Help me find an outfit that's wedding-sexy, not club-sexy!

March 29, 2015 9:35 AM

Can you help me find a dress (and shoes and jewelry) to wear to a wedding that's sexy while still appropriate for a wedding?

I'm attending a wedding that's going to be held at night in San Francisco. The couple getting married are wealthy, artsy/creative types. I want to look sexy!

Can you help me find a dress (and shoes and accessories) that are super sexy but still wedding appropriate?

I'm pear-shaped with a long torso, very small waist, and big booty. I'm comfortable in 3 inch heels, max. I can spend up to $400 total on the outfit, assuming I can wear it all out for other occasions in the future.

Thanks!

posted by tomorrow to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (6 answers total)

Your figure is similar to mine, and the most drop-dead fabulous dress I've ever owned is a floor length dress in sort of jersey material with a bit of a sheen, with a mock turtleneck and short sleeves; no cleavage, none of the obvious "sexy" signifiers (high neck instead of low, long length instead of short, etc). But it fits me like a glove in all the right places (JUUUUUUST tight enough across the hips and butt, nipped in at the right spot on my waist, loose enough in the bust to suggest something was there), and I've called it my "wow dress" because on three separate occasions I've had three ex-boyfriends see me in it and TO A MAN their reaction was always a slack-jawed and heartfelt, ".....wow."

I'd go that route - elegant, but with an absolutely perfect cut for you. Think 1930's starlet.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:09 AM on March 29, 2015

Here's something that screams sexy to me. Chic, elegant, bare shoulders. A great bracelet and you're looking smashing. (Some styling ideas).

Hard to go wrong with timeless elegance. Updo and pearls to accessorize, classic fuck-me pumps on your feet.

A halter neck could also work very well.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:13 AM on March 29, 2015

Maybe too "out there" but I would consider a beautiful jumpsuit. Something loose but nipped at the waist, cropped and narrow-legged and in a dark, high-quality material, paired with metallic pumps and clutch and interesting geometric jewelry. Something like this or this.
posted by LeeLanded at 10:58 AM on March 29, 2015

I recently went to a formal wedding in SF and found a beautiful Tadashi Shoji dress at Nordstrom. I stupidly went to Stonestown where the selection was smaller but was successful nonetheless (much more to choose from at the huge Westfield location). They had a lot of sexy but not slutty dresses.

The dress was like $325 out the door which was a little more than I wanted to spend but it was fabulous. I'm usually not comfortable wearing something so fitted (I have a big booty and prefer A-line) but my friend convinced me to get it. It was shimmery and sexy and I got so. many. compliments.

I found some black shoes at DSW, used a black bag I already had, and kept the jewelry simple with pearl earrings. Considered my pearl necklace but the clasp is broken. I bought a stupid pashmina wrap at Macys but it just annoyed me the whole time and I wish I had saved the $30.

I will say that the other thing I splurged on was getting my makeup done at Benefit. I'm just not that great at "night" makeup so I wanted to leave it to a professional, and it was totally worth it. At Benefit the application is free, you just have to buy 3 products. I ended up spending like $75+ tip, but I left looking like a million bucks - and with the lipstick I wore that night, awesome creme blush, and a brow tint that made me feel like I was leveling up my makeup game a bit. (Oh and you can book at their boutiques online, from your phone, and often they have same-day appointments...not that I would know...)
posted by radioamy at 11:17 AM on March 29, 2015

I can personally attest to this dress. Check out the reviews, it looks good on everyone. The fabric is partly what makes it, it's a magical combination of thick and sturdy and stretchy that hides, holds in, and pushes up. It comes in other colours if red is too much for you.

To me, elegant-sexy screams retro. Stop Staring or Pinup Couture might have some more ideas for you.
posted by AV at 11:20 AM on March 29, 2015

You may have found something by now, but this still presents an excellent excuse to look at dresses from Diane Von Furstenberg. I think her designs are totally chic, classy, sexy, and -- most importantly -- highly repurposeable. I wore something of hers to a wedding I attended years ago and it's still my go-to fancy occasion dress. The fabric is a pleasingly deluxe silk jersey, the fit is great, and I definitely feel *special* when I wear it.

DVF also has a big variety of shapes and lines in her collection. I would think your body type would be well suited by a classic wrap dress silhouette (thinking it could flatter your waistline and curves), but some of her floaty, a-line dresses are also super sexy -- just puts more focus on your legs. I guess it just depends on which part of your figure you want to emphasize/what makes you feel sexiest.
posted by missmobtown at 5:54 PM on April 18, 2015