Bridesmaid dress... is it tacky? (pics)

rdixon571

So I'm doing short, mismatched blush, cream, gold... etc. bridesmaid dresses.  

The first pic is to give you an idea of what's in my head.  The pic is showing long dresses though we're doing short dresses as it's going to be outside at the end of June... but you get the idea.

The 2nd pic is of my MOH in a dress she bought at Marshall's.  She kept the receipt in case I don't like it.  

The 3rd pic is of a dress one of my other bridesmaids has chosen.  She told me she ordered it 6 months ago but it still hasn't come in and when I called to check on it, I found out she *didn't actually order it... but that's a story for another day.

ANYWAYS!  So my question is about the 2nd pic, of my MOH.  (She's beautiful, right?!  Love her.)  I think the dress is really pretty and looks great on her.  But the back has a full-length exposed zipper.  My mom and my aunt are worried that it's tacky because of the zipper.  My mom is a professional seamstress and I thought she could replace the zipper with a hidden one but my mom said she still didn't think it would look good.  I don't really mind the zipper one way or the other and I question my mom's opinion only because she doesn't get the look that I'm going for with the different dresses so I thought I'd ask all of you!

Do you think a full-length exposed zipper makes it look tacky?  

(Be honest but kind.  This is my cousin-more-like-my-sister MOH we're talking about.)

MrsMarende

I don't think the dress looks tacky, but of course I cannot see the exposed zipper either. I think a high neck line lace dress is classy! If it were me I would take your mom up on hiding the zipper, but this is without me seeing it. 

The 2nd dress to me actually is the one that looks tacky. I don't like the arm ruffles.

NYCMercedes

rdixon571 said:

So I'm doing short, mismatched blush, cream, gold... etc. bridesmaid dresses.  

The first pic is to give you an idea of what's in my head.  The pic is showing long dresses though we're doing short dresses as it's going to be outside at the end of June... but you get the idea.

The 2nd pic is of my MOH in a dress she bought at Marshall's.  She kept the receipt in case I don't like it.  

The 3rd pic is of a dress one of my other bridesmaids has chosen.  She told me she ordered it 6 months ago but it still hasn't come in and when I called to check on it, I found out she *didn't actually order it... but that's a story for another day.

ANYWAYS!  So my question is about the 2nd pic, of my MOH.  (She's beautiful, right?!  Love her.)  I think the dress is really pretty and looks great on her.  But the back has a full-length exposed zipper.  My mom and my aunt are worried that it's tacky because of the zipper.  My mom is a professional seamstress and I thought she could replace the zipper with a hidden one but my mom said she still didn't think it would look good.  I don't really mind the zipper one way or the other and I question my mom's opinion only because she doesn't get the look that I'm going for with the different dresses so I thought I'd ask all of you!

Do you think a full-length exposed zipper makes it look tacky?  

(Be honest but kind.  This is my cousin-more-like-my-sister MOH we're talking about.)

No, a full length exposed zipper makes it look like 2011. Sorry, but I think the dress is too tight on your MOH. Otherwise, it's fine for a BM dress.

rdixon571

I agree with you @MrsMarenade that the arm ruffles look stupid.  Its for my best friend.  She's a bigger girl (so am I) and I think she liked that they covered her arms.  But the ruffles are more distracting and draw attention there if you ask me.  But oh well.  

doeydo

So, you told them to go out and get their own dresses in a sort of blush/nude tone?  Then I don't think you can veto their dresses now.  IMO, though, the dress does look skanky/tacky because it is see-through in the middrift.

rdixon571

doeydo said:

So, you told them to go out and get their own dresses in a sort of blush/nude tone?  Then I don't think you can veto their dresses now.  IMO, though, the dress does look skanky/tacky because it is see-through in the middrift.

Its not see-through but I can see that the pic makes it look that way.  

But I'm not vetoing her choice.  She's in Vermont and I'm in New York so she bought it so she could show it to me in person.  Everyone can pretty much choose their own dress as long as I like it too.

MrsMarende

rdixon571 said:

I agree with you @MrsMarenade that the arm ruffles look stupid.  Its for my best friend.  She's a bigger girl (so am I) and I think she liked that they covered her arms.  But the ruffles are more distracting and draw attention there if you ask me.  But oh well.  

There are lots of amazing lace dresses that will have a half sleeve and a v-neck that would look amazing, classy and would compliment the MOH too

theartistformerlyknownas

How is an exposed zipper tacky or 2011? It's a damn zipper. I think she looks fine. And nobody's going to be taking pictures of her back so posterity will be shielded from the horror of seeing a zipper.

Since the dress is already a bit tight, I don't know if there's enough extra material to hide a new zipper anyway.

The arm ruffles, on the other hand, look like a jellyfish mated with a flying squirrel.

weddingcactus

lolo883 said:

How is an exposed zipper tacky or 2011? It's a damn zipper. I think she looks fine. And nobody's going to be taking pictures of her back so posterity will be shielded from the horror of seeing a zipper. Since the dress is already a bit tight, I don't know if there's enough extra material to hide a new zipper anyway. The arm ruffles, on the other hand, look like a jellyfish mated with a flying squirrel.

