Not a fashionista at all...But I like this one in blue.

I love the Vince Camilo but I prefer it in black. What is with spell check? I typed Camuto but auto correct changed it.

ETA: when my DD married eleven years ago she wanted to marry on Christmas Eve. Sine we knew that could be a real conflict with people we had a beautiful, more formal reception for family and close friends after their rehearsal and another casual reception after the service for everyone who came to the wedding. We wanted to make sure that we were mindful of friend's and family holiday plans. The wedding was lovely and most everyone was able to make it for both receptions.

Of those, I like the Ellen Tracy with the asymmetrical neckline.

I vote for the Vince Camilo. I love lace, just not the ones you posted.

I could not wear any of the ones you chose as I need clothes that are more "forgiving."

Have you looked at Ann Taylor? My youngest wore a plum lace dress from AT to a December wedding. (I picked it out online for her)

I like the first dress in your lineup. But dressy winter, I like velvet.

Thanks for all the comments so far. I'll check Ann Taylor, but recently every dress I have tried there has been too short for me. I normally like AT clothes and do buy a lot there. Thanks for the suggestion.

Kswl, velvet is something I hadn't thought about but I truly haven't seen too many velvet dresses in my search. Lots of sleeveless ones though, which always amazes me.

I like the Tadashi Shoji and the Vince Camuto in black. Nordstrom also has a beautiful Tadashi Shoji Embroidered Lace Sheath in smoked pearl but it might be too dressy.

I am not a fashionista.. nor do I have your build but I like the vince camuto in black and I like the tadashi (there are a few full price tadashi's I like also but i won't recommend anything that costs more than the ones you've already shared!). I would get more wear from the vince camuto and I love that it is simple and elegant.. the key will be the cut and the quality of the jewels on the neck. I don't always love vince camuto's quality... and it could go dowdy if the cut isnt just right.

Nothing else moved me. I think the Ellen Tracy is dated and dowdy.. and I have been very unhappy with the quality of the few Karen Kane pieces I have bought.

Have you looked at Saks? They are having a huge sale right now.. there are limited sizes but some pretty deep discounts. Something I like about their site is that many of their items have videos of a model walking in the item. That always helps me!

What's your coloring? Is blue a good color for you? Is gray? I lean towards black in many styles but mostly because blue is awful for me and I can only wear cool grays.

I love the third one. I'd like the last one except I think it's too short for a formal wedding.

I think this is gorgeous

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/adrianna-papell-pleated-jersey-sheath-dress-regular-petite/3034652?origin=related-3034652-0-2-PP_4-Data_Lab_Recommendo_V2-fbt_similar_items&recs_type=related&recs_productId=3034652&recs_categoryId=0&recs_productOrder=2&recs_placementId=PP_4&recs_source=Data_Lab_Recommendo_V2&recs_strategy=fbt_similar_items&recs_referringPageType=item_page

I like the Tadashi Shoji!

I like the TS one best except that I think v necks generally tend to be more flattering. No to the blue and red one because of style and materials.

This is an unpopular thought, but for me, nothing compares to hauling myself to stores, seeing something irl, and trying it on.

Something like this Victoria Beckham (pricey even at 40% off). It's a lovely silhouette.

Similar look

Maybe I'm old fashioned (strike that, on this point I'm definitely old fashioned), but no, no, no to wearing a black dress to a wedding. I know that people do it routinely now, and have for a couple decades, but no. In the world of ceremonial events, black is for funerals. No white for weddings either; that's for the bride.

I like the Vince Camuto in blue. I also like the Adrianna Papell (Tribbix's suggestion) in anaything but black.

Ah.. but this isn't a wedding. It's essentially a party .. a reception that has been separated from the wedding.

I agree. I would not wear black to a wedding.

Do you dance? If so, perhaps a more relaxed skirt so it will move.

I meant to say...I am not planning to wear black to this reception. I guess I am old-fashioned too because I just don't care to do it. All the choices I posted were available in other colors I would pick such as cobalt blue or silver/grey. Not red either, although I do like to wear red or raspberry. We don't have a Nordstrom very close by. I could drive about 2 hours to Nashville or Birmingham (for Saks), but I didn't really want to do that. I can generally pick 2-3 to order and narrow it down and send the others back.

Yes DH and I dance, but I am comfortable in a sheath-type and it is flattering to me as long as it isn't skin-tight, which I wouldn't pick anyway. A slightly flared skirt would be ok. I like the other suggestions and don't mind paying a bit more, but deep v-necks don't flatter me as much as rounded, square, or boatnecks.

Funkyart, point taken, although I would still say no to black for a wedding reception (less emphatically, though--one, maybe two nos at most).

