this is not a journal title

I'm going to a friend's wedding on Thanksgiving Saturday, she's the bride. The attire is semi-formal, the ceremony will be non-denominational, the bride is wearing a dress from J.Crew and the groom a kilt, and the bride is Chinese. I'm torn between wearing a strappy floor-length dress that's gold underneath with black mesh over (two crappy pictures here and here), and a Chinese-style ("Mandarin style") dress from my Nga Boo with half sleeves, a collar, and ends just below the knee, in yellow brocade (somewhat like this in cut).

I'm actually having the Chinese dress fitted and picking it up tomorrow afternoon, so if it's not ready that'll make my choice for me. While I feel like the Chinese one is a more appropriate level of attire (the long one seems a bit *too* formal), it strikes me that b/c of its outlandishness that it could be worn in many more circumstances than the long one, so I should wear the long one when I can. The bride's planning to have another reception in NYC a few months away, so it could be worn then, for example, presuming I'm invited which seems a reasonable presumption since she said she'd invite my parents.

I also have shoes and a purse for the long dress, and I'd have to throw something together for the Chinese-style one.

Any thoughts?