To bridge that gap, focus on creating harmony
She was having a meltdown, already stressed with being a new mom and bringing her newborn out far from home, this being her second trip doing so for this dress, and they told her she would have to come back a third time two days before the wedding to pick it up correctly altered, without any compensation for the trouble
If you want to keep things classic, a floor-skimming dress will always feel suitably elegant for a black-tie event
Coverage that feels intentional rather than compensatory looks completely different from coverage that looks like hiding
To wear cocktail attire in an incredibly pared-down way works just as well. Clothes need to look fresh on, be properly ironed, neatly folded and polished, as is appropriate