Cobalt dress for sister's wedding--pick best of 3 options

My sister is getting married and wants me and my other sister and sister in law to wear cobalt dresses. We are not officially bridesmaids, but will be walking down the aisle before our kids (the cousins are all flower girls and ringbearer). She is getting married in Sedona AZ--the wedding is at 5 pm (outdoors) and the reception is to follow at the hotel/resort. We will be taking family pics before the ceremony.

I posted these dresses before when I was shopping for options in this thread (if you want to see what they look like without a huge belly):
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....he-first-7

These three were the top contenders, so I kept these three and figured I'd decide later. But later is now--the wedding is next week, so I thought I'd open it up to voting again since my figure is quite different now! :) Which of these three dresses do you think looks best on me for the wedding? They are not maternity dresses, so hopefully they don't look too funny with my big preggo tummy!

I'll probably bring all three and compare to what the others are wearing before making a final decision, but I wanted to get some feedback on which one you guys think is the winner. If it's a tossup, I could change from one dress to another between the wedding and reception, but it would be easier to just wear one dress the whole time. I'll probably end up returning the loser to Nordstrom.

1-5. Adrianna Papell--aka mermaid dress. I think this one probably looks the most sophisticated of the three. I think it was my second favorite before (I felt like it looked a bit plain compared to the sequin dress), but now I kind of like how it is figure hugging and highlights the bump. The only slight problem is I have to keep an eye on the "scales", which have a tendency to want to flip up around the top of my big belly (it's pretty easy to smooth them down though). DH said he liked this one the best, and the JS Boutique the next best.

6-10. JS Boutique. This one got the most votes in the previous thread and was my favorite before. I think it's the dressiest and probably the best for an evening wedding, with the sequins. I like the twirly skirt--it's a fun dress to wear. I like the front view but I'm a little unhappy with the side view--I think I look a lot bigger in this dress because the skirt hangs straight down instead of hugging the underside of my belly. The empire waist kind of makes it seem more like a maternity dress. Also, I'm not sure about the high neckline on me--I tend to prefer V necks. And I'm wondering if it looks too young, like a prom dress.

11-14. Seamline for Cynthia Steffe--I like the neckline and the dress is very similar to the J Crew Origami dress that I have in orange. This one was the least expensive of the three. I'm keeping this one regardless--I actually have worn this to work several times already, even while pregnant. However, it's more of a daytime dress (so maybe not fancy enough for a wedding) and my growing belly is causing some puckering at the sides of the skirt.

Well, what do you think? Do you like any of these or should I scramble to find something else like a true maternity dress? Thanks for your help!

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

47 Comments

  • ramya replied 11 years ago

    Ok I am useless... I love all 3 on you... Aren't you beautiful!!!

    I love 2 on you and yes I get what you mean by side view....But it still looks beautiful...
    You could go with 1 also...
    I am not much for 3 probably because it says to me GP's work outfit and not party office:)

  • Kiwichik replied 11 years ago

    Well I thought I loved #1 & then I saw #2 wow.

  • Caro in Oz replied 11 years ago

    My choice would be #3 but if it isn't dressy enough then #1. They are all lovely on you - it's really down to personal taste.

  • Scarlet replied 11 years ago

    I think I like the second one the best. The last one looks like it is starting to pull across the back, so for a wedding with lots of photos, I wouldn't wear that one. I do like the first one quite a bit, but I prefer the second, especially if you will be in a lot of photos. I think it will photograph better. I would just be sure not to be in full profile in the photos because I think that style of dress (with or without the pregnancy) can look larger in a photo, whereas when you are moving around in real life it is more flattering. From the front it is a knockout. Either one will look great though.

  • Kate replied 11 years ago

    You look lovely in all three, Nathalie, but my favorite of the lot is #1. I understand why you like #3; it fits you beautifully, and is extremely flattering.

  • Deborah replied 11 years ago

    #2 would be my choice Natalie. It's a lovely dressy dress and the fit is the best (at the moment).. The other two dresses also look lovely bit there is pulling in areas on both. I think for comfort 2 will also be the best.

  • rute replied 11 years ago

    I'm between 1 and 2. I love 2 (love the sparkles) but you look divine in 1!

  • fashionista replied 11 years ago

    I am not much into 1 n 3. I love dress #2 (6-10). I like the way it flatters your body.

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 11 years ago

    What a gorgeous color on you. I like #2 the best followed by 1 and then 3. All are very pretty on you so whichever makes you feel best would look great.