LOL.. well, I have only worn black once-- and I was a bridesmaid in a black and white wedding. I just don't have the same feelings about a reception that is basically a party after the fact. Funny though, I wouldn't wear red.. or white.

I was stunned when the mother of the groom arrived at my sister's wedding in a RED dress. A hugely ruffled, flouncy endora-esque red dress. My poor mother didnt know whether to laugh or cry!

This one could be neat...depending on what material the silver actually is...could be great or awful...that's the hard part about shopping on line.

Ooooooh..love that last one from Annie!

After 5:00 pm says formal to me and all the dresses so far seem semi-formal, but expectations vary from area to area (I lived most of my life in an area where formal was, well, FORMAL, so take this for what it is worth-ha). For a formal, after 5 pm wedding in January, I would probably choose a long skirt and pair it with a beautiful, luxurious cashmere sweater with blingy earrings. This Is because I am always cold, hate having bare or stocking-ed legs in winter, and because I think I could get away with it.

Talbots is my go-to store. Check out their 'occasion' dresses HERE.

I have ordered 2 from Nordstrom...the Tadashi Shoji, which is silver embroidered lace over black and I am still not sure about, and the cobalt Vince Camuto several of you liked. I really did like the b&w Annie posted and the velvet, but the velvet only came in a 6 and I was afraid it would be too small. Some 6's I can wear, some not. I also searched Lord & Taylor, Saks and Neimans. Several possibilities, but I just couldn't see paying over $300 for something I 'might' wear again in a few more months. I found a couple more candidates I liked deeply discounted but one was not returnable, and the other also looked a bit short. (Sigh!)

Thank you all for your input. I will post photos when they come in. I still have some time to panic if they don't work. And DD and I are also helping DGD look for a formal for a Feb dance. She is so tiny and oh boy is this hard. She is 16, a real pretty girl, did not get my height, and is an athletic size 2 with a bust. Sheesh!

We attended a reception-only last year, after declining the invitation to the destination wedding in Aruba. It was in December and I wore a LBD, similar to the Vince cap-sleeve sheath, mainly because I had it and did not want to buy a dressy "winter only" dress. It was fine with a dressy shawl. I like your choices, please post when you get them.

I remember attending an orthodox Romanian wedding in summer. I wore pink with a bleached hat. It was the 80s so think four weddings and a funeral. All the Romanian ladies except the bride were in black or navy. I felt like a daffodil in a bouquet of dark purple tulips. Beautiful ceremony and everyone brought flowers for the bride which was traditional.

I get the hat first and then the dress. I have an easy time choosing hats and sew a dress to go with it. I liked the Tadashi dress too.

So the 2 Nordstrom dresses arrived today. Hubs really liked the black Tadashi Shoji and it is more black irl than in the catalog photo. However the gold and silver thread embroidery really is pretty and I do like it. What to you think?

I just grabbed a pair of shoes for the photo. Not the ones I will wear. And I didn't bother to dig out my black strapless bra either.

The royal blue Vince Camuto is nice too

My vote is for the blue. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think one size up would be even more flattering.

With dresses like these you need to view yourself from all angles. This is how others will be seeing you. The side, back as well as front.

You have a great figure!

Hmm, that is a tough choice. They are both pretty and look very nice on you. I think I'd go with the Tadashi, because it is a bit more understated and looks more comfortable. The blue dress is a style that would make me feel like I would need to have perfect posture and hold my breath a little :-)

They both look very nice on you.

My choice is the TS...although you can't go wrong with either.

#1 definitely!

ohhhh! I think the tadashi looks great on you!! it's a winner-- it looks like it is comfortable to wear and it will work beautifully with a range of jewelry and shoes.

Thank you ladies! The TS is very comfortable and I do like it the best. Actually the VC was comfortable too. It had those side gathers (which are supposed to do something to flatter you I guess) but just look like uneven fabric to me.

Even though I didn't want to wear black, the gold and silver embroidery really is beautiful on the dress. You can't really see it all that well in the photo. Both are figure-skimming without feeling tight. Any size up would just hang loose on me. I know because I've tried that & there is a big difference in sizing up.

First of all, you're adorable, and we can't even see your face! :-) I love, love, love the TS and think it looks amazing on you - very flattering to your great figure. The VC is very nice too, but doesn't have the same WOW factor.

Definitely the blue! That is sharp and chic and looks fantastic on you!

I !ike the blue, too. The other would be lovely...on an older woman. You dont look that....matronly?

I love lace dresses and will wear one to my dtrs wedding this summer.

i like the blue best with your skin color... the picture does make it look a little too tight tho...

the black and silver fabric is very pretty, but i'm not crazy about the neckline...

You all are too sweet with your comments!