Yes, this! I like the dress on your MOH. I have no issue with exposed zipper and don't consider them trashy or 2011. Not a fan of the arm ruffles at all. Jellyfish flying squirrel is the perfect analogy, or maybe sea kelp hanging off the shoulders. In any case, I'd veto that one right away.

Maggie0829

lolo883 said:

How is an exposed zipper tacky or 2011? It's a damn zipper. I think she looks fine. And nobody's going to be taking pictures of her back so posterity will be shielded from the horror of seeing a zipper. Since the dress is already a bit tight, I don't know if there's enough extra material to hide a new zipper anyway. The arm ruffles, on the other hand, look like a jellyfish mated with a flying squirrel.

Just went to a department store the other day and bought a dress with an exposed zipper down the back...pretty sure it is 2014, unless I am amazing and time traveled without knowing it.

Look, you gave them a color option and told them to buy a dress that they like.  That is what your MOH did, so just because your Mom and Aunt are worrying over nothing, does not mean that your MOH has to alter her dress or return it and buy something else.  When you tell people to buy a dress that they love in X color, IMO, any veto power that you may have had goes out the window.

Personally I am not a fan of either dress, but I don't have to wear them, those in your wedding party do and since they are the one's that got to pick them out I am guessing that they do like them and are happy with how they look in them.  So just ignore what your Mom and Aunt are saying and move on.

climbingsingle

I don't think a visible zipper is tacky or outdated. I really like that dress on your MOH. 

STARMOON44

I think you should stop showing the dresses to your mom and aunt. You said anything is this color fsmy that is short, she did that. Tell her she looks beautiful and yay!!!!!! and be done with it.

atlastmrsg

I think I bought my first exposed zipper dress in 2009.  I've been wearing them since.  There's one on Project Runway pretty much every episode.  I don't think they're trashy or passe.  I think the problem with the MOH's dress is it looks like it might be too small and riding up/puckering on sides, and that she needs a shaper slip under it to make it smoother and opaque.  The tightness is what's cheapening it since it's short.  You can see where her bra is very clearly.  A nude shaper slip could help that look considerably better but it can't work a miracle.

The third dress is pretty unfortunate.  But when you told your BMs to wear what they want, you took the risk of your MOH buying a trendy dress that's too small and sheer, and a BM picking out something with bizarre sleeves that only she will love.  

The good news...in the end, people will remember what you wear and look like on your day a lot more than the bridesmaids.  Focus on what you can control now--your dress, getting the alterations done really well, and your hair/make up/accessories/tanning or bronzing/fitness plan/etc.

MandyMost

People who are more comfortable with traditional fashion "rules" (i.e. the "No white after labor day", and "you must wear stockings/nylons with skirts" and "your shoes must match your purse"), also seem to have come of age in a time when an exposed zipper was a big faux pas. I don't know why, but it seems to be the case--a zipper was something to hide, not something to use as an embellishment. 

Yes, exposed zippers have been a big trend for around the past 5 years or so. I doubt we'll be seeing much more of them in the next year or two. Yes, Project Runway has one on nearly every episode, but Project Runway hasn't been anything near fashion-forward since it moved from Bravo to Lifetime. 

In summary: SOME people will clearly find the exposed zipper to be trashy and tacky, and SOME people will clearly recognize it as a trend on it's way out. Other people won't care or notice. 

cowgirl8238

Who is going to a picture of the back of your MOH where this is even a problem???

I agree with PP's, if they like the dresses and you said "get whatever in this color palette" you don't have much veto power.

rdixon571

lolo883 said:

How is an exposed zipper tacky or 2011? It's a damn zipper. I think she looks fine. And nobody's going to be taking pictures of her back so posterity will be shielded from the horror of seeing a zipper. Since the dress is already a bit tight, I don't know if there's enough extra material to hide a new zipper anyway. The arm ruffles, on the other hand, look like a jellyfish mated with a flying squirrel.

LMAO!  I completely agree about the sleeves.  Really ugly.  But since it was basically the only thing that looked decent on her (imo) I just let it go.  She's very confident in her body (good for her, seriously.)  But when she was trying to wear things that showed every lump n bump and thought it looked slimming... it was like "god help me"  

Lol, take light what I say.  But by the time we got to the Jelly Squirrel dress, I was ready to buy it FOR her compared to the other stuff she was trying on.  

As far as what some people are saying about it being tight, I can see what you mean now, that the under layer is pushed up close to the outer layer so that you can see where she has a small waist and bigger thighs and boobs.  I think my mom's magic seamtress hands can fix whatever some spanx can't.  She wasn't wearing any in the fitting room because she didn't go there looking for a dress, just kind of stumbled on it.

