Quick disclaimer that I am technically not yet 35 (though rapidly approaching!), but I find my sensibilities align better with this sub than most other fashion subs. I hope it's ok for me to post.
I have a conundrum and am starting to panic a little. I'm based in the U.S. (East Coast), and at the end of June I will be attending a black tie optional wedding in Lisbon. The night before there a welcome dinner whose dress code is formal as well.
I don't own much formalwear at all -- normally I just rent dresses for events, but I can't this time because I will be traveling through Scandinavia for ~2 weeks following the wedding. I also have health issues that cause heat intolerance, so breathability / non-restrictiveness is a must.
I am struggling to find even one, let alone two, formalwear options that are:
- Breathable (I'm thinking chiffon-type fabrics and/or ideally natural fibers like cotton / linen, but everything I've seen either 1. is polyester, 2. reads too casual, and/or 3. is crazy expensive) and forgiving in the stomach area (I bloat a lot in heat)
- Packable (need them to pack down light and small since I'll be essentially backpacking for two weeks afterward but also be wrinkle-resistant enough to work with just a steam at the hotel)
- Affordable (really hoping not to have to spend $500+ on top of already insane airline prices...)
- Not a white-adjacent color, and ideally also not black for the wedding at least (apparently black is traditionally a no-no at Portuguese weddings, and although truthfully I doubt anyone will notice or care, I like to at least try with that kind of thing)
- Ideally versatile for future occasions
Shoe-wise I'm planning to wear flat gold strappy sandals so I don't have to pack heels (also the wedding is outdoors and there's gravel involved), but I feel like that also makes floor length more necessary. I'd consider the tradeoff of packing low block heels instead if that makes things meaningfully easier on the outfit front.
Am I asking for something impossible? I've been scouring every site I could think of from department stores (Nordstrom, Macy's) to secondhand (TRR, Poshmark) to individual retailers (Reformation, ASOS) but I can't find anything, and I'm getting worried about finding something in time, especially if I need to do alterations.
Thank you so much for reading and in advance for any advice!