How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

The Halter

Though I’m not enamoured by the color of this organza and satin After Six bridesmaid dress, I love, love, love the style. Actually, the color doesn’t matter since it comes in fifteen other colors including a lovely dusty blue and a dashing dark lilac. Yum. Being that I’m in a hurry since I’m traveling to Manhattan to be there for the Pajamas Media launch, I’m going to list the reasons I love it and see what you, my faithful readers agree with and disagree with.

1. The halter-style top can flatter both the busty and not-so-busty ladies.

2. The A-line skirt will not reveal the true cuvature of the bottom or the hips.

3. The ribbon faux belt sits below the waist in order to give the illusion of waist where there is none.

4. Tea length = not too flashy

5. This dress need not be so tight. One size up to give the girls some room to move won’t necessarily make it look like a sack.

6. Finally, this dress does not scream, “BRIDESMAID!”

And there you have it. There only real problem is that one’s arms are entirely exposed and not everyone cares for that. Of course, I am talking about my ideal wedding here…and I still haven’t decided whether I will be a good bride or a bad bride.

15 Responses to “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…”

  1. Lori says:

    I like the fabric, the skirt length and A-line shape–they would look good on most people. The V neck would give the illusion of elongating a short neck, and the dropped waist should suit a short-waisted, long-legged figure.

    The halter bodice might look best on a curvy woman. I have the torso of a 12-year-old gymnast, and a halter top makes me look like a 12-year-old boy. The dreaded cap sleeve, I’ve noticed, suits the sleek, athletic torso much better.

    But for the woman who would look good in this dress, she could, indeed, wear it on many occasions.

  2. La BellaDonna says:

    I actually love the colour.

    The halterness of it, though, is VERY “meh” for the busty bridesmaid. It brings up the ever-popular Bra Challenge, an Olympic-worthy event. Strapless bra (to slide down the tapered ribs of those whose shape is )(, rather than ll)? Halter-style bra, with the bridesmaid praying that the strap which goes across the back does not sit above the waterline of the dress itself? Braless is really not an option. Nor are those stupid stick-on bra cups, which are suitable only for the AA ladies.

    And the horizontal ribbon sits right over the belly line, which may not be very attractive on a good many ladies. If the ribbon belt and what appears to be a bustle-apron can come off, it’s not a bad dress, and will flatter a good many women (if they don’t have to face the Bra Challenge).

  3. *ginevra says:

    I love the color too. The Bra Challenge is a difficult one, but not insurmountable, especially if the dress has some support inside it.

  4. I have to agree with the last assertion. My bridesmaids’ dresses weren’t halter, but it was a summer wedding, so no sleeves. My Maid of Honor was a bit shy about this because she has big arms, but we managed by accessorizing with a silver silk wrap on top.

  5. Annalucia says:

    But for the lack of sleeves, the Annalucia would be delighted to wear this dress. Elbow-length would be sufficient, and it would solve the problem of the Bra Challenge. And for the ladies who have not only attained A Certain Age but A Certain Girth, the ribbon would be better replaced by a bit of ruching gathered at (say) the left hip. Then again, the ladies of A Certain Age are not usually acting as bridesmaids so there is no reason for the designer (upon whom be the blessing) to take them into consideration.

  6. Anna says:

    I love everything except the length. I think mid-shin looks awkward on most people.

  7. Lori says:

    This thread shows the folly of dictating a uniform for one’s bridesmaids. Even with this simple dress, we’ve all found some difficulty with it. As Never teh Bride has said, contrary to popular belief, there’s no rule that bridesmaids must look like clones. In fact, if the bridesmaids have a good and similar sense of style, and the bride has a good deal of tolerance, they might even do well by simply wearing their best dresses to a informal wedding.

  8. enygma says:

    What a pretty dress! I even like the color, though I’m not sure if it isn’t a bit too “flashy” for a wedding. I thought the bride was supposed to be the focus. =D

  9. jj says:

    The halter does not work for many busty women. As already noted, there is the issue of the bra. But also, for those of us who are top heavy (large bust combined with wide shoulders and a slender waist), the halter can make us look like a football player dressing up as his girlfriend for halloween. And the small busted of my friends also complain that the halter is far from flattering.

    That being said, that dress has everything else going for it. I’d just like to see it with perhaps a scoop neckline in place of the halter.

  10. Never teh Bride says:

    Thanks for your input, ladies! You always have such fabulous opinions!

  11. mochasoul3586 says:

    can someon kidnap my sister, tie her to a chair, tape open her eyes, and make her look at thins dress. she is trying to put her 10 – 25 year old bridemaids in dresses that look like nursing home skirt suits just because it seems simple and lt looks like it will fit everyone everybody’s body type. words like TEA- LENGTH and DRESS seem to escape her notice.

  12. Sibyl says:

    Hm. I have a waist, but I have no torso — i.e., my waist is about two inches down from my breasts — so the drop-waist on this dress would be right around my crotch. Then again, I’ve dealt with the family no-torso curse for long enough that I wouldn’t bitch about the alterations this would require.

  13. Diana says:

    This is a great dress. My cousin got married last year and my sister and I were asked to be bridesmaids. Since I lived in Hawaii and my sister lived near my cousin, she was in charge of finding the dresses. She found this dress in lilac in sizes that fit both of us, she is several sizes larger and a lot bustier than me. My mom was able to slightly alter the dresses to flatter both of us and we got so many compliments at the wedding. My sister looked gorgeous! This dress can definitely work for any size if you get some simple alterations that can be done by anyone with sewing knowledge.