Bridesmaids

For the wedding, I have three bridesmaids. Two of my "maids" (they actually refer to the bridesmaids as "maids" on a lot of wedding websites. It reminds me of a "tavern wench" or other words we don't use anymore...) are friends from college and the other is my brother's girlfriend.

I'm trying like hell to find an outfit idea for them that will be flattering, comfortable and that won't break the bank. (I still want presents, after all.) I'm thinking the emsemble pictured here would probably only be flattering on a Barbie doll, if then. Who would make their bridesmaids wear these get-ups? I mean, they look like they should be in the Robert Palmer "Simply Irresistible" video. (Or "Simply Irresisti-bowl" as they say in the Applebee's commercials that get lodged in my brain like a wood shim.) The brand of these bridesmaid dresses (I use the term "dress" loosely) is "Impression Bridesmaid". Did they mean "bad impression" or maybe "slutty impression"?

I'm leaning toward stealing my friend Carol's idea to have a shirt/skirt combo. I'd like them to wear ivory shirts and pale pink skirts. We'll see how that pans out. At least then they wouldn't be mistaken for hookers.