Guest at destination wedding. Its going to be 40 degrees! 🥵 Please help me find a dress

[OnAMatOopEre]

I want to look cool, elegant and pretty! Am dreading the heat and anything synthetic fabric is just going ro be unbearable.

Dont particularly like my upper arms or back showing so strapless/strappy dresses are out and I would prefer a natural fabric in a lighter (but not bridal obvs!) colour.

A little bit sexy would be nice - not talking attention-seeking but not frumpy either. And preferably floaty maxi although wouldn't rule out a midi.

Im a 12/14 and 5'7

I dont know where to start- has anyone seen anything theyd recommend? Budget up to about £200

Most of the women where I lived wore silk saris for special occasions. Its ok if a loose fitting kaftan type dress.

Which country will the wedding be held in?

Honestly at 40 degrees you will be hot and sweaty whatever you wear.

Is the wedding to be held outside?

Locals of hot countries like this will usually have weddings and gatherings indoors in air conditioned venues in cool conditions, held in the evening or in large airy venues/ stone cool places.

I have lived abroad in such temperatures, and air con was often so high I would take a jacket or cardigan to wear inside in the evening, even though outside temperature was very high.

I wore this to DS’s graduation last year. It’s very lightweight cotton and kept me cool on one of the hottest days. I’m very short so it was a maxi dress on me!
https://www.busbyandfox.com/products/indi-cotton-print-dress

Silk dresses may be fairly lightweight and usually quite breathable (compared to polyester blends at least). So that’s probably why.

But silk (even very thin fabric) still offers quite a bit of warmth/isolation. I therefore wouldn’t recommend it either.

I’d go for linen or cotton. Potentially blended with viscose or lyocell, which many people consider to be “cheap”/low quality but they can definitely smoothen a fabric and are very breathable!

Have a look at Inoa. There’s some in Vinted. Silk, flowy

Have a look out for linen blended with viscose (aka rayon/Lyocell or various other trademarked names). It's really useful as if it's done well, it's still very light & cool & looks like linen - but doesn't crumple on sight!!

Ditto with silk blends. With all fabrics though, the weight matters. I have linen jackets that are actually quite a heavy tight weave.

I had two favourite dresses that I wore all the time when travelling around hot countries (both dry heat & humid heat - North Africa, Central/South America, India). One was a strappy loose maxi, the other similar but with short sleeves (for modesty/respect). Both were made from a very fine viscose blend (one with silk, the other I forget) that didn't crease - so I could just twist them into a little ball in my backpack. They were great!!

I bought this the other day which is 100% cotton while still looking dressy enough - I'm wearing it for a summer black tie party. They have other cotton dresses if it's too revealing.

www.nobodyschild.com/products/alice-midi-dress-2614821002

This is a bit over budget, OP, but is unlined cotton.

https://nrbyclothing.com/products/rsoa-cotton-broderie-dress-blue

NRBY has other pretty dresses in natural fabrics. Most of the other cotton ones are double-layer gauze though. And several are closer to £300 than £200. This one is silk & cotton mix.

https://nrbyclothing.com/products/maisie-cotton-silk-butterfly-print-dress

NRBY linen in budget.

https://nrbyclothing.com/products/annalee-linen-dress-strawberry

Also NRBY linen in budget. All these are more on the relaxed & boho side, but I'd happily wear this with fab accessories.

https://nrbyclothing.com/products/tonia-linen-dress-cherry-red

Comes in blue as well as pink linen.

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/matilda-floral-dress-10020440693.html

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/matilda-midi-dress-10020460517.html

i have this dress in last seasons print - shoulders are covered, its a linen blend so nice and cool and fits beautifully

Is OP coming back? Have we scared you off? Was it the kaftans?!

If I came here asking for something for a destination wedding in which I would look cool, elegant, pretty … a little bit sexy and people suggested lumpy cotton everyday dresses - I’d be gone, too …

How are you for underarm sweat OP? I wouldn’t be able to wear anything where anything touches my underarms without a tell tale patch appearing

Silk/cotton mix is very good for hot weather.

She wants sleeves and maxi and natural fabrics! What have you suggested, I might have missed it?!

Right at the top of the thread, @HoldingInfo!😂

(I have a home in a tropical country, so … 🤷‍♀️)

But those were largely over budget. And most were sleeveless or had long sleeves. So not keeping to the brief! I could not find a single one that had the OP’s criteria and was under £200. Which one did you have in mind?

Impossible to say with knowing about humidity, likely wind and whether wedding is outside. One would hope it is not going to be outside at peak midday temperature. It’s unlikely to be 40 degrees during the ceremony.

I have been to lots of weddings in countries that get that hot (I used to live in Asia). Many were inside in freezing aircon!

I think buying on Vinted/eBay/Vestiaire would be preferable to hiring. I'd already be nervous at a UK wedding if I was in a rented expensive dress, & someone came near me with a glass of red wine.

But in 40 degrees heat, where the rented dress would almost certainly get saturated in places with my own sweat mixed with deodorant (two of the trickiest things to remove from fabric)??! Absolutely not ...!!!

Looks ideal apart from no sleeves

I think it was all the awful dress suggestions that did it.

I have no idea why I have enjoyed this thread so much and read until the end. Some of the comments and dresses have really made me chuckle so thank you for bringing an unexpected bit of humour to my evening! Good luck on the dress search Op!