I think a '50s-style cocktail dress – tight waist, full skirt – would be great.
I love this dress. I want this dress.
Do it. You’d look fantastic!
Just add leg warmers to the dress and you’ll be all set!
(You can take them off before the photographer gets there.)
I second the dress from Unique Vintage, but then I love that website.
I love it all! I want to go!
If you are looking for duds for your little dude, I just ordered my guy two new Nautica sets on Amazon that worked wonderfully. Mine was $19 and I had a 20 per cent off coupon. Super score.
And please, buy him a hat or a sweet tie.
You are in Calgary right? If you don’t want to order online I would try Blame Betty for vintage style dresses.
Oh man, so do I. I want ALL the dresses.
I need more parties to go to.
A few ideas for other retro-style shops, in case you’re still looking:
Mode Merr - unfortunately, they do not accept returns, which is why I have only rarely bought from them
Stop Staring - unfortunately, they only take exchanges
Ok - new thought - apparently the wedding colours are red and black. I am NOT rolling my eyes.
So I tried this on tonight:
I kind of dig it - it fit nicely, was very comfortable so I would be able to eat and dance and do other fun wedding activities and I think I could wear it as an x-mas dress as well later in the year.
So, any thoughts? Hubby liked it on me but wondered if it was dressy enough for a wedding. It should be noted that I was wearing no makeup and white flip flops so I may have looked a touch more casual than I would when I actually wore it.
Anyone?
I think that’s the type of dress that can more casual or more dressy depending on the styling. By the time you get your hair done nicely, put on some nice heels, and add a little cocktail hat and some nice jewelry, you’ll be good to go.
I still really love that green dress you linked to, though.
I like this idea. You’ll just need to put a hat on any bright dress. You should remember to refer to James Brown as “our beloved the Reverend Cleophis James!”
I tried to find a picture of Twiggy, when she was waiting outside the hotel for Elwood, but it’s too dark to really see her outfit.
I love it! If you want to dress it up, I second the cocktail hat (or fascinator) idea. Plus you could wear a tulle skirt underneath. Etsy has sellers that will custom make it for you, but you can make your own for about >$20 if you have a sewing machine. Edit: I wouldn’t make it too poofy, but I think its a nice touch.
Or perhaps not if you don’t want to get too costumy. Me, I love fashion, so I tend to include an extra in my outfit when I go to these things (tulle, feather, broach, colored heels, something vintage, whatever).
Ok, after an entire day of dress shopping, this is what I wound up with:
It fits very nicely, I’m a big Ralph Lauren fan, I got some pretty jewels to go with it, and I likely have a shoe that will work. Now I’ll just have to sort of a head suit…
This is exactly what I thought about–Alice, you’d be the hit of the wedding.
ETA: I just read the last part more closely. I was thinking you should get all dolled up with the big hat and everything, or maybe wear a choir robe.
Here’s some source material: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1KZKZs-2YM
Yah, maybe not. I may not know what Blues Brothers style is but I know semi-formal and a choir robe ain’t it. 
It’s sort of a weird theme for a wedding I think. Anyway, now we just have Junior to worry about.
I like the Lauren dress (as well as most of the others that were linked)
Your quandary is why I like to remind people that “theme” of a wedding is…a wedding.
If the bride & groom want to dress like Gold Diggers of 1932, that shouldn’t force the attendees to dress like Busby Berkeley.
My rant being over - you’ll look smashing and I hope you all have a good time!
UT
Oh I’m with you 100%. The bride’s facebook feed is a constant update of where they are registered, what types of gifts are appropriate, links to blogs indicating ‘how much you should give’ for a wedding gift, etc.
Lets just say she does things a bit differently than I would.
I get people asking you to dress in the theme. I don’t get them also telling you that you have to wear the colors. In fact, I’ve never been to any wedding where anyone but the wedding party wore the colors. That’s what sets them apart from everyone else.
Honestly, I would wear a black suit, skinny tie and fedora to this wedding even though I am a girl. It would be super-comfy (Admittedly, I would get a tailored jacket due to my ample busom.)
I do love the dress, though. I would get a hat (Sunday hat) to go with it!