  • Sveta replied 11 years ago

    I like #2 the best - I don't think it looks huge at all. I also think it maybe the most comfortable to wear (especially sitting down) as well and comfort level would be high on my list if I were pregnant :-)

  • Susie replied 11 years ago

    They all look lovely on you. I agree that 3 is better as a day dress so keep enjoying that one!

    I was going to say dress 1 as soon as I saw it but then I saw 2! I think 2 is perfect for a wedding! It fits well and is very flattering. I don't think it looks too young at all. Again, I like1 but overall I prefer 2 and think it is beautiful on you.

  • pastrygirl replied 11 years ago

    Same as the others -- 1 looked good, then I saw 2. WOW!! You look stunning.

  • replied 11 years ago

    I like 2 best still also. I like the flowiness of the fabric, and I think it would be the most comfortable to wear.

  • Glory replied 11 years ago

    You look fantastic. I was going to say 1 because you look so lovely in it, then I saw 2. My vote goes to 2 because it is divine on you. I think it will photo well, you will look lovely for the entire event. I do not think if makes you look large at all! Enjoy the wedding.

  • Janet replied 11 years ago

    I'm not even looking at the other responses -- #2 by a million percent, as Angie would say! The others are doing some bunching, but #2 just seems to flow effortlessly. You look so pretty!

  • shiny replied 11 years ago

    Another vote for #2, because I am considering the heat. The looser style will be a lot cooler to wear. And, if you wind up having another wedding or formal invitation in the next three months, you will be able to wear it again!

    When my sister got married, two out of three bridesmaids were pregnant. My mom made the bridesmaids' dresses -- they were a light blue, satin, very Jackie O, with empire waists. The dresses were adorable if you were pregnant, not so much if you weren't. Unfortunately everyone thought I, the maid of honor and third to walk down the aisle after two very pregnant women, must *also* be pregnant. :-(

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    And here's yet an other vote for #2 - absolutely lovely on you Natalie!

  • MsMary replied 11 years ago

    Nu ber 2 by a mile! Have a great time at the wedding!

  • Sara L. replied 11 years ago

    I like #1 and #2. I think your plan to bring all the dresses and compare to the other women is a good idea.

  • Jamie replied 11 years ago

    Put me down for #2 as well. You look lovely!

  • DeniseP replied 11 years ago

    Like all three, since the color is FAB on you, but after reading Sveta's comment, I agree that number two seems to be more comfortable? Vote #2.

  • JAileen replied 11 years ago

    #3. Looks dressy to me. Then #1. #2 looks expected, conventional, typical. And boring?
    When you're pregnant you get cut some slack. Take advantage of this!

  • anne replied 11 years ago

    No 1 for me. Love no 2 from the front but not side but No 1 works from all angles!

  • unfrumped replied 11 years ago

    I can't believe how great you look wearing real dresses while pregnant. Amazing.

    I vote #2. I realize it has the larger side profile compared with the more body-con ones, including #1, but I agree with scarlet that in real life it is going to look more effortless and comfortable in a pretty way as you walk, sit, stand, visit with guests, and therefore you are likely to look best overall and be perceived by others. The front view is also the most beautiful, in these photos at least, and that's how you'll mostly be captured for the photos.

  • Diana replied 11 years ago

    I think #2 is the best when considering all the issues - style, comfort, and lack of fussiness. I do kind of like the idea of #1 though because it's not your typical Pregnant Lady formal dress!

  • bj1111 replied 11 years ago

    #2 then #1.

  • Sona replied 11 years ago

    another vote for #2 followed closely by #1.

  • sinead replied 11 years ago

    I love #2 for the wedding. You look beautiful in this and it seems the most wedding appropriate.

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    Another vote for #2 here - beautiful and graceful!

  • K. Period. replied 11 years ago

    I don't think we're going to do any good helping you here! We're all over the place.

    I love #1. At first glance, I loved #2 even more, but then it started to get to me how the band sits on the top of your tummy. My youngest is just about to turn two, so I've been in your situation recently and had to find a good dress for a wedding party when I was pregnant and I'm very sympathetic. For me, the band not sitting quite right was a deal killer, but it is probably a weird me thing. Everyone else loves it. Also, I wonder about support for the ladies. Will you need to buy a special bra? I could never go without, especially while pregnant with all the additional and the sensitivity. Probably TMI and probably just one of my weird quirks, but eh. Anyhow, 3 is lovely too, but I think 1 is even better.

