Two summer dresses for Croatia

[Libra]

I have never posted on Style and Beauty before, but I promise you that I do read and take some of the advice.
I now have two culottes underskirts (petticoats) as a result of the board. One from Marks and Spencer and a shorter one as well.
They are absolutely great and have encouraged me in the idea that I could wear dresses on my summer holiday.
Here is the issue. I am 16/18. I am early 50s. I do not look good in shorts. I live in the north of Scotland so have no concept of hot weather dressing.
We are off to Croatia in three weeks time. I have started waking up at 2 in the morning to obsess about what to wear. We will be walking around places and also swimming and sitting on beaches.
I think that a couple of nice dresses - not manmade fibres, not too short, not too long - would be good.
I have bosoms. I am pale. I am nervous.
To complicate matters (north Scotland), I have limited access to shops. I can do Marks, JOhn Lewis, Debenhams. I don’t like ordering online because sending clothes back is problematic - the post bus comes to the village every other Thursday
Can you help me??

This would be great for evenings,
www.marksandspencer.com/pure-cotton-printed-shirt-midi-dress/p/p60156351?image=SD_01_T42_3096U_Y8_X_EC_90&color=IVORYMIX&prevPage=plp , a lot of their cotton/ linen and cotton is sold out on line but they may still have stuff in store.

It’s very - umm - colourful. I am not sure.
Would I look like a walking zoo?

It’s also got long sleeves! DO NOT wear this to Croatia in the summer.

If you don't mind your arms out then the linen dresses from Next are lovely. I get the regular length and they are knee length on me (I'm a short arse)

They are the £26 ones that have pockets on the front.

Agree with sleeves and Croatia. Probably not good.
Hadn’t thought of Next. I haven’t bought anything from there for decades. I remember their sizing as particularly unforgiving. Has that changed?

These ? www.next.co.uk/g22166s5?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsYaRmdjJ2wIVCZzVCh0u8wh-EAQYAiABEgKK2PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CLzz2JvYydsCFVUTGwodewoL1g

I'm a booby size 16 (apple shape) and they fit me fine.

Actually, looking at the Next site. This looks lovely. Or would I be Muutton dressed as lamb? www.next.co.uk/g9842s5

The dress is nice , its not so much the Mutton/Lamb aspect , but I'm early 50s and top half 14/16 and I couldn't begin to fathom the kind of bra I'd need with a Bardot top.

Anything I'm buying now for summer needs wide straps

Liking the orange dress!

All my colleagues in their 50s wear things like that, no way will you look like mutton.

You just need a strapless bra, I have one & im a G cup

I have a couple of those linen Next dresses, would recommend.

OOh I like the Next linen dress
I bought one of the H&M dresses with pockets a couple of years back, but the colours this time are a bit meh

I love the orange one , not a colour I go for but I can step out of my navy rut comfort zone ....

15 year old DS likes the orange dress burnt feels my colours are purple or mustard. He is also showing me videos of cute toucans so I am not sure how much we should rely on him.

Definitely going to try on the Next dress, but like the swing of the orange one. Admit that the norkiness may be a problem.

I’ve got a couple of those Next linen dresses from a few years ago. They’re handy to have tbh however I got back from Menorca this morning and loads of women had them on so I’d advise you to stick to the plain ones if you go for any.

We went to Croatia last year and it was very hot!

I had a couple of these style dresses from Hush

www.hush-uk.com/m/summer_beach/summer_collection/summer_dresses_1/hayley_ombre_dress_tigerlily.htm

They were invaluable- chuck over a swimsuit in the day or dress up for evening.

The Hush dress looks fab. But is it natural fibres?

Why would you not want to wear sleeves? Good sun protection and much classier looking esp in the evenings when the sun isn’t out anyway. I’d love to find something like that m&s dress here (Sweden) but ha to that (it’s very colourful though, I admit that 😉 ). We’re going to Croatia too - I’ll be drawing on the experience of the past month of heat and drought here - no man made fibres bar viscose and tencel! Otherwise ... clothes? Wide legged trousers, a few wrap dresses ... my wardrobe is dire though!

You don’t want to wear long sleeves when it’s like 39° because you will sweat like a pig, ime. That’s not a classy look.
You want short or stewpot sleeves, loose cuts, floaty materials.

Strappy not stewpot (thanks autocorrect )

But wouldn’t long sleeves in a very light cotton be a good idea for someone as pale as me?

Libra

It’s Viscose which is fine in the heat.

Thanks for advice on viscose. It is so difficult to judge clothing in the heat when your average daily temperature is 14 degrees and you have an extensive collection of cardigans.

Viscose comes in different qualities and thickness, but some are comparable to cotton in terms of coolness. I’m wearing a pair of lounge trousers in a thick viscose satin atm and they’re actually a bit clammy if it gets hot outside ;)

Long sleeves in thin cotton or linen will not be hotter than short sleeves. Jersey is a bit unbearable though.