Italian summer wedding guest dress: yes or no?

[JollieJullie]

I am attending a wedding in Italy in July. The wedding and reception will be held in a villa's garden, so no church. Dress code is "chic garden party". Needless to say, it will be very hot!

I have my eyes on this particular dress, I love the back and the shade of green. Do you think it could work? Do you like it? Not sure about the shoes yet, maybe something gold? Thanks for your advice!

www.thereformation.com/products/casette-silk-dress/1311240AKO.html

I love both dresses. They look really wonderful.

Personally I'd go linen because it looks like it would be a bit easier to wear. But that's just me. And a bit lazy.

There is the hot temperature thing. But only you know your sweat tolerances. I'm not a sweaty person myself so it wouldn't be an issue.

Go for it OP.

I have just realised that all those fiddly boleros and pashminas worn at destination weddings are probably due to paranoia about the sweat issue 😁

Some people sweat more than others 🤷‍♀️ It doesn't make them 'paranoid' if they dress accordingly. It looks a lot better than being covered with obvious sweat marks.

I live in Italy too and the weddings I have been to have not really been extremely dressy - but maybe that’s my friends! I also got married in Italy in July and it was HOT even in the evening.

The green linen floral is really lovely, less bridesmaid, would like great with white strappy sandals.

I really like the green linen dress.

In my experience, it's impossible to be overdressed for an Italian wedding of this sort.

I'd avoid linen - too casual, even in that beautiful dress.

Your first choice was great, though I agree may not suit the heat.

Anything a bit revealing you just cover with a lightweight shawl in church.

It was really hot and they all ended up with seat patches showing on the fabric.

That was my first thought. It's a lovely dress but in the heat I can see it being clingy and uncomfortable.

I’ve got a reformation silk dress, the genesis. I wore it to a wedding in summer, I wore a strapless bra & some control pants underneath so no VPL. No sweating either, but it did crease slightly. I also toyed with a linen alternative but everyone I asked said it wasnt glam or nice enough.

I think you’ve got great taste OP. The first dress is stunning and not revealing at all. I think some posters want you covered from head to toe! If you’re not a sweaty type and it’s in the hills in the evening. We don’t know it’s going to be boiling. I spent a week in Italy in August once and it was not warm at all!

The Reformation jumpsuit is also lovely. I think you should go with your instincts and not be swayed. You know what suits you.

I love the linen version of the dress. Can someone with more style than me pls advise what bra you'd wear and whether or not you'd have to have a 'perfect' back in order to really look great?

July + Italy = it's going to be fucking hot in the afternoon/evening.

If you are the cool thin and tall elegant type who never has ever got food or make-up of sun cream on your clothes go for it!

Otherwise? Well it's risky!

The green floral linen one is absolutely stunning and will keep you fresh and cool

My daughter wore a dress like this to a wedding in Portugal. She wears stick on cups for dresses like this. Yes you do need to have a perfect back. I must say I am not a fan of the linen version but people here seem to like it.

My vote is for the original green silk dress or the silk jumpsuit.
Definitely not the linen one. Nor the jersey jumpsuit.
I've been to Italy annually for the past 12 years & have both attended weddings & seen innumerable wedding parties outside the church in the place we visit & the style & general glamour is incredibly high.
I find MN opinion on wedding style to be very questionable!!

I find MN opinion on style to be VERY questionable. Chockful of frupmy dresses, lots of polyester and badly cut jumpsuits.

Having grown up (partly) in a country - France - that rigidly polices how women look, I actually love the freedom and variety of "acceptable" outfits that women have here. A lot of what MN loves is not my aesthetic at all, but it is great that women do not feel the same constraints as in some other countries.

But I agree that, when it comes to foreign weddings, what would be fine in the UK will potentially make you look simultaneously over-dressed (too try-hard) but also under-dressed (too cheap) in France/Italy/Spain, in particular.

I don't bother with bras unless I am going through a scanner. If it is ultra cut then I would use tit tape.

I am fairly small chested so I usually don't bother with a bra for this type of dress!

I love the green silk dress, it’s stunning. I like that it’s high at the front too, and the back is gorgeous. You have a good eye!

Don't like the silk version at all - but I love the linen version - particularly the green pattern one you've linked to .

I love the green dress. But I think this one would be safer in the heat...

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/product/reformation/clothing/maxi-dresses/frankie-floral-print-silk-charmeuse-maxi-dress/1647597304547248

Ooh, and my Reformation silk dress clings like buggery, so take some anti-cling spray, maybe?

Thank you for the comments and suggestions about wearing/not wearing a bra with the dress

Now that dress is really gorgeous AND classy too!