What to wear over strappy dress

[QuattroFromagio]

I'm short and fat, but there's a dress I like the fabric/pattern of with a smocked bodice and thin straps. I'd never dream of wearing it without something on top. Don't want to wear even a thin cardigan as then I'd get too hot and be tempted to take it off. So I'm trying to think of what sort of sheer/gauze/light shirt or blouse would look right with it and I could wear even in extreme heat.

maybe small sized so that I couldn't button it up to wear like a normal shirt but it might look more like a cardigan? Tied at the bottom? Cropped? Short sleeved? Is there anything that might look ok for a short fat person (size 16/18, about 5'3"), without looking like i'm just swamped wearing a tent over top?

any suggestions?

The 90s look is back so what about a white tight t shirt underneath.

Preferably ribbed.

Either a long chiffon shirt or a very lightweight lacy wrap.

A linen floaty jacket type thing?

https://www.kitandkaboodal.com/made-in-italy-chicago-linen-jacket-p854/s38405?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=cpc&utmterm=made-in-italy-chicago-linen-jacket-colour-cobalt-size-one-size-ple-colour-cobalt-size-one-size-please-see-product-description-192cobaltone-size-please-see-product-description&utmmcampaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&cid=GBP&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&gclid=CjwKCAjwoMSWBhAdEiwAVJ2ndvH87kOoZWNaCkI14NPZq4GcxxhzQ5C6firdaZaLMml9PRGrdbWlFhoCheIQAvD_BwE

Thanks, I'll check out the shirt

A tight white t shirt would look good on a lot of people I think. But I expect I'm too far for that. It will already be a bit dodgy wearing a smocked bodice, so I think disguising it a bit with something over top would be good. It's a fine line between disguising a bit and being swamped in something baggy over though.

Maybe linen is ok too. I'd be googling gauze or sheer shirts, thinking linen might seem too much of an extra layer, but actually you can probably get quite lightweight ones.

Something made of chiffon! Marla Wynne layers on QVC might have something suitable?

ah thanks, that has given me good terms to google, chiffon shrug and things like that!

This year's Uniqlo are lightweight

Linen comes in all weights, Muslin is the sheerest most light weight of all, very cool, very breathable but very creasey!

Have a look on Yours Clothing. There are some lovely, very lightweight cardigans on there -I don't know how to do a link. I'm also short and fat, and I wear one of these over dresses

Have a look at uniqlo. They have nice long sleeved light linen ones plus also some half sleeve ones which look really nice knotted over dresses (look at some of the insta photos people have posted of them).

Thanks - I saw the long sleeve ones and am thinking of ordered one. But I didn't see the half sleeve ones - do you have a link to those?

I say just wear it as it is. What are you worried about? What other people think? You will find that everyone is worried about how they look, not looking at other people.

I know I look really horrible in strappy things, for one thing, and I've been on mumsnet long enough to learn what a lot of people think of someone fat, especially showing bare skin. Obviously they can see I am fat anyway so I'm not fooling anyone, but at least I can try to make it a little more flattering, I guess. Also, I wouldn't be comfortable anyway, knowing I've internalised all the shame of being fat and hate myself for it already.

And perhaps most importantly I sunburn/get hot very easily and would quite like a light covering of my shoulders. (yes i'd put sunscreen on as well)

Not a white t-shirt. That looked awful even in the 1990s. Wear it as it is, as others have suggested. Hiding yourself under layers just makes you look bigger.

I've been thinking this elbow-sleeve linen shirt from Brora would make a lovely feminine over-layer — ?