I dont see anything wrong with the shape of either. I have seen Kelly Clarkson on TV many times before she lost weight, and she wore dresses with a big sash on her apple figure. I think it was fine.

They both look lovely! i personally am addicted to 3/4 length sleeves so i’d pick #1.

For an apple shape, I like #1 best. First because i think the collar would be more flattering and elongating for that shape. Second because of the 3/4-length sleeves (same reason). For the bow, i would perhaps experiment with how to tie it that best flatters your figure and height, for example, short bows, long ties, on the side.

I love both and think a solid color would be even better. Are you sure you love this look enough?

edited to add, when I commented I had not read any of the others. ’Effortless elegance’ captures the look of #1 very well.

#1

I like things about both. i like 3/4 sleeves on number 1, but I like the cross of the shirt into the skirt of number 2. I think it lays more flattering and the fabric of the belt lies nicer in the pic.

I do like the way it looks on the size 12 model and how she tied it on the side.

I like #1. Earrings, no necklace, big chunky bracelet. Decide on either gold or silver as both would work.

Also I'd consider getting rid of the bow and replacing it with a fancy buckle instead.

Fitted bodice, full skirt reminds me of what friend wore as MOG. It was a flattering look, but she took it to a tailor to have it fit well which is key if you don't have an "off the rack" body.

I’m 5”6” I’ll probably wear a 1.5 - 2” heel. There will be Spanx involved. The dress will be altered to make it fit properly.

Oh and my friend tried to get her tailor to fit the dress and she refused until she got a new, properly fitting bra!

It's a stunning, classic look, for sure - I could hardly tell them apart at first 😁

I prefer the dressier collar/neckline on #2 but I prefer the sleeve length of #1.

Voting #1 for sleeve length. I'd wear earrings and bracelet that make a statement!

Does a formal wedding = long dress? Always?

What poster showed a red or plaid (?) taffeta skirt for one of her Christmas holiday events recently recently? Was it Sueb20? I am askng this because of the volume of the skirt and bbstx comparable heights. Due to the volume, of the skirt, I would opt for the 3/4 length sleeve. and add a bracelet or 3.

I own this one piece dress in the short version. I prefer to see a little skin.

Ratherbesewing, I would not necessarily feel compelled to wear a long dress, but I’ve been asked to. I’m being treated as a member of the wedding party.

Nordstrom has restocked this Mac Duggal dress in my size. It tempts me something fierce, but I think it may be a bit too glitzy for this wedding. I do not want to compete with the bride or the MOG or MOB.

Eld, asked for a picture of me, but that post seems to have disappeared. I looked through my photos and realized that I’ve become a master of hiding behind other people when pictures are taken. This is about as good as I could get. DH and I in Gibraltar a couple of years ago.

This one may be better to show my appley-dappley shape. (I read some photo tips yesterday that I certainly need to remember: Always straighten your clothes and your hair.)

bb! You could wear any of these dresses so beautifully! You have a great figure.

Love the shoes you’re wearing above. :)

As to jewelry with the 3/4 length sleeve, for a wedding I would not wear more than one bracelet. Too jangly and disruptive. A single wider band bracelet or bangle might be ok. Simple drop earrings and maybe a simple pendant. The dress itself has so much going on you don’t need to add to it.

ratherbesewing, it was @Kswl who wore a fabulous red skirt with matching shoes.

I like #1 styled like the size 12 model with the bow off to the side. I think it is worth trying and love the look!

ETA: I've had this photo of an actress of a certain age and shape in a version of this look saved for a couple of years and I think she looks amazing.

I agree with Jilly .. you look great and your figure is not what I imagine when I hear "apple"

Sorry - photo referenced in my post above. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I too was expecting more of the prominent stomach that a true apple has. You look much straighter and like the visual nip at the waist the belt would give, would be flattering.

Have you tried this outfit on? I love the classic look of it.

Bbstx, I removed my post because it sounded too negative.