    You know what I particularly love about 1? It is body con. You have a beautiful, gorgeous belly to show off along with the ultra fabulous rest of you. I like unabashed adoration of the belly. Therefore, I love 1.

  • Sheila replied 11 years ago

    Definitely #2. The silhouette is so much more flattering to my eye. And the swish of the skirt is very sexy! Please, please wear it for the wedding.

  • nk123 replied 11 years ago

    You look lovely in all of them. I am a jewelry girl so I would decide based on which piece showcases my bling the best!! Also hair up/ hair down? Glasses or contacts? All of the dresses look fantastic on you - I would decide based on the other components of the look.

  • rachylou replied 11 years ago

    Tough. I saw #1 and was all "That's the one!" Then I saw #2... The material of #2 falls very beautifully, but #1 is a more "with it" dress. Both are very flattering.

    I vote against #3. Love the neckline, but I don't think the sewing is of the same quality as the other two.

  • Sandy replied 11 years ago

    They are all beautiful, but I like #1 and #2 better than #3, but you'll look wonderful in any of them. I can't believe they aren't maternity dresses, they look so good with the bump.

  • cciele replied 11 years ago

    I'm voting for 2 -- love the floaty nature of this dress.

  • Jules replied 11 years ago

    They all look pretty great :) But relatively, I feel #1 is minimizing your bust while accentuating the belly (which I am not against - pregnant is beautiful!). I am not sure it will photograph as well as #2, which is just beautiful.

  • unfrumped replied 11 years ago

    OK I needed to analyze some more about why #2 and not #1, since #1 has some of the features I like in modern "materity" dressing, where it's okay to highlight our protuberance-ness. It's the neckline. The higher neckline is more flattering with "the bump" instead of the v heading down to meet the bump. So that's part of it, for me, along with everything else. Although, if I looked that good any of the 3 dresses, I'd be happy!

  • Ariadne replied 11 years ago

    #2 (though I initially thought #1).

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Well, I actually love them all, but I am voting for #2 because it feels most festive!

  • krishnidoux replied 11 years ago

    You look so good! All of them are gorgeous, but dress 2 wins my heart.

  • replied 11 years ago

    I'm not reading any of the comments. I really agree with your DH though. I love the first dress. The second is very nice, but it looks like it might be hard to hide bra straps with the top. Even though the side view of #2 makes you look larger than you do in the first dress, I'm sure with movement, your true silhouette will be revealed. They are all lovely. You're lucky that sis chose a color that you look so wonderful in!

  • Echo replied 11 years ago

    I love the second dress. Flowy goes better with pregnancy for me, and I think that the first dress downplays your bust and over-emphasizes the bump. Again, not bad to emphasize the bump, but I think the second dress makes you look more proportional and that it is more flattering. You are gorgeous in blue!

  • Girl X replied 11 years ago

    For me it's #1 no question - your sister really picked a great colour for you! I hope you have some other cobalt items in your wardrobe. :)

  • Joy replied 11 years ago

    My vote goes to #2 followed by #1. The second seems to fit the occasion best, but you would be the best judge of that. You will be lovely in either one.

  • Angie replied 11 years ago

    I vote #1 by far! Was there consensus?

  • Jaime replied 11 years ago

    I cannot believe how well you wear these regular dresses while pregnant. The first one looks like a very modern pregnancy, bodycon look and the second one looks more of a traditional pregnancy look if that makes sense. Truly you look gorgeous in all of them.

  • ManidipaM replied 11 years ago

    Natalie, it's so brilliant that your sister chose a colour that you look stellar in! I'd say keep all three of these dresses for one occasion or the other, if you can --- wow! Though I agree, the third is best as a day dress, probably, rather than at a wedding.

    I totally see the charm of #1, and like many others, was leaning towards it from the thumbnnails alone. But then I saw #2...! (Are you hearing 'broken record' yet?) I love the way it shows off your pretty shoulders and flatters your bust, and it's so ladylike. I understand the 'maternity silhouette' issue with the empire waistband viewed in profile, but I wonder if a more supportive foundation to lift the bust wouldn't result in a more curvy shape. And if you're going to be moving around a lot, and especially if you're dancing, now only will you be more comfortable in #2, you'll be showing off your silhouette beautifully with that swirly skirt.

    For photo ops, I'd suggest facing the camera or using your purse or clutch (assuming you'll carry one?) to, uh, 'dent' the skirt under the bump when side-on to the camera --- I'm not explaining this very well, sorry.

    You're going to be glowing, either way!

You need to be logged in to comment