dear east side bride,
you're awesome, and so is your fashion sense, which is why i'm coming to you with my dilemma.
alright so, i'm mormon, which means i get married in the lds temple, with the fancy underwear we call garments that extend (almost) to the knee and cover the shoulders. i love it and its symbolism and everything, but it's pretty limiting fashion-wise. if i were getting married in fall/winter, it wouldn't really be a problem, just throw a sweet white leather jacket over a white dress (or something, you get the point) and call it a day. but i'm getting married in the summer time. in the desert. because cap sleeve wedding dresses are awful, and i'm kind of over the bolero, i was wondering if it's tacky to wear a t shirt under the dress. kind of like this, except, you know, white t shirt, white gown.
if that's super tacky, do you have any other ideas for me? do i have to get married in the fall or winter time just to avoid the dreaded cap sleeve? thanks! all my love.
*****
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaah. I dunno about a t-shirt under a wedding dress. (Though i'd be all for a t-shirt with a maxi-skirt, if you wanted to go that route.)
How bout this ? It's modest without SCREAMING modest, if you know what I mean.
Accidentally modest?
I like it. Although beware combining with an updo, which takes you in a very pioneery direction that I think you're trying to avoid.
ReplyDeleteI know not everyone digs J. Crew, but this dress is a T-Shirt gown.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jcrew.com/AST/filterAsst/wedding_bride_silhouette/Withstraps/PRDOVR~89158/89158.jsp
@peggy-that was the dress I ordered and had in my closet for three months before I changed my mind and wore purple. The dress is gorgeous in person. The back detail might be an issue, though, with the small slit.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise I totally agree. And other than that I am absolutely no help since the last awesome dress I saw at an LDS ceremony was made by the bride's mom.
I'm a mormon who got married in TEXAS in JULY and I wore sleeves that went down to my elbow. So you don't have to go with a cap sleeve. Just make sure the fabric is light. Good luck I know how difficult it is to find a modest dress that is also one you love.
ReplyDeleteDo a tee with a maxi skirt please. I love the idea of something as irreverent at a t-shirt in a mormon temple. so subversive.
ReplyDeleteesb hates jcrew but: http://www.jcrew.com/wedding/Wedding_Bride/gowns/PRDOVR~30208/30208.jsp
i am in LOVE with the t-shirt and maxi skirt look in the previous post...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.eastsidebride.com/2011/05/is-it-okay-to-proceed-without-any-money.html
i know how you feel though- i'm catholic, and, while there are no specific rules, since i would NEVER show up to mass (or let's face it, anything, because that's how i am) in a strapless or corset-like top, why would i wear one to my wedding? (along with the fact that my cousin spent her entire wedding day pulling up her own, very $$$$ strapless dress).
i haven't seen any dresses with sleeves that i really like, but i'm hoping now that kate middleton had sleeves the designers will make more stylish options :)
Ok, this one has been a favorite of mine for a while and happens to fit the requirements. I may have even seen it on ESB first?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lagarconne.com/store/item.htm?itemid=9967&sid=24&pid=
And this one is simple, elegant, comfy and affordable. With the silk tie belt you can make it the length that you need:
http://www.stevenalan.com/catalog/Petiole-T-Shirt-Dress-p-18985-c-987-22622.html
more views here:
http://www.petioleny.com/shop/tshirt-dress
Also a Mormon. Also hate cap sleeve wedding dresses. I checked out etsy a lot, and found a dress from the 60's I really liked. It was totally modest and really cheap.
ReplyDeleteI also really like what esb picked out.
I LOVE the one on la garconne! It looks really light-weight, and so glam. love it in that light gray.
ReplyDeleteand the esb pick, and the j.crews. rock it, lady! good luck!
I love this dress! I also love the tee shirt and maxi skirt idea.
ReplyDelete@Anna good call on the Proenza.
ReplyDeleteTHE REST OF YOU: FUCK OFF WITH THE J.CREW.
thx.
This dress by Rachel Comey is also very sweet:
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/3kc6w2b
Good luck. xo.
