Dressup!

[deza]

One of the perks(?) of being a military spouse is the annual mandatory military balls. I've avoided them for two years now by the simple expedient of not being in the same part of the country as my spouse, but this year we're going to the Marine Ball in November.

Part of me is cringing at the thought of going to a formal dance in a wheelchair. Eep.

Another part, though, is going "OMGtimetobuyprettyclothesSQUEE!" It's been suggested that since I'm in the chair, I go in dress slacks. Um, NO. If I've got to spend an evening reliving my prom from 20 years ago (only WITH a date this time), I want a pretty dress, dammit! And since I have measurememnts best described as "curvaceous," my first thought was pin-up dresses. A nice wiggle dress would have the advantage of a skirt tight enough that I wouldn't have to worry about it accidentally catching in my wheels. The downside is that my knees have a tendency to gap a bit in the chair unless I have me legs crossed, and with my circulation issues that's not consistently practical. While that kind of peekaboo worked for Sharon Stone, it's not the image I want my husband's boss to have. So right now I'm leaning toward this kind of dress; still retro enough that I'm pretty sure there won't be 57 other women wearing the same thing, enough fullness in the skirt to strategically cover knee gaps, and with a neckline designed to display my, um, assets. ;)

I know a lot of my gal pals share similar tastes. Do any of y'all have experience buying from Heartbreaker? I'd love to hear recommendations! Or if you know anyother good company that makes a similar style that you'd like to recommend, please pass it on. I really need to know how long it takes for an item to ship and how well the sizes fit and how forgiving the fabric stretch is. I'm not to thrilled with polyester "silk" but that's what my budget can afford. I'll be picking up my undergarments before I order to help with the sizing, but it looks like I'll be somewhere in the XL-1X range.

Thanks!

ETA: Andrew likes both the original style I posted and this from Daddy-O's. The red is more practical with the wheels.

Comments

[beautyofgrey.livejournal.com]

The linked dress is gorgeous, and if I had the funds, I'd snatch up one myself. :)

[deza.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we're having to time the purchase to match up right with paychecks. I'm hoping to get one that will last through several seasons, so it can be my multi-purpose "fancy dress." Every woman should have one of those, right?

Oh, check out the sale page at Daddy-Os for some good deals. ;)

[rougewench.livejournal.com]

I tend to order such things myself from Daddy Os (http://www.daddyos.com/).


D.

[deza.livejournal.com]

LOVE the site! Andrew liked this dress. Thank you!

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

oooh nice!

[rowanf.livejournal.com]

Ooooooooooh, I think I wish I hadn't seen that one. I can't buy it right now, I'm still losing weight. But I think that may be my "goal treat"!

[rowanf.livejournal.com]

That dark blue is lovely. With my assets though... something tying behind my neck just isn't happening. I like the Estelle Dress though the colour choices seem limited to plum, black or green. Never ordered from them though I have considered it a time or two.

[deza.livejournal.com]

I'm more concerned with the underarm bags, myself. I think some sort of light shrug would be a neccessity.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[deza.livejournal.com]

i actually started out searching by looking for tea-length dresses. My senior prom dress was a tea-length, seafoam green vintage early 50s dress. Mom made extra cash by working as a runway model while Dad was stationed in Naples; after her first 3 babies, she still weighed less than my 11-year-old daughter does now. Sadly, that dress was destroyed by the dry cleaners the day after prom.

The problem with a cheongsam is I've yet to see one made with a busty or hourglass figure in mind. If they fit in the bust/hips, they're exceedingly loose in the waist. I wish I had the finances and time to get something completely tailor-made, but that has to wait a few more paygrades.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[mercurybard.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about dresses, but the linked blue one is pretty. ;D

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

Some of these places seem to be somewhat custom. If you're not expecting to be standing I wonder whether a wiggle dress could be done that goes a bit below the knees?

I think the blue one is indeed marvelous. Did you notice the red satin sweetie dress?

[deza.livejournal.com]

I did. My skin has blue undertones, so I have to be careful about the reds I wear. Burgundies are great; tomato reds are right out. I'm actually leaning more toward the purple and the green dresses.

I could totally see you stocking up on your dance wardrobe at some of these sites!

[millysdaughter.livejournal.com]

I honestly had never even heard of the military ball until I was covering the base for the newspaper, ten years AFTER the cute guy retired from the Air Force.

[deza.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they've been pushing the mandatory family fun activities a lot more in the last 10 years or so.

[millysdaughter.livejournal.com]

Yes -- he was in the old Air Force. Their policy was, "if we thought you needed a wife and kids, we would have issued them to you."

[fibro-witch.livejournal.com]

Since you will be in the chair it sounds like a killer chance to get the craziest killer fuck me heels you can find.

[deza.livejournal.com]

I intend to! I'm thinking 4-inch stilettos...

[karnythia.livejournal.com]

And now I have new source of clothing crack. You are evil.

[satyrlovesong.livejournal.com]

Ayep. I would have to agree with you there.

[deza.livejournal.com]

Heehee. Evil is good.

[deza.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. ;) Some of the "military secretary" style dresses would REALLY draw attention for you...

[ladyleo.livejournal.com]

Doomling saw the dress and said "Wow!!!" That color would rock on you!

[deza.livejournal.com]

The boy has taste. ;)

[paradoxymoron.livejournal.com]

All of the links except the first made me go "ooooo, likey."

The first made me go "dammit, why aren't you loading?!" :(

[ladyariadna.livejournal.com]

I LOVE the swing dress. SO CUTE!!!