man of my dreams. And I have a beautiful little girl. The biggest change for me though was internal. I now have confidence galore and feel like a totally new woman compared to the scared shy girl I was back in high school.
Long story short, I want to wow these people, most of whom I haven’t seen since graduation.
I’m going dress shopping tomorrow for my 10 year high school reunion which is on Friday. I absolutely hate dress shopping. So I’m looking to the dope for some ideas.
I have a rather hard to dress body type. Here’s a pic for reference.
I’m looking for something sexy without being whorish. Revealing without showing too much of the girls. I love dresses, but they usually don’t do good things to my body as they cling in all the wrong places.
I need shoes too. I almost always wear flats since I have practically no arches in my feet. But I really want to go with some sort of a heel for this one.
I have a similar body type and I would go with something with a well structured bodice. You need something that can define your waist since anything looser will hug your hips and not show off your lovely waistline. There are some retro inspired dresses out right now that are great for people with hips. It makes your top half look great while defining your hips and hiding thighs.
You could do a Lady Gaga and wear meat.
But seriously - what you are wearing in that pic looks great - maybe find a dress similar to the top you are wearing, but obviously longer.
And don’t be afraid to wear something with color - bright red or blue or something that will stand out. By all means, make sure you wear comfortable shoes - last thing you want to do is be limping around or walking barefoot. My guess is there will be music and some dancing, so wear something you can move easily in, and shoes that will allow you to float around the room gracefully.
You look great and it sounds like you have the right attitude, so don’t obsess about the dress and shoes - just go and have fun.
You look really good in that picture; you don’t have to dip your head to anybody. Turn that smile loose and put your eyes out there. Do some color and some medium heels and let the girls shine for the evening: make some heads turn and some wives jab some husbands in the ribs. Knock 'em dead.
I fully plan on wearing something colorful and giving some major “I’m a hot girl” attitude.
I just know that I’ll feel that much more confident if I’m wearing something that makes me look really good.
I found this one at target.com. What do you think? It has a bunch of options for how to wear the dress. I’m really liking the third from the left - a strapless with a sort of a tie in the back. It looks like it should flow nicely around the belly/hip area.
I must say I love the dresses on Target’s website but those half-headless models freak me out in a big way!! :eek:
The thing is to be comfortable in what you’re wearing, so you don’t look like you’re “dressed up” – pulling at the top of a strapless dress, teetering in heels, looking in a mirror to refresh makeup, etc. If strapless and heels are new for you, wear the dress and shoes around the house for awhile so that you’re comfortable.
From the pic, you look like someone who could wear a strapless dress and heels and be natural and comfortable.
Great idea Auntie Pam! Whatever I get I will be sure to give it a good test run at home first. I love heals but they don’t tend to love me. I can walk pretty well in most so long as they’re not sky high! Regardless I’ll be sure to try them out first.
Your body type is similar to mine, and I have a couple of Ralph Lauren dresses that look really good on my figure (smaller upper body, fuller hips and thighs). Here’s one that I think would look good on you, and is sexy in an understated way. I also have one something like this that’s great because it’s a bit higher waisted with a flowy skirt that doesn’t cling.
If you’re happy to buy online (and they have a good return policy!) one of my favourite online dress sources is modcloth. In a couple of minutes clicking, I found this, the "City of Lights"dress. The high waist would work for you, I think. Click around and see what else you find - that one is a bit pricey at $300ish, there’s lots much cheaper. Get a few and choose your fave!
I think a lot of places do their reunions Thanksgiving weekend, people already in town for the holiday and such.
DoperChic, I’m similarly slightly pear-shaped, and assuming that this isn’t a super-formal event, I’d go with a nice wrap dress that you can wear again, and dress it up with accessories. Maybe something like this. It’s definitely got vavavoom potential, but it’s also versatile enough to wear pretty much anywhere.
If it is more dressy, maybe something like this. Emphasis on the waist, forgiving on the hips, and the deep V will be spectacular on you (seriously, it’s a party, let the girls out to play!).
PS - unless you’re practiced at and comfortable in strapless, I’d avoid it, especially if you plan on dancing. I once had a wardrobe malfunction of near-Jacksonian proportions that way, and that’s not the impression you’re looking to leave.
If you go with the Target dress, I would try to find a way to try it one, first. It doesn’t have a lot of structure, which doesn’t work on some people. I think it might be a little hard to tell how it will drape on you, because the model seems to be moving. My body is different than yours, but I am hippy, and I find that I just can’t get that kind of dress to look good. I need some darts and definition.
This could be nice with a few “wow” accessories- I’m picturing an eye catching necklace and an armful of bangles.
