Tea dress for Italian honeymoon

[TeaChocKitKat]

Im 45 and getting married in Italy in May. I'm 5ft tall and a curvy size 12/14 (days of being a size 8 are gone in spite of my best efforts to lose weight so feel quite self conscious about that). I'd like to get a couple of nice flattering dresses for while we are away. I find A line flattering so Im thinking of tea dresses. I'm blonde and have fair skin.
I dont want to spend too much, certainly less than £100 on each.
Any suggestions?

Nobody’s Child have beautiful tea dresses

I tend to dress for what I like and dont care so much about what others thinks..

Why dress in something you dont find comfortable out of fear of what some stranger will think? You will stand out in a foreign country anyway.

My DDs have managed… just depends on the individual dress tbh. 1 in 3 cuts the boobs off oddly but I’ve found most are fine

This is more of an maxi and a bit over budget but usually lots of different versions on eBay but I have this dress in white broderie anglaise and I love it, feel so lovely in it. https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/the-somerset-maxi-dress3?color=552&curation_id=dresses-maxi-midi-curation&curation_name=Midi+%26+Maxi+Dresses&type=PETITE&quantity=1

Oh god no it doesn’t!

I don’t object to seasalt and fat Face per se. But I just don’t think they’d cut it for a chic Italian honeymoon vibe. At all.

I am hovering over the buy button on the liberty dress.

I am your size OP but older and I’m currently on holiday and wearing this dress a lot! I would recommend it and it’s in the sale. Bargain.

Did you mean to include a link? X

Oh sorry - I did and for some reason it shows in my post but not sure why you can’t see it? I’ve taken a screenshot so hopefully that comes through. But if this fails too, google Monsoon’s floral Sicily fit and flare dress and hopefully that will come up. However, I read a later update where you said you preferred sleeves and this dress is sleeveless. It’s lovely though and I feel quite glam and swishy when I wear it!

Surely ladies of a certain age are at least 75.

Ghost has some lovely tea dresses, this one is very Rixo-esque https://www.ghost.co.uk/lulu-crepe-floral-midi-tea-dress-d10g040-z76

I love some of the Yumi dresses. Especially this one. https://www.yumi.co.uk/products/yumi-green-bird-and-floral-print-ruched-waist-kimono-midi-dress?variant=51818409591131&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23039695915&gbraid=0AAAAADr5gs8OUa_jqr-ssDmnyeTrQlM_N&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhaHMBhD2ARIsAPAU_D7nhQ7WT8QQxJNhtG6TTGpB5PHjpVGkjRC-JVoWyNc6f-LXtkxYTswaAjnlEALw_wcB

There are some lovely suggestions here, for brands I've never considered and some lovely supportive comments so thank you everyone.
I have nothing against Fat Face and the like. I actually have a number of fat face clothes for day to day wear but I would like something that feels a bit more stylish and 'special'. We are away for three weeks so I'm trying to pull together a capsule wardrobe and would like this to include a couple of dresses.

I don’t personally like the dress but weather-wise it’s appropriate.

Italy in May is not significantly different from U.K. - a bit more sunshine but it can be cold and wet.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking it will be hot.

if you are well endowed , how would these work for you. Look out there is one basic shape for each of valanced and narrow hips. Utterly reliable.

They are stylish in my book.

Of course it depends where in Italy, anywhere south of Rome in May it’s very warm and Italians go to the beach and swim. Even more British people. Some hot London May are similar to northern Italy May, but May is not normally a wet month on Italy, as much so that is called the month of the weddings as it is warm sunny but not too much hence perfect season for Italians to do a wedding. June and July are considered too hot, although still feasible in the north

The weather varies in Italy. Southern Italy will be beautifully warm.

I’m Italian. English people think May in Italy is summer weather - it’s not. And yes it can rain in May.

I love a cotton dress but have recently become a convert to viscose maxi dresses for hot weather dressing. The right fabric will feel very cool and silky against the skin. John Lewis, Ghost or some M&S dresses can be a good option. Try on EBay for old stock.

Last summer I went on holiday to a place that is notoriously hot, humid and clammy. My viscose dresses were great but I also got a couple of very useful knee length cotton dresses from Amazon of all places. They had short sleeves and were A line with a simple tiered skirt, so looked nice but allowed plenty of air to circulate around my legs and bum.
I actually got a couple of compliments from female members of staff!

Try searching what you are looking for and spotting an item with high reviews.

I do wonder if posters who so confidently state "the Italians /the French/whatever are soo whatever particular hobby horse is being ridden" have actually been there? You (general you) are on holiday - why would you want to try to impersonate your (general your) idea of how you imagine the natives dress?

Take a look at Seamstress of Bloomsbury. The tea dress is a 1940s staple so vintage-style outlets are the way to go.

https://theseamstressofbloomsbury.co.uk/collections/dresses

Their sizing comes up small in a lot of items so go by the measurements not the number on the label. I’m a 8-10 in most stores but often have to go with 12-14 in their sizes as my rib cage is quite wide (thanks kids!)

Also look at Dolly and Dotty and The Pretty Dress Company.

There’s a gorgeous French model on Instagram who showcases vintage style and has lots of links in her bio.

https://www.instagram.com/barinovael?igsh=dGpvbWRiYmphOXE1

If it helps, we will mostly be in the south. Our last couple of days will be in the north where im expecting to be in jeans or trousers. The dresses would be more for our time in the Amalfi coast etc.

What about Ghost. Lots of bargains in the sale and some stunners just come in.

These are in your size.

https://www.ghost.co.uk/maeve-embroidered-crepe-midi-tea-dress1-d10g015-m12

https://www.ghost.co.uk/lulu-crepe-floral-midi-tea-dress-d10g040-z76

https://www.marksandspencer.com/floral-v-neck-midi-waisted-tea-dress/p/clp23059792

Jigsaw is also often good for a well cut, flattering tea dress.

F