It all comes down to how the dress will fit you. And, if you feel comfortable in it.

I don’t have a waist so I head over to the fit and flair, or sheaths that in curve in at the waist.

True about not out glitzing the wedding party.

RNMom, I have not tried on the dresses yet. I’m either going to have to order them from Neiman’s or find a Neiman’s with them both in stock and go try them on.

eld, do not give ”negative” a second thought. To be honest, I don’t really recall what your post said so while you think it may have been a bit negative, it wasn’t mean. All I remember is your asking for the picture and it has taken me this long to work up the courage to post a picture of myself. Besides, I put this out there for comments and if some of them are negative, that is okay. My skin isn’t that thin.

I also deleted my response also. I only made comments about the dress vs shape since you told us to remember your apple shape.

BBSTX,

Don't sell yourself short. If you are an "apple." you are Red Delicious, not Granny Smith. : )

I would go with one, for the 3/4 sleeves. And heels, but comfy ones.

HAHAHA….I’ll remember that Mtn!

I agree on #1 with the bow off to the side looks great. I would like the higher collar because I don’t like how my neck looks bare, though I like #2, too. I think #1 is overall more flattering and that’s the one I’d buy. Like Annie said, you might need some tailoring to make it really fit you.

OMG hat green dress is fantastic! if it goes with the bridesmaids’ gowns and/or the decor or theme I would at least try it on. It’s gorgeous! What color is your hair? That would make a difference in which color should go next to your face and hair.

I stopped coloring my hair during the worst of Covid. It is/was a dark brown. Now it is salt and pepper, but more pepper than salt. I would love for it to get grayer but it probably won’t ever be fully white based on what my mother’s hair did.

This is Mom at 88. My hair color looks more like the darker side of hers. I have a very light gray streak too, but I can’t play it up because of the spot of alopecia right in the middle of it. ☹️

I am honored that you’d think I had the type of life or fashion savvy to wear a taffeta skirt. LOL.

Bb, your mom is so beautiful. ❤️

I often wonder what my mother would have looked like had she not died young. It makes me smile to see mothers posted here. :)

Yes, BBstx your Mom is lovely.

Your Mom is so beautiful.

Your photos must have shown up after my last post. I agree with Mtn; you are not much of an apple at all. Definitely go try on or order the dresses and see what you think.

I love the green one but it is def a little blingy. When i was shopping a little over a year ago for a GMoG dress, I thought i had found 'the one' until it arrived and I realized it was way too sparkly. I'm so glad I changed my mind.

@bbstx, how tall are you? The model in the size 12 photo of #1 says she is 5'10" and the dress is brushing the floor. So I would expect you would need to have the length adjusted. I've tried to hem a satin skirt, and it was very visible, so probably a job for a pro.

i think I prefer #1.

Thanks Cawaps. I’m 5’6”. I’ll wear 1.5” - 2” heels with the dress. I have no intention of doing any of the alterations on this dress. There is a woman in my little down who has been altering evening gowns and wedding gowns for ever, but she getting older and slowing down. I’ve already identified another seamstress. She is a bit of a drive, but not just everyone can alter an evening gown.

Bbstx, your mom is beautiful. You’re lucky if you look anything like her!

Both of those black and white options you posted above are perfect for the wedding you describe but I would still get the green dress to have for the next event, if it fits and looks great.

Kswl, as much as I would like to have that dress, I rarely have need for formal attire. The next possibility is my niece’s wedding next year. There is still no venue but she is talking about a destination (possibly beach) wedding.

Thank you all for the kind words about Mother. I always thought she was pretty, but I think all children think their mothers are pretty. I wish I had inherited her sense of style. She always wore very classic, very tailored clothes (see any relationship here with the dress above?)

Too bad you have to wear long as you have really nice legs and if I had those I'd be showing them off.

You are a sweetie, blfenton. However, I’m happy to have the opportunity to wear a beautiful long gown.

