Women: formal wear/summer

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Okay, so let's just say that I'm not a real "dressy" type person. Dresses for church and casual dressy for Christmas functions (like DH's work Christmas party) is about as much as I dress up. LOL

So like... that means for our cruise I'll have to do some shopping. Great.... sounds like fun (hehe) BUT.. I got to thinking- it's going to be HOT in the summer and that's when our cruise will have to be. Everything I can think of to wear that is invariably longsleeved- seems to me that sleeveless or shortsleeved things just aren't "formal" enough.
???
So what do you wear for the dinners, semi-formal and formal nights during summer cruises?

Sounds like a stupid question- but I guess I'm just unrefined. LOL Good ole Texas gal who wears jeans constantly. LOL I do tend to have dressier clothing for the winter- seems to be easier to dress nicer in the colder months. So I need help with dressing up for summer months? Especially the blouse issue... nicer blouses are always longsleeved it seems.
???

 

[Scratch42]

From one gal who lives in jeans to another, get something simple and dress it up with a shawl!

I picked up a real pretty shawl that will go with anything. It's black with hand painted flowers on it. What I am also considering is just a simple long black skirt and wearing a beaded top with it.

Good luck!

Scratch

 

[SeaSpray]

I bought 2 formal dresses for our cruise this past summer and both had short sleeves. Some formal dresses do have long sleeves, I've seen many that are lace, so that wouldn't be as hot or heavy as other fabrics. And, the ship is air conditioned

Here is a picture of my sisters-in-law and I on one of the formal nights on our cruise this past summer, we're all in short sleeves or no sleeves! http://home.comcast.net/~terry527/cruise2003/pages/P6300143.htm

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

Wait until Spring and there will be a wide variety of summery type formals out. Strapless is always my favorite and will look glamorous! Spaghetti straps are also warm weather wear as are formal halters of silk, or beading. There is so much you can do right now. Find any slinky top and pair it with a long crepe or rayon skirt and add a few "jewels" and you are ready to go. No one said formal means you have to dress like your grandmother! I like slinky, (No I am not a skinny minny either), it looks great, you are in the perfect place for it - A cruise to the caribbean, and it is perfect for warm/hot weather, but as the above poster said, the air conditioning is on indoors and you could get cool as well if you are sleeveless (especially in the shows). Bring along a wrap, shawl, or light sweater!

Plus, you'd be amazed what a fabulous necklace, chandalier earrings, and a fancy hairstyle can do for an ensemble! The plainest of black dresses can look glamorous! I always buy one long beady gown for a cruise! It's just something i like to do. (but it can add 15 lbs to your suitcase!). But it is always strapless, or spaghetti. I don't think I want to cover up my great tan with long sleeves!

Maureen

 

[tecdavidt]

I have always had luck this time of year buying black knee length cocktail dresses. Some are short sleeve and some are sleeveless, one has beading. I even have a couple that are machine washable and hang to dry. Kathy

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Thanks for all the suggestions!
I don't own a fabulous necklace (I'm the type that wears the same jewelry all the time LOL), chandelier earrings- NOR the hair that can look "fancy". LOL I have short hair- it's either crappy looking or fixed as it is cut... not fancy. I'm not a fancy person which is probably why it's cut that way. LOL

I appreciate all the suggestions! I hadn't thought of spaghetti strapped or sleeveless... all I could think of was shortsleeved or longsleeved and shortsleeved didn't seem "formal" to me. The reason I didn't think of the spaghetti or strapless is because I haven't worn those EVER... but things are different now, I weigh less/etc. So I suppose I could wear those now.

As for tan.... hmm, I'd have to work on that to have one. Well, I have a farmer's tan if you know what that means- imagine that farmer in shortsleeved shirts and shorts... that's me. LOL

I really do appreciate all your suggestions! That along with browsing some photos of cruises that people have in their sig lines... has really helped me to "get" what to wear. If we end up going in Feb now I think I'll still go with "summer" wear as I'd get more use out of it here at home in Texas- but take a sweater or shawl to wear over it since it will be colder then.