Please help me shop (part two)

Sooooo. Lauren thought she might rock this French Connection dress as a bridesmaid at her little sister's wedding... But when she went into the store and tried it on it was a little too shaboom (as she put it). And (as I pointed out) maybe a wee bit over-the-top for a ceremony on the beach.

I should have known she'd turn around and ask me to shop for her:

so my wonderful littlest sis is getting married on the beach in southern california this october. (it will not be too cold. we are badasses.) our other sister and i are bridesmaids, and littlest sis's best friend is her maid of honor. here's our dress brief from the bride-to-be:

my thoughts for you three would be to have each of you find a cocktail length dress in some shade of grey (or pattern, whatever), whatever material, whatever style. or hell, a top and a skirt. or a grey suit, if you're feeling it. maybe nothing suuuper light, and nothing TOO dark. i don't care if you already own it (that would be awesome!) or if it's from forever 21 or versace ("it's 'ver-says'." tell me you get that reference). but if you could all kinda talk to each other and just make sure that two don't have the same and the other not, or something. or all match, if that's what you like. I don't know, maybe let's all let it be a surprise that day. frankly, i'm just happy that you're all going to be up there with me.
 
completely reasonable, no? and yet i'm having a hell of a time finding something to wear. littlest sis and her fiance both have art degrees, and their wedding will be all kinds of cool (over easter she showed me bones she found on the beach in mexico and wants to use as centerpieces), and i want to do it justice. i also don't want to draw too much attention to myself or spend my way into the poorhouse. bearing all that in mind, dear ESB, what should i wear? i'd absolutely wear a grey dress again, and i'm willing to splurge a bit; i'm in the ballpark of $500 for a dress and shoes

You guys, Lauren has discriminating taste. (i.e. Don't you dare fucking suggest a bridesmaid's dress from J. Crew.) And I am BURNT OUT on shopping. Especially internet shopping. It's too damn nice out side for me to sit glued to a computer.

So, yeah. Does anyone else have any great ideas? No pressure.

Gaaaaaaaad I'm lazy. They should really dock my pay on this one.

Also, I do not get the ver-says reference, and this is not the first time it's been thrown at me. Anyone care to explicate?

(Photo by Sandi Gunnett)