Please help me find a dress to wear in the evenings on holiday.

[CosmicMountain]

I'm going to Portugal soon and its forecast to be 30°C at 8pm. And I already run hot thanks to perimenopause.

I'd like a lovely dress to wear to go out to dinner in the evening that won't leave me sticky.

Maybe no sleeves to air my armpits but wide straps so I'm not revealing too much flesh. I must wear a bra (34f).

Not billowy - too much fabric. Talking of fabric, is it best to go for light cotton, linen or perhaps viscose?

Colour wise, I'm flexible. I have dark brown hair and eyes and love burnt orange or jade green.

I'm size 12-14, bigger bust than hips and a slightly wobbly belly. I don't like anything high necked.

Budget is ideally less than £100.

Can anyone recommend something vaguely like this?

Thanks @EleanorMc67

This thread and everyone's suggestions has really helped me to work out what I do and don't like.

I do love a good chairty shop find @Vicliz24

For various reasons that aren't appropriate for this thread, I want a new dress. Something I'll feel great in. It's been a while.

Aspiga have some lovely dresses, some as light as can be. I’m in a place with bad reception now so can’t link to specific ones. Google it and ignore the horrid ones on the homepage!

@minnowonthesay that dress is a gorgeous colour.

@FoxandDuck your description made me smile. There are independent shops nearby but with work and school holidays, I won't have time to have a good look around. Also, I don't love shopping in person.

@Goldengamer good idea to look when I'm there. I'm not ruling out buying something when I'm there. I definitely want to take a dress wirh me that I love.

@EmeraldShamrock000 thank you for taking the time to explain to me. I can't drill down any further though, stating no sleeves or not too high a neckline. And I hate that I need to click on each item to see the actual size.

Not sure if you'll like this one OP - I think for a bra you'd need something like a cropped top-type, as it looks like it would be visible at the sides too. But I like both the brown & blue colours & it looks very cool & wafty.

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1338226003.html

I also like this shape for a big bust & bit of a tummy. Not in your size, but Jigsaw customer service have in the past been really good at sourcing things in their shops to buy over the phone.

https://www.jigsaw-online.com/collections/sale-dresses/products/linen-pintuck-waist-dress-red

This Aspiga one is gorgeous on my daughter who was lucky enough to be given it by rich godmother. It is the lightest thing ever. Over budget though and has sleeves, but they do all styles www.aspiga.com/products/billie-short-sleeve-organic-cotton-dress-hibiscus-blue

I quite like the H&M one @EleanorMc67 but what the jeff is Ramie material? I'd be snipping those tassels off!

The Jigsaw dress is gorgeous. The shape is beautiful and I love the pintucks.

Thanks for mentioning Aspiga @Donostiera. Another brand I haven't heard of. There are a couple of dresses I like but as you say lots of them have sleeves.

I'd also get rid of the tassels! Ramie is similar to linen, but is made from a plant in the nettle family. It's sometimes a bit stiffer/coarser, sometimes a bit more silky-looking. A natural fibre though, & strong & long-lasting.

If you like the Jigsaw one, this is quite similar in style. And in your size. Viscose/linen blend, dressed for work in the photos but easily accessorised for a holiday evening.

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-tuck-detail-short-sleeve-cotton-midi-dress-teal/p114806871

Another John Lewis one that's got that pin-tucked detail at the waist - bright red/orange cotton. You said not high-necked I think - but this can be unbuttoned a bit.

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-short-sleeve-cotton-kimono-dress-auro-orange/p115096767

They are both lovely @EleanorMc67. I really like the belt detail on the back of the orange one. It's quite a bright orange, I'll need to feel brave for that one.

How many orange dresses does one need?

I'm not the right person to ask that question of!!! I should ask myself the same about green ... but I love & suit lots of shades of it, so I ignore any inner voice when I buy another green dress ... 😁!!!

It's as though I want to be enabled...

You do - I am that enabler!!

Order the ones you really like the look of - AND the ones on your maybe list. Stick them on your credit card.

I will (almost) guarantee that you'll be disappointed in one you'd set your heart on, & pleasantly surprised by one that looked a bit average in the photos.

You are! Live you for that @EleanorMc67

I'm expecting a few packages in the next couple of days. Can't wait to try them on!

Not sure if any of these are suitable...

https://www.next.co.uk/style/SU789913/Y13575

https://www.next.co.uk/style/SU894632/G09907

https://www.next.co.uk/style/SU898157/V24507

https://www.next.co.uk/style/SU962127/W15639

https://www.next.co.uk/style/SU898171/Y28307

Nice colour www.fatface.com/style/sv250262/y26298

Do report back, & fingers crossed for your trying-on session!

Have a look at next clearance, lots of cheap summer dresses!

Would you suit white when you have a bit of a tan? @CosmicMountain

This looks very relaxed and lightweight.

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc148239843

This is pretty and a nice shape without being clingy (and perhaps more in your shade comfort zone).

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc148586010

I think with the first two Jersey cotton will be a bit on the heavy side. The third one is lovely.

I'm living in dresses from Luna at the moment. Very lightweight. https://lunauk.co.uk/collections/dresses

Thank you @DeftGoldHedgehog I really like the orange paisley dress from Finery.

And the botanical print on one of the Next dresses but as you say, jersey will be too warm for what I need.

White will look good with a tan but unfortunately I will still spill things on it so it is banned from my wardrobe.

Another new brand for me @Featherhorn, I shall take a look at Luna.

My concern would be personally with the Luna ones that a lot of them are short bodiced, empire line or otherwise nipped in under the bust and I think even the models would look better in something that fits on their actual waist.