UPDATE: Saks has a sale going on. I’ve ordered both dresses. While ordering them, I saw this Carolina Herrera gown. I think I like the white buttons better. What do you think?

Just to be clear, I will not be buying the Carolina Herrera. I’m merely contemplating changing the buttons on the Terri Jon/Rickie Freeman dress. This would apply to dress #1 only.

Yes to the white buttons. I think you if you wanted to wear very understated jewelry they would be okay. They are somewhat attention grabbing in the picture.

I prefer the white buttons.

Same-- I prefer the white buttons!

I'd prefer white but I could see mother of pearl! I have cuff links I bought myself on a business trip in Milan, a lovely mother of pearl with real gold trim. Love those.

The idea brings to mind one of my favorite tricks. I used to wear a navy or black suit most every day, and I would often go to Tender Buttons, a store in NYC, to pick out interesting, elaborate buttons to replace the quotidian ones. It made me feel a bit Chanel-ish. I loved that place.

Alas, they closed in 2019

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-and-off-the-avenue/tender-buttons-a-one-of-a-kind-new-york-institution-closes-shop

Love that article. At least 20 years ago, I had a red silk cocktail suit that I wanted to wear to a party. The buttons were much too plain for the suit. I found a wonderful little shop in Dallas that was chock full of the most gorgeous buttons. They are still in business but have moved to one of the suburbs.

If the buttons on the dress I’ve ordered are too pedestrian, I may have to go looking for some pretty mother of pearl buttons. Not a color, just a better button.

Mtn, the cufflinks sound divine. I don’t remember the last time I had a french-cuff shirt.

I loved Tender Buttons! I used to change out the buttons on the kids’ clothes for cute, adorable ones, and on my cardigans I liked handpainted ones. That was a wonderful shop.

Bbstx, you might be able to find button covers that fit over your existing buttons, for an additional look.

These on Amazement are very pretty

https://www.amazon.com/OoSsSoO-Button-Business-Wedding-buttons/dp/B0CD2VVRSV/ref=asc_df_B0CD2VVRSV/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=673749465107&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2798783862804679777&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010882&hvtargid=pla-2202047826467&psc=1&mcid=c52b5f06d6583deb89278353b15dad7e

@Kswl, your post about button covers is not showing up. However, I was able to read it in my email notification. I hope you didn’t delete it because I thought it was brilliant. I totally fell down a button-cover rabbit hole on Etsy. There are a ton of OTT gaudy ones, but there are also some very subdued mother-of-pearl ones. If the buttons on the dress turn out to be ugly, button covers may be the answer.

In my poking around, I found some button covers that I may buy for the groom to wear as cufflinks to the rehearsal dinner. They can be laser engraved with the name or initials of the bride and groom and the date of the wedding. I'm going to have to think about it to make sure it comes off as fun and doesn't fall over into gaudy or gauche.

Well boo! I'm sure you are disappointed as well! Back to the drawing board. Can we help you shop? What colors do you wear and feel good in? I worked retail years ago and was pretty good dressing people and spending their money!

RN, shop away! ”My” color, the one I like best and look best in is hot pink or raspberry. Unfortunately “Barbie pink” is the color the bridesmaids are wearing. I don’t want to look like a bridesmaid wannabe.

I have found a black satin inverted pleat evening skirt. Wonder if I could find a good looking white blouse to wear with it.

This Carolina Herrara blouse would be nice. I’m trying to decide if I could justify the price

What I do not want is something makes me look like my grandmother, no kimonos, no overblouses, etc. Although I’m built like my grandmother, I don’t want to dress like her if I can avoid it!

Would an empire waist be a better choice? I lack much of a waistline myself, and find empire waist/higher waisted styles are most flattering - and more comfortable - for me.

I like these silhouettes - not necessarily the colors or fabrics...

Carol, thanks. I’m going to have to do a lot more shopping than I want to!!

Let’s please post on the new thread. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6426271/back-to-the-drawing-board-wedding-guest-clothing