BM dress thoughts? (again)

tomkat2010

I posted a few days ago, asking for advice on a potential BM dress:
http://www.morilee.com/dressint.php?idves=735&idcat=2&idscat=7

and I received helpful opinions, but now I'm looking for opinions on a similar dress:
http://www.morilee.com/dressint.php?idves=791&idcat=2&idscat=7

Is this one still informal looking? Obviously I'm not going for a casual look, but I don't want floor length. And whatever I go with will be black, not white. My girls seem to like both dresses, in addition to most of the others I've shown them. Which is good, but doesn't help me narrow it down any! There are many other designs/designers I love, but I'm trying to stay as close to $100 for these as possible, and also stay away from anything too form-fitting. TIA for your thoughts!

tomkat2010

I posted a few days ago, asking for advice on a potential BM dress:
http://www.morilee.com/dressint.php?idves=735&idcat=2&idscat=7

and I received helpful opinions, but now I'm looking for opinions on a similar dress:
http://www.morilee.com/dressint.php?idves=791&idcat=2&idscat=7

Is this one still informal looking? Obviously I'm not going for a casual look, but I don't want floor length. And whatever I go with will be black, not white. My girls seem to like both dresses, in addition to most of the others I've shown them. Which is good, but doesn't help me narrow it down any! There are many other designs/designers I love, but I'm trying to stay as close to $100 for these as possible, and also stay away from anything too form-fitting. TIA for your thoughts!

mbcdefg

How about giving them each a choice between the two? That way you have some variety in the bridal party, but they will still look very coordinated because it's the same designer and color (and fabric?).

Also, did they try them on yet? Or did they just say they liked them based on the website picture?

tomkat2010

I don't know why the first link isn't clicky, sorry!

http://www.morilee.com/dressint.php?idves=735&idcat=2&idscat=7

Maybe that will work. I might have to post and run, but I'll be back!

tomkat2010

No one has tried them on yet, b/c they are literally all over the country, so I figured I could ask them to try a dress on once we pick it, and locate a store near them that carries it. And then if it's a no-go, I guess we'll start over. I know there are stores near them that carry that designer, but I'm not sure about each specific dress. One BM has more or less said that the first was her favorite out of all that I'd sent them, until she saw the second one there. Now she likes that one. Another BM just says she wants to lose weight first, but that's exactly why I've been looking at flowy type dresses, so she (and another) won't have to worry about that at all. The other two haven't gotten back to me yet.

mbcdefg

Personally, I would just tell them to try them on in local stores if they can (or at least try on other similar Mori Lee dresses, so they can get an idea of the fabric and the cut and the overall sizing). Then unless they dislike them after trying them on, they can get back to you with their favorite.

If you want them all in the same dress, then majority rules. If you're O.K. with slightly different dresses (and I doubt anyone would really notice that these are different dresses, since they're fairly similar and especially because they'd be in black), then let each girl order her favorite of the two.

I think they're both nice, and don't look very informal at all. I like the one with the sash better, personally. But I'm not too familiar with fabrics, so maybe someone familiar with chiffon can weigh in on just how formal this particular fabric is.

emilyinchile

I like both of the dresses and don't think they're too informal depending on the overall formality of your wedding. I would find them a little weird at a black tie event, but they're cute cocktail dresses.

I would ask your friends to try on both before you make your decision. Then you can see if one works for all of them, if you like the look of some people in each design or if you need to start over and find a different dress based on how they all look in it. If they want, they can also ask about similar dresses - my BMs didn't look great in any of the dresses I'd asked them to try, but they found something along the same lines that looks awesome and that I really like.

jenn.daniel

I prefer the one with the sash.  I'm just not a fan with all the drappy pieces on the other dress.

stina93446

I am in the minority, but I think it looks prom-ish.

If no one has tried them on, I wouldn't even settle your heart or ideas on either dress. Tell each girl that you like Mori Lee and have them go to shops near them and take pictures, and give you feedback on which ones they like. HTH

banana468

I like the first one best but I'd request that your BMs try the dress on.

And sometimes, a long dress may be the one that works simply because it looks best.  Something long and flowy may do the trick.

lalap69

I liked the second dress most, but I thought both were cute.  Your girls need to try them on before you go any further though.

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_bm-dress-thoughts-again?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:ce79b07d-1813-4c5b-bf5f-5564092039a1Post:5dcd94d2-679d-478e-b299-4f9c8cb2841b">Re: BM dress thoughts? (again)</a>:
[QUOTE]Tell each girl that you like Mori Lee and have them go to shops near them and take pictures, and give you feedback on which ones they like. HTH
Posted by stina93446[/QUOTE]

When we were looking for BM dresses for my sister's wedding, hardly any of the stores would let us take pictures.  I think the rest of the suggestion, about having the girls try on the dresses and give you their feedback is a great idea, but don't be upset if they can't provide you with pictures.

Another alternative, since you're doing black and seem to have a pretty good idea of what you want, is to ask them to pick their own dresses.  A black knee-length dress in X fabric.  Or even, any Mori Lee knee-length dress in black.

tomkat2010

Thanks everyone! I think actually I have decided to go an entirely different route. I found a dress at JCPenney of all places that I love! It is very simple but classic, I think. And best of all, it's a great price! See what you think:

http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?DeptID=50434&CatID=51368&GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=180a9bd&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CMID=EXTERNAL%7c50444&Fltr=&Srt=&QL=F&IND=14&cmVirtualCat=&CmCatId=external|50444|51368

thanks again!