February 17, 2005

• Funny. I have one that was very similar in style to the winning gown, but it was seafoam green. I think it even had crisscross straps in the back. My prom dress would probably do well in that competition too...black satin, big poofy sleeves, and the bodice was half shirred and half covered in sequins.
• The worst bridesmaid dress I had to wear was in a mid-90's wedding: a long, sleeveless fitted straight dress with a giant V back and the requisite bow on the butt. The entire thing was a pale peach satin - not flattering to those without a tan. We also wore matching pink gloves up to the elbows. Add the required updo for the hair and a pearl necklace, and we looked like The Supremes! So at the reception, we made the DJ play "Stop in the Name of Love" and performed right on the dance floor. No pictures, though. The bride never got around to picking out anything from the proof book.
• burgundy sheath dress with spaghetti straps. and a lace overlay, tunic length. oh, and an asymmetircal haircut (thoroughly undesired). but of course, shoes dyed to match! this later had poufy sleeves added to replace the spaghetti straps and was worn to the prom. you couldn't pay me to post the pictures. second one, and a close runner up, was another burgundy creation. empire waist, beaded bodice, and a short-sleeved bolero jacket. great if you have no boobs--4 of the 5 bridesmaids had boobs. I might negotiate a rate to post this one. ;)
• Not one with sequins or very goofy fabric, but for my dad's wedding my stepmom's mother decided to make me a dress. I was a lot overweight at the time and she was going on about a style she'd seen that would look really good on me... Only it didn't, plus it was bright purple, and it had this weird ... overcoat thing. That looked remarkably like a very unstylish choir robe. And she made it in a hurry so it looked rather like a cobbled-together costume. One of the seams came undone during the wedding. Anyway it was horrible. And there are far too many pictures of me wearing it. Far too many. I'm not posting one, either.
• Oh lord, why do these women we call our friends lose all sensibility and make us wear these things? I've only been in 2 weddings. In the first one, I sported a delightful peach tafetta number, excessively low-cut in front, exposing my first white trash tattoo, big poofy short sleeves, 3/4 length puffy skirt and a very large bow over my ass. 2nd wedding was a skintight purple beauty with faux pearl at the bodice, and some sort of space-age, wired to stand at attention sleeves. Fortunately, the flap of overskirt in the back was quite forgiving to the pear-shaped of the group.
• This thread needs some testosterone, buncha girlie girls chattin 'bout dresses... yeesh... *runs from the room as fast as possible*
• My friends have made me pledge to give them input on bridesmaids dresses in the form of a simple majority rule vote on style and color. Fine with me - that way they can blame each other and not moi.
• This thread needs some testosterone, buncha girlie girls chattin 'bout dresses...yeesh... I once wore my ex-wife's wedding dress to a Halloween party. Does that have any value here? No? Moving right along then...
• I've never been a bridesmaid. They want to hit right on that line between "photogenic enough not to wreck the bridal party pictures" and "not prettier than me," which is a tricky business. 'Sides, nobody I know has gotten married. I just don't get this. Is it a bad-clothes-of-the-80s thing? People have always talked about bad bridesmaid dresses, though. They aren't talking about awful bridal dresses in fashion eras of the past, although that would probably be considered evil. It is hard to find one dress that will flatter several women, especially if they look dissimilar, but... still. The cynic in me says that it's a mild, probably good-natured revenge for everything your friends have ever done to tick you off. But I'm not in that position, so it's a mystery to me. yentruoc's solution is good. Although of course it is fun to commiserate after the fact, and that "look at how I suffered, the CLOTHES I wore for the sake of your friendship!!" factor.
• I let my bridesmaids choose their own dresses, anything so long as one person didn't wear a pink polka-dotted ballgown and another wear a red striped minidress. It worked out great, and everyone was super happy because they either wore what they already had or bought something they liked. The two weddings I've been in, the dresses were okay, but neither will ever see the light of day again. But nothing like the horrors above, just not the most flattering cuts, etc. I'm picky. Oh, and cabingirl, I read your post as: seafoam green... big poofy sleeves, and the bodice was half shirred and half covered in sequins. The trauma that induced in me was in no way mitigated by seeing the break between the lines later. Seafoam is a big joke amongst my friends - ever see the Mastercard commercial? - and I can't believe you actually wore it!
• I was going to let me bridesmaids chose their own dresses, but they didn't like the idea. they all wanted to match (or have a bad decision be on my head). I didn't get it, personally. wedding planning brings out the worst taste in a person, as everyone pushes to make the event some sort of fantasy confection or to play princess for a day. Some think about how "pretty" things are with no regard for physics or manners. given the wildly varying heights, body shapes and styles of my bridesmaids, I opted for saris (black with gold embroidery). $25 each, bought off eBay from a woman in India, and they looked stunning on everyone.
• ROUND TWO: www.uglydress.com has some great photos... just what I needed for a Friday!
• livii, it didn't seem THAT bad at the time (1991). It was for my sister's wedding and I was young and naive. In retrospect...yeesh!
• A long time ago I used to make dresses for friends. The worst? Mauve sheaths with yellow bows for an Easter wedding. The best were a beautiful brocade and scoop neck that I had to then put ruffles on because the girls felt inadequate. Or maybe the worst were the ones I made for my wedding. Thankfully no one ever told me their opinion. It's such a relief to no longer be asked to perform such honours. Patita, that was a splendid idea. It must have been striking. I don't hear these men talking about their rented suits and tux's. How come?
• I don't hear these men talking about their rented suits and tux's. 1. Men don't really care that much about clothes. If it don't itch, it don't pinch, it don't matter. 2. Tuxedoes, usually black. Or white. Aaaand...that's it. Unless you're Liberace. 3. There is no 3.
• 1/ Not true. 2/ Kilts. 3/ Grooms aren't tryuing to make their groomsmen look bad so they can get the attention.
• My friend was a groomsman in a kilt - all of the guys looked great, though they really should have tried to be a little more ladylike with where the hem rode when jumping into each others' arms for pictures.
• I've never been a bridesmaid, but I was 'best man' at my best friend's wedding - I got to wear full morning suit with a cravatte and everything. It *rocked*.