Searching for THE Dress

Now that the rant regarding the lack of size 16 garments is out of my system, and because I’ve been scoring the stores and online websites looking for the perfect dress for the good part of two months now before realising that with my size I do not have the luxury of a choice to start with and that I am supposed to settle for any dress stocked by a kind enough understanding buyers to fit voluptuous figures like mine and leave it at that. I thought I’d show you what my favourite dresses were, what I’d have worn and chosen had I had the luxury of the choice.

My very first dress crush, one that was actually available online in my size but because I was too lazy to order it the moment I saw it until it was gone forever, was this Lanvin beauty. Picture is from Net-a-porter.

Lovely eh? Well, it was available, and discounted also on Lanvin.com. However, I took my time searching for something else that when I realised I’d better stick to what I found and order it. I went online and it was no longer there! Overnight and it was Poof and I even emailed Lanvin.com asking them about the dress and they said it was no longer available for purchase. Picture from Net-a-porter.

I kick myself till this very moment, if I had only ordered it the moment I saw it all of this nonsense I’ve been through for the past two months wouldn’t have happened. There is a one piece dress available in Lanvin in the Avenues in French size 42 which is equivalent to a 12 UK if anyone is interested. What else? Rosie Assoulin’s entire collection I suppose, check out these beauties that I didn’t find any where! Pictures are from Rosie Assoulin.com 

I really, really, really wanted to wear a Rosie Assoulin, I love her style! Colourful, quirky, and clean cut with just a simple touch here or there that makes it trendy! The only Rosie Assoulin dress I did find and the first dress I’ve tried was this one below, which is gorgeous but wasn’t available in my size. I found it in By Symphony in Dubai Mall and Al-Othman boutique, the one in Al-Othman was a last piece btw and if you fit in it, I suggest you go snap it up! Its a heartbreaker.

Oh I found this gorgeous, gorgeous layered Rosie Assoulin dress in a Moda Operandi trunk show. I could have pre-ordered it in my size but it is from the Resort 2015 collection and won’t ship until November or February which is after the wedding or I’d have snatched it up. Keep an eye out for this one, picture is from Rosie Assoulin.com

Speaking of gorgeous Rosie, another dress that I tried on my first trip to By Symphony Dubai was a wavy number by Roksanda Iclinic, the one on the right.

In fact I’ve tried all the dresses in the window display of By Symhpony, the biggest I could find throughout Dubai were either 12 or 14 UK and I would have gladly worn any of them.

I’ve scored the stores online looking for a Roksada in 16 but I couldn’t find any and all the ones in size 14 disappeared like snowflakes falling on a hot stove. The only one I found in size 16 was the one on the right in the picture below and I found in in Al-Othman boutique but I didn’t like it much on me, it brought too much attention to my upper arms. I’m keeping it as a last resort though.

I also love this one by Roksanda but I couldn’t find it anywhere, picture is from Roksanda.com 

What next? Well, I was in Bottega Venetta in Mall of the Emirates when I was smitten by this metallic dress, picture from BottegaVeneta.com

I so wanted to fit into the dress, but it was only available in Italian 44 which is a UK 12 and wouldn’t zip up. I’ve actually been to Bottega twice to try and squeeze myself into it, but it just wouldn’t zip up. I sadly waved good bye and slept without dinner that night.

I also was smitten by this beauty, which was sold out within minutes from arriving on Net-a-porter by the way, but the size 44 wasn’t big enough for me. The pictures are from Net-a-porter and in reality the dress is breathtaking.

Look at that surprising pink streak in the back!

Speaking of Dubai, I almost cried walking into Oscar De La Renta’s store. I wanted to try on everything, every single dress was gorgeous! However, my absolute favourite ones which of course didn’t come in my size were these, all pictures are from OscarDeLaRenta.com. First, this saffron hued gown.

I wasn’t a big fan of the shape and I doubt I’d purchase it even if it came in my size but the colours are delicious to say the least.

This gold and black one, though I hate wearing black to weddings but I’ve touched and felt this one in Dubai and searched for it online. Oscar De La Renta’s online personal shopper informed me there was one last size US 14 dress available and I was thinking about it seriously.

However it was this gold one, sold out everywhere, that I really wanted. Also not a fan of gold, it was the delicate detailing, the fabric of the dress, that made me want to hug it and take it home in whatever size it came in.

Of course it wasn’t available in my size, but I found its brother in Al-Othman boutique! It was a one piece only in a size 10 or 12 USA and of course it didn’t fit me Gorgeous, no?

