What to wear over dress - Black tie event but I struggle to regulate temperature

[SweetSakura]

I have finally found a dress for black tie event in a few weeks. It's going to be a very glamorous event but my budget is not!

My dilemma is what to wear if I get cold. I get cold very easily, even when normal people would feel fine. (Being investigated for thyroid issues). However I don't want to overheat either so definitely want something easy to take on and off. Am a size 14-16 apple shape so never easy to find things that flatter at the best of times!

And mainly I just don't even know what kind of layers are suitable for a formal black tie event anymore (I think pre children I just relied on alcohol to keep me warm at them!)

This is the dress www.phase-eight.com/product/yas-printed-dress-220920664.html

If you think the event is going to be very glamourous then I fear you may be underdressed. That dress is very nice but it is not black tie. It looks like a lovely dress to wear out to lunch.

However if you are totally fixed on that dress then a pashmina over your shoulders. Or a jacket or a bolero cardigan.

That's a really pretty dress! If you get cold easily though then it's an awkward choice. There aren't any dresses, or jumpsuits, with sleeves or made of cotton or wool that you like?

Would a white blazer work? Would need trying on

@dudsville it could also be really warm though, so I definitely need an extra layer rather than a warm dress

I think a blazer wouldnt work with my body shape ( I really hate my body shape at the moment, I was size 8 till a few years ago)

@fruitbrewhaha I can live with the dress being underdressed, its been hard enough finding anything that looks remotely ok on me at the moment tbh. I have some lovely jewellery and shoes

I think I'd just go for a pashmina - it's not a particularly fashionable/current look, but it's easy, looks appropriate for black tie in a way that a cardigan isn't - a blazer can be, and the right blazer could be the best option, but it's hard to find the 'right' kind of blazer, especially with a modest budget.

Wear some really thin short leggings underneath? I do this a lot and can take them off in the loos if needed.

I thought about bolero, but worried it would draw attention to my waist (or lack of). And I thought about pashmina too but find them a bit faffy!

A brandy will help too.

Pashminas are faffy, that's definitely their biggest downside. But if you don't want something cropped (and I agree that's not usually that flattering for an shape) it does seem like the best option if you can live with the fiddling.

Lovely dress I would go for a cardi or bolero look at phase eight Salma to see what I mean. The problem is matching the colour though.

You could match it to your shoes or bag though eg navy?

Pashminas are a faff but easy to throw on or off rather than something you have to put your arms in and out of! Definitely won’t draw attention in the same way that a bolero will.

What about a jacket that you just put over your shoulders? Much less fiddly than a pashmina and more up to date.