I really like my MOH's dress but I wanted to make sure I wasn't out-voted by like 95% of you, lol

On a different note... it kind of sets back my idea of getting them all necklaces for their BM gifts.  But I also thought I could get her a bracelet instead, since she's the MOH.  I think that would look nice...  (Not JUST a bracelet but it could be part of her BM gift.)

I'm mentally handicapped when it comes to jewelry.  What do you think?

Also!  Same shoes?  Or let them choose their own different shoes, but same color?  (How I am with jewelry, I am with shoes.  I'm the only girl I know that wears the same pair of work loafers everyday.  -HA!  I just said "loafers.")

theartistformerlyknownas

Jewelry shouldn't be part of their gift, since it's something they're wearing for you. You should buy it for them if you want them to wear something specific, but they need a gift that's individualized to them and not to your wedding.

I would recommend whatever nude, blush or gold shoes they have/like. Let them choose.

badbnagdway

I love exposed zippers and get compliments on them whenever I wear them. My wedding dress even has a big exposed side zipper. All that to say, I am biased, but I do not think exposed zippers are tacky. 

I do agree that your MOH's dress looks a little tight. And... yeah the sleeves on the other dress...

Anyway, just let them wear nude shoes of their own choosing. It might be nice to have them wear matching jewelry since their looks otherwise don't really match, but I would give them another gift on top of that, as something you are obligated to wear doesn't really count as a gift. 

birdybride2014

In regards to the jewelry, that shouldn't be their "thank you" or gift for being in the wedding. But, if you'd like to get their jewelry along side their gift that is okay.

In the end, all of my maids have different necklines. So, I got them matching bracelets and matching earrings to tie everything together. But this is not their gifts. 

I told them all to wear whatever shoes they wanted/already owned. And since they asked I said preferably something neutral/gold/nude, but if they wanted to wear black they could go ahead! 

lilacck28

Two of my bridesmaid's got their dress from Marshall's too! (They ended up with the same dress as each other, total coincidence). They're short, navy shift dresses with a scalloped hem, and basically a boat neck. They also have an exposed gold zipper down the back. The third got basically the same dress from JCrew in order to match: sans exposed zipper, with scalloping around the neck and arms as well. Zipper? No zipper? Don't care. I doubt my guests will either. And, honestly.... I hope/ would imagine they're mostly looking at me, not my bridesmaids!

rdixon571

Definitely not doing just the jewelry for their gifts.  But it will be wrapped up and in along with the rest of the stuff I got them.  Plus I already gave them "Will You Be My Bridesmaid" gift bags including lotion, face wash, bobbi pins, homemade sugar scrub, mason jar cups with straws for mimosas that I made for dress shopping among with a bunch of other things I don't remember.  

PLUS I gave them each $50 to put towards their dresses/shoes etc.  

So no, jewelry is definitely not going to be the only thing I buy them.  But I am thinking about picking their shoe color.  

Maggie0829

rdixon571 said:

Definitely not doing just the jewelry for their gifts.  But it will be wrapped up and in along with the rest of the stuff I got them.  Plus I already gave them "Will You Be My Bridesmaid" gift bags including lotion, face wash, bobbi pins, homemade sugar scrub, mason jar cups with straws for mimosas that I made for dress shopping among with a bunch of other things I don't remember.  

PLUS I gave them each $50 to put towards their dresses/shoes etc.  

So no, jewelry is definitely not going to be the only thing I buy them.  But I am thinking about picking their shoe color.  

Depending on the color you pick it will be up to you to buy the shoes.  If you pick a neutral that most people already have in their closet or won't mind buying because they will be able to wear them over and over again, then that is fine.  But if you pick an odd color like hot pink or yellow then that is getting a tad bit too specific and it will be up to you to buy them.  So my suggestion, go neutral, your friends will thank you for it.

rdixon571

Yes, probably nude or gold or somewhere in between.  Something like that.

hellohkb

To be fair, I would probably be slightly annoyed if I had to buy a nude shoe because I doubt I would wear it again. 

Regarding the dress, I think it is very appropriate and pretty. Exposed zippers are definitely cute and I think it works well with that particular dress. 

theartistformerlyknownas

hellohkb said:

To be fair, I would probably be slightly annoyed if I had to buy a nude shoe because I doubt I would wear it again. 

Regarding the dress, I think it is very appropriate and pretty. Exposed zippers are definitely cute and I think it works well with that particular dress. 

Really? I have 4 pairs of nude shoes. I wear them all the time! They make your legs look super long and go with everything.  

hellohkb

I pretty much only wear black shoes, so I am definitely in the minority. But I have weird feet and it's hard to find shoes in a wide width that aren't hideous or $300. I also cant wear heels or patent leather.

I am seriously shoe challenged. But someday I will try a nude shoe!

southernbelle0915

Does your MOH know that you have posted pictures of her in a dressing room out on the WWW? If yes and she's ok with it, leave it up. If not, I think you should edit to remove her face. I would not be happy if that were me.