Speaking of Al-Othman, which is always my number one destination for party dresses and is the place where my mother got her wedding dress and my sister got her melcha -wedding ceremony- dress, I found this Matthew Williamson.

Now this time around I’ve said I wasn’t going to look at Matthew for I’ve been through a Matthew phase since 2006 and I’ve been to three different weddings wearing Matthew dresses, but the one above melted my resolution at once! I saw it in Al-Othman but it was in a size 10 or 12 UK, I went online everywhere and found only the navy one below in size 16 but it came with a warning to take the next size up if you have a curvy figure. I guess that means I needed an 18 Picture above from MatthewWilliamson.com and below from Net-a-porter.com

Speaking of online shopping, I was this close to ordering this Christian Siriano dress in my size but I waited too long and it was no longer available. Picture from ChristianSiriano.com

I also wanted to buy everything in Monique Lhuillier, I wonder why the stores won’t stock her most gorgeous pieces? I guess they do but they fly off the racks fast. Anyways this is the only one I liked in my size. Picture from Moniquelhuillier.com

Another kick-my-self moment came with this Antonio Berardi dress, though I wasn’t entirely sure of it myself when I first saw it, it was available in both size 16 and 18 on Net-a-porter but when I finally saw myself wearing it to the wedding, I went back and of course, of course, OF COURSE, it was sold out. Please remember: next time you see something you like, stupid girl, BUY IT AT ONCE!

Speaking about online dresses, here is one I really wanted by Mary Katrantzou but couldn’t find anywhere. Picture is from MaryKatrantzou.com

Also this lovely Alberta Fretti golden dress, if I’m not mistaken this I found on ModaOperandi.com It wasn’t available in my size of course and I tried Alberta Fretti boutique in Thuraya mall but they had the long gown version in size Italy 48! I tried it on but it didn’t complement my figure at all, the one below would have been a much flattering fit.

Also what I couldn’t find in my size online is this Lanvin fringy dress! None of the Lanvin stores in Kuwait or Dubai had it also so I’m reduced to dreaming about it. Picture is available in Lanvin.com and I think the biggest size they have is French 42 if you are interested.

The Christopher Kane! This Christopher Kane dress was driving me crazy! Unfortunately I never came upon a website that stocked a larger than a 10 or 12 UK. I think this picture is from BrownsFashion.com

Two more dresses I liked are by Junya Watanabe, both I found on Net-a-porter and either never came in my size or sold out quickly. Pictures are from Net-a-porter.com

I also love this now sold out Michael Van Der Ham, picture also from Net-a-porter.

Oh and this Stella McCartney! I’ve been scoring all the online stores looking for this one in my size but I have to admit that I don’t think it would fit me even if it came in size 16! I cannot stop dreaming about it though and it still didn’t make it to Stella McCartney in Al-Thuraya mall by the way. Picture from Net-a-porter and I think there is one piece size 12 UK left.

Lets talk heartbreakers now, see the below gorgeous feathery Valentino dress? All pictures from Valentino.com

I actually found it in Valentino boutique in Salhiya Mall! In size Italy 46! And it fit, barely but it did fit! A hint of altering and it would have been the dress!

Alas, the leather collar and the feathery sleeves made me too hot! I couldn’t stay in it for more than three minutes, it would have been perfect for an outdoorsy winter wedding, there would be no need for fur to keep you warm. I was this close, this close. The dress behind it was also in Italian 46, the one below but with long sleeves, however I looked like a grandmother wearing it. Not my kind of dress at all.

Now what else? Alessandra Rich. Lacey, peek-a-bo style. Not really my style but her dresses are fashionable and trendy and they come in my size, all three from Net-a-porter. If I’m to wear black, at least a black by Alessandra Rich is better than any other boring black lace dress. Her dresses are anything but boring, all three below are from Net-a-porter and all of them came in my size originally except for the gown-like one with the full skirt.

Oh and I am in love with this Charlotte Olympia heels! I would wear any boring LBD I have in the closet with this and call it a day! How gorgeous! Picture from Net-a-porter.

And with that I hang up my boots and call it quits. I have endless other favourites and pictures, but these are my absolute favourite ones. If you are a size 12 or a 10 and are going to a wedding soon I hope you find what you are looking for. If you are a size 16 like me, then join me in looking at the gorgeous dresses from a far.

Which dress is your favourite?