August 2024: wedding guest: Scottish island. Outfit required.

[VWdieselnightmare]

Just had the invitation to an in-law wedding. We'll be staying in lodges and the ceremony will be held in a barn or marquee.

Next August I'll be a 63-year-old, 5'4", size 10-12 woman with pixie-cut silvery grey hair. I'm slim-hipped, don't have much of a waist and am a B-cup. I carry some extra weight on my abdomen — ribcage and stomach areas – and don't seem able to shift it.

I've never been a 'pretty' woman. My aim is to look moderately stylish with a slightly quirky edge rather than fashionable: currently wearing an old charcoal MaxMara oversize funnel neck sweater, heavy jersey wide black trousers and about to put on my Esska Vera boots and four-year-old fishtail Plumo parka to go out.

I don't wear dresses: I've had surgery on my ankle/ heel after an injury and have scars and ongoing pain that make it impossible to wear a delicate summery shoe or much of a heel. I tried for years to wear floral and frilly and 'feminine' clothing but always felt 'not me'. In later life I've stopped trying and have gone for the plain, more tailored look.

Last year, invited to a similar semi-formal wedding, I wore a relaxed baby blue linen trouser suit with a very simple shell top and trainers. I looked fine in isolation but in the photos I stand out like a sore thumb among all the other women in their frilly patterned maxi dresses and fabulous big hair and jewellery.

Anyone else know what I'm wittering about? Any thoughts on finding a middle way, stylewise?

I can't say I rate the chances of big hair and frilly patterned maxi dresses on a Scottish island very highly, unless the weather is uncharacterisically amazing! A trouser suit sounds perfect. A costume jewellery necklace, if you don't do scarves?

I would bring midge repellent, the midges at that time of year are mad. Which Island is it?

What do you think Scottish people wear to weddings generally?! It's not a trip to the Antarctic!

How about a really well cut jumpsuit? That might be a compromise?

A lot depends on which island you'll be at - or island group if you think saying the actual name would be outling.

If Western Isles or Inner / Outer hebrides I'd agree that midges would be an issue

If Northern Isles, worth having protection just in case but much less of a problem unless we get a spell of warm, calm weather. August in any of the Isles can be beautiful, you'll certainly need sun protection just in case as UV rays can be very strong here even when it's not too hot.

The outfit you describe sounds lovely, you should wear what you want. And be prepared for a long day / night - traditional Isles weddings can go on a very long time especially if trad dancing starts up. You may need to swot up on scottish folk dances, again depending on where you'll be.

A trouser suit/jumpsuit would work well, maybe with long sleeves to protect you against the midges or the brisk breeze you will be grateful for to keep them away. For these reasons you may want a scarf handy.

How about something like this?

www.silkfred.com/womens/clothing/jumpsuits-and-playsuits/jumpsuits/double-second/green-lux-satin-jumpsuit

Or this?

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/brand/adrianna-papell/pearl-beaded-jersey-jumpsuit-aa0170#colcode=AA017000

I don’t really understand earlier poster concerns about weather and midges if the whole wedding is inside a marquee or barn.

I think a trouser or jumpsuit sounds perfect. With comfortable shoes if there’s a ceilidh!

In one thread already we've had:

Midgies
Bad weather
Sunscreen

The weirdness about Scotland on here pisses me off sometimes. People somehow manage to live here all year round quite comfortably.

These are not inexpensive but how about a statement jacket that you could wear with some wide leg trousers?

https://www.shibumistyle.com/pages/womens-jackets

Thanks for the suggestions. Something will come up in the next seven months. I've just been looking at Sezane's self-coloured embroidered and cotton lace blouses and wondering whether they would soften a trouser suit.

I'm long in the body and short of leg, and as I don't have either much of a bust or a waist, jumpsuits don't really flatter.

If I could wear a dress (which I can't, not without a thick sock and padding for my heel) it would probably be a plain column-style dress, what with me being a bit column-like in shape. Not planning on wearing anything low-cut or sleeveless, even in August, in the Hebrides. The midges will be a nightmare.

Love this:
https://www.shibumistyle.com/collections/bhumi-jackets/products/bhumi-jacket-in-smokey-blue

Not sure I can afford it, though. I can't imagine wearing it often enough to justify the price. But perhaps I can find someone who'll make me something like it... Thank you.

It might be worth looking on Etsy to see if there is anything similar

But also, I think you could wear that jacket with jeans (not to the wedding) to get wear out of it.

That's true: it would look great with jeans and boots. I'll be over in that direction in January or February and I'll go and try a couple of their jackets on. I'm trying to think whether I could get away with one of the shorter jackets. Might make my legs seem a bit longer. The fabrics and cut do mean that the jackets look a step up from a blazer. Thank you.

Nancy Mac would normally be my first port of call for a fancy jacket (have a look at their Kimonos as well www.nancymac.co.uk/collections/shrugs

Or you could try something like one of these , Joe Browns seem to have lots of fancy jackets at the moment