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

I notice on threads like this that some take no notice of OP’s requirements, and suggest really unsuitable outfits. If the OP wants to cover her arms etc why suggest sleeveless dresses?

Don’t have any specific suggestions but look up modest fashion. It’s exactly what you’re looking for. edited to say I know it’s the opposite of sexy but it doesn’t have to be frumpy. There are some lovely modest designers out there.

Isn't linen a bit absorbent?
I bought a crepe de chine dress from Hundred Stars. Sleeves, whafty, v neck and glorious pattern.

Hi, U can go for some lace dresses, This one I saw on Debenhams online. Bright in color, classy look and perfect for summer.

https://dbnms.mobi/FTvnT9HAqp , Here is the link to the dress

Please stop promoting that dreadful entity … It’s not even a real shop in any meaningful way. And countless MN posters have suffered from interacting with it.

eh?

Hmmm, I’m going to an overseas wedding and have been looking at this dress. It’s lovely.

Debenhams.
Once it closed its high street departments stores it moved online .Apparently it’s gone downhill although I haven’t had any issues .

It is. I wish I were slim enough to to wear it!

Who do you mean?

Loads of people wore smart kaftans for events when I lived in Mauritius because the heat was deadly. They went crazy on the gold jewellery though.

We need to know what you bought OP. Come back!!!

Can other people wear silk in the heat?
I melt in silk

The post above my comment, @Allseeingallknowing.

It is, isn't it? And easily wearable again for lots of occasions - or even just because it's a sunny day outside!!

I try not to buy things that I have limited opportunities to wear. If I buy something lovely I want to wear it lots, not just once or twice (& that includes wedding guest wear). Even the more special vintage/designer pieces that I own, I like to combine with everyday clothes so that they don't just hang in my wardrobe.

My current favourite (now that the sun has appeared a few times this month!) is a 1950s blue-grey lace duster-style coat that I bought in a fab vintage shop off the Portobello Road - about 30 years ago?!! It nearly bankrupted me at the time ... 🙀!!! But I still love & wear it often - right now with classic indigo jeans with a deep turn-up, a white T-shirt from Wyse with gold edging, & an old pair of gold PS trainers. So I think it's certainly been good value per wear by now!

It's not actually Debenhams (as was) anymore, it's Boohoo in all but name (quite literally). The old Debenhams was bought by Boohoo (who also now own Karen Millen, Oasis, Warehouse, Coast, Oasis, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis etc). Boohoo rebranded as Debenhams. So basically it's not really that far off the fast-fashion, pile-em-high sell-em-cheap tat emporium that is Shein.

However, though I'd rather not buy from them, I'm not sure they're any worse in the ethical sense than Debenhams was in its 80s/90s heyday, when owned by Arcadia & the despicable "Sir" Philip Green.

He managed to swindle his way out of paying billions of taxes, buy off the people he bullied & sexually & racially harassed via NDAs, help his pals hide their assets from ex-wives & children, cut clothing costs by prolific use of sweatshops, & destroy BHS while leaving its employees short of almost £600 million in pensions ... Ironically he was also an advisor to the Tory government on efficiency in spending ... 🙄

Yes, no problem at all if it's fine Habotai silk or similar really lightweight silk or silk mixes, & in a floaty cut.

It's polyester & elastane, with a polyester lining. Not only would you sweat in 40 degrees heat, you'd also smell. Odour-causing bacteria tend to multiply faster on synthetic fabrics as they're trapped along with body oil/secretions instead of evaporating.

And I know I posted some brighter options, not the pale shades that the OP prefers - but this is retina-searingly bright!

Any of these?

This. I think people are imagining a stiff silk. I have a very light silk dress that isn’t at all sweaty in hot weather.

Debenhams refunds take so long that I don’t use them any more. And I hate that it’s all one big organisation now, with coast, oasis, warehouse etc.

Did you find something you loved, @OnAMatOopEre ???