adding that selections available on amazon are strongly encouraged.

Consider something with blue and silver (if that will work with your jewelry plan). Options run from pashmina , silk, to sheer depending on preference and possible temperature. Look up some of the ways to tie a scarf over your shoulders so it will stay in place and might look more integral.

Pretty dress. I like @lisaam‘s suggestions. Order a bunch and return whatever doesn’t work.

ooh thank you.. I love the last suggestion and just searched it.... I will let this percolate a tad more, but I 'll definitely order that. I like the sheerness and the little extra metallic on it.

still worth a try, but just read "frequently returned" due to color issues which may or may not be an issue. I really just want the shawl in case the air conditioning is out of control.

I really like #3 too.

Maybe try a silver-colored one too?

I like number 2. It is May and you need something spring like.

I agree-- like 2 and 3 and especially like the silver ones Sue shared.

It is a really pretty dress and looks great on you! Bonus that you will get to wear it again!

I have always liked this one:

Is the purpose to keep you warm or just cover your arms? Indoors/outdoors and whats the weather going to be like?

Yesterday I came across a photo of a woman apparently a wedding and she had a very plain simple dress, and a gorgeous shawl over her shoulder. It looked like satin with embroidery. That does not do it justice. It was so beautiful. I have done everything to retrace my steps and cannot find it. But it is also very taste-specific.

How do you get the shawls to stay in place? Love the way they look but the one time wore one it felt like I spent my evening wrangling my shawl.

When I first looked, a month ago or so, I was pretty much finding the ones like Sue shared, which I do like ,but thought id task the tribe here.

I have made peace with my arms so its more in case its chilly, not a modesty issue for religious purposes.

Mostly will be inside but some will be outdoors.

I think I will order the 2 prints from lisa and some metallic. The dress is deep navy.

I don't know if something like this would work with the lines of the dress.

I really like the floral wrap.

JIll, I use hajib magnets.

I like all the shawls pictured above and think probably any of them could work. Would encourage you to consider something lighter blue, silver or gold so that not every part of the outfit is navy.

hajib magnets! who knew there was such a thing.

I have tied the ends behind my back or put the crossover on one shoulder rather than clutching in front.

That's a beautiful dress - and a lovely color! I have nothing new to add to the suggestions you've already received here. I hope one of them works for you.

I believe I have that third one in Lisa's post. It is very light and sheer but because it is essentially a solid color that would be worn over a solid color dress, I think the color would need to be spot on. Navy is like black -- you think they should match, but you find there are 100 variations. A gold or silver leaning, an intentionally different shade of blue or a print would be a safer bet, especially with a short time frame. I would order at least 2 or 3 so you have choices. Something like this "light navy"with gold would make it easier to blend.

Something like this one or this one would lean into the silver shoes.

Also this

I love that you said the wedding is at the shore. You are officially a Philadelphian, although ” down the shore” would put you at the head of the class.

As you know Memorial Day weekend can be chilly ( or stinking hot), so id go with something with some substance. I do love lisa’s 2 and 3.

Well all such helpful comments and suggestions, which is exactly why I posted this here. I don't know if you will recall, but you (collectively- all) helped me decide on the dress back in 2014 for DD 2 's wedding. It is a very forgiving and comfortable dress, and it really looks much nicer in person. I'll be ordering a bunch from amazon taking all the suggestions into account. I really appreciate this group.

I just looked again at their very detailed invitation,

It's really not outdoors and indoors. There are 2 different buildings, but they are connected and sheltered walkways so only if we feel we want to explore, would we need to be concerned with the weather. I do like to walk and hike, but I think I'm not inclined given the attire. :)

@Kswl - Thank you, will give the magnets a try.

I really like the second one "A-Steel Blue" from A that Lascatx posted. It would be a nice weight if it is chilly and compliments color-wise. You might want two different weights for the weather possibilities.

I forgot about the hajib magnets too. If your shawl fabric can handle a decorative pin, you can knot the shawl or fold over the fabric and use a pretty pin to hold in place. I have a couple of pins that were my mothers and one that belonged to a dear friend. It adds something unusual and you don't have to worry about loose ends.

Oh my gosh, how awful. You were lucky to have some backup dresses. What a shame things didnt work out as planned but Im sure you looked fine. Good thing the weather was chilly so you werent too hot in velvet.

Im so glad the shawl worked out. I could never get into anything I owned from nearly 30 years ago.

Plan B should reslly be called ”life.”

So glad you were comfortable, appropriate and oretty, and that one was also my favorite. Velvet ❤️

ohmygoodness! Bravo to you for an excellent Plan B!

oops it was actually Lisa who found the scarf. I think it was eld who preferred it.

Don't want to slight anyone. :)

Seriously, plan B required.

Wow! Salonva I am so impressed. Not only did you have 2 back-up dresses - but you are still the same size as 30 years ago. I am salute you!! I love navy velvet....

Which scarf? the second one withe pretty pale yellow flowers on a blue background?

The weather was indeed miserable last night - and today too for that matter. We went to dinner with DS, DDIL and the 2 grand daughters and I was chilled all through dinner. And I was wearing a long sleeve jacket and pants.

I'm impressed that you had back-up dresses. Glad it all worked out and hope you can get the zipper repaired.

Let's just say that I filled out the 2 older dresses much more- much much more than when originally purchased. I could never fit into pants from that long ago. I had saved those 2 dresses because they were relatively forgiving. Don't be fooled about the fact that out of all the clothing I've had over the last many years, the blue velvet dress still looks ok.

The velvet dress I wore, is one that DD2 came across when we were moving ( in 2018) ,and offered her opinion with eye roll, "Mom, that is very dated. ".

Whatever, whatever.

Yes, the shawl is the floral with the yellow flowers. It was different in real life, more subdued but lovely if I have to say so myself.

Dated? Everything comes back in sytle. And a new wrap and it's all new again.

So glad you had a backup. I would have been a basket case in your shoes. Sure, I probably have something in my closet that would work but once I have my heart set on something...

Kudos to fitting into 30 year old clothing! Maybe it didn't fit exactly the same, but it fit!

Thank goodness you were dressing in your home vs an out-of-town wedding. I would have had to have an emergency stop at the mall 😀 DH is a zipper whisperer. My instinct is to YANK on it and that rarely works. Hopefully the zipper is repairable.

Yes, thank goodness you were home. Amazing you can fit into a 30yr old dress, I don't care what you say. Also amazing it had not deteriorated.

Glad you had a back up and a wrap that worked. On the planned dress, try pulling the zipper down and inspecting the teeth. Some zippers are made of nylon coils and dothers have rectanagular teeth. The most common reasons for them getting stuck are a loose thread or bit of fabric getting caught or the zipper not being aligned when you try to close it. If it is in a Y, the angle can be too great for it to go forward and if you keep trying, you can pull the teeth at hte lower part of that Y our of alignment. If you keep pulling with loose thread or a bit of fabric, you can damage the dress too.

Either way, see if you can coax the zipper back down and look at what is going on with the teeth If they are all still attached to the zipper tape and there is not a broken coil, you can probably clear it and coax it back. A little soap on the area may help it -- if that is fabric friendly for the dress.