UH. I have always loved that dress... SOMEONE WEAR IT PLEASE.
ReplyDeleteAlso LDS. Have you considered a lightweight sweater? Since it is springish still, maybe you can find something nice. Perhaps something longer (and maybe belted) to avoid the bolero-esque thing.
ReplyDeleteOr some designers/boutique seamstresses (especially if you're in UT) will add an LDS appropriate top to otherwise strapless dresses, but it takes time and I bet this is probably happening this summer.
Please please please do not do the tshirt under the dress thing. I don't even support that for Sunday dress/everyday.
perfect suggestion, in fact i think it want it myself and i don't even have to worry about garments!
ReplyDeleteAlso mormon, but not planning a wedding. First off, proud of you for avoiding the capsleeve issue. I totally second the etsy/vintage options, but I know that can be tough too, finding things in the right size, especially online. One idea I had was finding a really pretty (silk or lace etc) blouse (with sleeves obvi) and then buying or making a really simple (maybe huge and tulle-y) skirt with it.
ReplyDeleteLike in this picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/raincity90/5753545653/
good luck!
okay, also Mormon and getting married in two months and have no dress! awesome, right? here is MY question: I want a short, retro sort of dress WITH SLEEVES. apparently, that is impossible. if I see one more cap sleeve, floor length, lace up mormon dress I will gouge my eyes out. ugh. so ugly! I am not sure about the t-shirt/maxi dress idea since I really want a short, structured kind of dress, but still-that is definitely an idea to explore.
ReplyDeleteoh, but cap sleeves in a maybe-okay way?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.oncewed.com/37187/boutique/blackberry-jam/
The Proenza Schouler is beautiful in real life but looked HORRIBLE on me. I'm a tall curvy size6/8 (in dresses, 10 on bottom): the waist was too high on me and I looked really thick on top (I think the cut is better on the small-chested).
ReplyDeleteFYI Sleeves are a bitch to find.
ReplyDelete@Rachel I'm not sure how short, short is, but here are a few options? Too short?
ReplyDeletehttp://us.asos.com/countryid/2/River-Island-River-Island-Beaded-Shift-Dress/vwhx3/?iid=1442062&MID=35719&affid=2135&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-s7E9eXS1EOk3igMxj2zuRw
http://www.barneys.com/Easy-Dress/501173956,default,pd.html
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod129720014&parentId=cat000127&masterId=cat17740747&index=0&cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat17740747cat000127
However, if you are into something totally non-traditional, this Marni piece has been on my mind:
http://www.theoutnet.com/product/213389
Rachel, is this more what you had in mind?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pagesandprint.com/shop/retro-patterns/butterick-b5605-size-8-14-retro-dress/
@Rachel - A few finds...
ReplyDeleteA retro silk and sequins number (on sale): http://shop.sundaybrunchdress.com/product/kloset-mommie-dearest-dress
A short lace dress with sleeves: http://foleyandcorinna.com/p-937-bardot-dress.aspx
A retro lace and peplum skirt Topshop dress: http://tinyurl.com/3fzznzn
An authentic vintage piece:
http://tinyurl.com/3moq7v5
Good luck! xo.
@ Rachel cause I could make an all-silk dress like the pattern I showed for $350. vgrant AT wisc DOT edu if you're interested.
ReplyDelete<3 the proenza dress. one of my favorites regardless of the need for cap sleeves. love that dress.
ReplyDeletebit late, but- http://www.tobihannahbridal.co.uk/index.php?page=11&category=6&image=165
ReplyDeleteand
http://www.tobihannahbridal.co.uk/index.php?page=11&category=6&image=156
This blog keeps coming up while I'm searching for dresses myself and I wanted to share a few links!
ReplyDeleteThese are custom, non-traditional modest wedding dresses (LOVE the one on Heidi, with pockets!) http://melissablackburn.net/portfolio
And wouldn't this be FABULOUS in white?? http://fashtrend.com/dresses/ready-to-wear-elie-saab-collections-2012/attachment/elegant-red-long-dresses-with-short-sleeves/