Okay, I'm a big fan of the simple, streamlined silhouette where you'd better have an awesome bod to pull it off, probably because it would have been out of the question for me when I was fat but is now almost within the realm of possibility. So take what I'm saying with a grain of salt, since you know what flatters your body best.
Of the 3 Oscar D. dresses for which you gave links:
-I like the SHAPE of #1 but I'm not a real fan of all over lace (though you may be),
-I love the fabric of #2 but I'm not crazy about structured A-line shapes. Nothing is as gorgeous as ivory silk, though. It's lush, elegant, wonderful to touch AND it photographs great.
-Not at all crazy about #3, even on the tall, skinny model. Too frou-frou (for me...)
Of the 5 attached thumbnails:
-#1,#3 and #5... no. Frou-frou again.
-With #2 the style of the dress is a bit too Bob Mackie (whom I really dug back in the day because sequins are fun... I mean, when do you get to wear them???) but, though I could do without the tulip-style hemline, I love the over-all shape and that wrap is smokin.
-Of all the choices I dig #4 best. Even though it's technically an A-line, the fabric has a flatter drape and the hemline has enough weight to make it a bit more clingy and sexy (I'm all for that!). Not crazy about the exact-match wrap because it's too mother-of-the-bride.
You know what works for you and I have no clue what you look like or what body type you are. But it sounds like you have time. If it were me, I'd keep looking for ivory silk. It really is the most sumptuous stuff. I put my hands on a bolt of the fabric at a fabric store last year and couldn't leave it alone, it was so lovely. One thing: Don't look just for high end designs because incredible designs can be found in the most interesting places. When Suzanne was asking for dress help and one of the choices was a J. Crew below-knee dress I went to their website and found the same dress in a floor-length ivory (silk tricitone). It's called Sophia, it's $295, and it's stunning. It would be very flattering to a wide variety of body types.
What fun! Let us know what you decide.
