Open to a long dress, if Petite and/or easy to shorten (I’m 5’ 2”). I’ve seen that pretty dress online. Not sure about a slit though.
Here is an example with sleeves. Can you please remind us if you have a specific color you have to stick with?
And a floral dress that would be just fine for a garden party:
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Thanks. I don’t have an assigned color, but I do need to avoid lavender/lilac (bridesmaids, assorted dresses of their choosing) and MOB (darkish blue).
I like that 2nd link and think I have it in one of my lists. Preference is solid dress, if I can find one I like.
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That’s a great dress!!
I love halter style necklines. I think the slit here can be mended so it is not butt-high. 
Here is another long one!
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Thanks for the links. I’d consider halter style if I could find the right bra. Have bad memories of strapless bra worn with a bridesmaid dress.
I look at dresses and also wonder, how do you find a bra! Especially if you need one with shoulder strap support. That seems to rule out 90% of the dresses I see.
I forget if you ruled out yellow:
A bra band supplies 90% of its support. Straps’ purpose? To keep the strap from sliding around, not from sliding up or down. This is what I learned from bra fitters. The trick is to find the right bra. It can be done!
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Thanks. I have not ruled out yellow. Have seen that dress and like it. Not sure how color will look with my pale skin.
Thanks all for helping me on the first-pass mail order ideas. On Tuesday I think Covid-germ concerns will be past, and I plan to visit a local clothing shop that I like. It’s unlikely she’ll have any available in shop or to order (close timeframe), but she always has great advise. Then later in the week I hope to visit Macy and Dillards. Possibly also WHBM.
I love a floral dress for a garden wedding! The second one that BunsenBurner posted is lovely!
I’ve never worn Kay Unger, but I love her styles. She has lots of floral options, if you decide to go that direction.
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Dillards seems to have a good variety of dresses for occasions. Since the store near us closed, I don’t often remember to check there. It’s good that you’re planning to go to the store!
https://www.dillards.com/p/aidan-mattox-beaded-v-neck-short-sleeve-a-line-midi-dress/515338273
Alas, these are regular, not petite sized dresses @Colorado_mom is looking for.
Thanks! I can do non-Petite in some styles… will know more when I can try them on and talk to salespeople.
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For strapless bras:
@conmama shared this with me on a thread several years ago! It’s great! I went down one band size and up two cup sizes. Perfect!
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Yes to red carpet bra! 
Also, Simone Perele makes awesome undergarments. The Tom bra from Marie Jo is also worth checking out.
/ I pay $$$ for my bras so I could rock $5 tees. 
I’ve been doing a fair bit of shopping lately (not MOB/MOG lol) - I can say there is (in my east coast area) tons and tons of varied inventory in the dress section of Macy’s and Boscov’s. Both new spring dresses and some fall/winter on clearance. It saved me a lot of time to bring in like 15 items and try them all on quickly. What I thought would work, definitely did not lol.
Not sure if this the same elsewhere but thought I’d mention…
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I ran into this fun article on my news feed:
@Colorado_mom - here’s a pretty one in solid petite:
Received my other Macy’s mailorder dresses, and as expected still no winners. But I do know a lot more about styles and brands/sizes. I hope to do some in-store shopping this week in search of a long (or longish), solid MOG dress (Garden Semi-Formal, outdoors in June). Or maybe muted floral. Then if needed, more mail order.
Summary photo below (you’ve already seen the first 3 upthread).
- MSK PM - Too small, too bright
- AlexEvening sz 10 - bad style for me
- REF: Chaps sz M - my favorite Easter dress
- Yellow PL - “looks like you are wearing a tablecloth”
- Calvin Klein PM - pretty but too casual
- MSK PM - pretty but too casual. I like the length (or maybe longer). Only $59 so might keep it for church
Note - I am trying to avoid lavender (bridesmaids) and darkish-blue (MOB).
I am not one for fancy or blingy or typical MOB/MOG dresses…and I love the garden party setting! But even I look at this selection so far and say "fine, but nothing says “garden party special” yet.
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Son did mention that there will be flowers for MOB/MOG. Choice of wrist corsage (my most likely choice) or pin-on corsage.