Bizarre ballgown request

[Jellaby]

Without saying too much, my industry attends a white tie event each year. It is a huge deal, and fashion on the night is extravagant. Last year I wore a beautiful beaded ivory gown with fit and flare shape, that fanned out at my knees into a mass of fluffy fabric with heaps of volume. Very gatsby feel, and I felt incredible. For one reason or another it is kinda the done thing that you only go to this event five times, so your outfit gets more impressive each attendance. I spent a shit ton on last years dress, as my final hurrah.

Only I've now got to go this year too, and don't have the funds to top the dress. Wearing the same dress twice isn't an option here, or else I'd wear my ivory gown again. I'm also not willing to spend a similar amount on clothes as I previously had done. Instead, because I haven't saved for the event this year like is usually do, I need to do this as cheaply as possible.

So, Mumsnet - can you find me the most expensive looking dress for the least amount of money? I'm talking dirt cheap, because I'll only wear it once and it is money I don't want to spend. Must be floor length is my only requirement. I am a size 8 and can probably get away with most things. Darker colours maybe too.

I've found a few on ebay that might work for around £15 so I know it can be done!

This one is currently my fave in burgundy: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clearance-Formal-Cocktail-Womens-Prom-Long-Dresses-Ball-Gown-6-8-10-12-14-16-18-/291117571731?pt=UK_Women_s_Dresses&var=&hash=item43c7f59e93

I know this is weird and a bit cryptic, but I know how good the Style board is at helping out with stuff like this. Thank you!

[Eastpoint]

TK Maxx often has reduced evening dresses but I think they'll still be too expensive if you've managed to find something under £20. Even our local charity shops wouldn't have anything that cheap.

[Jellaby]

It's definitely doable. Nothing in tk max is really white tie though. Needs to be more obscure sites/vendors. On clearance.

How hoping somebody knew of a warehouse and when they get rid of stock. Or anything closing.

A friend of mine attending under the same circumstances just bought an obscure gown from a now closed down independent seller for £7.

[Jellaby]

It is very possible that I will spend more, I'm just very reluctant to if deals like my friend's are out there and I don't know about them.

[Jellaby]

Sorry for spamming my own thread. I'm just trying to convey what I am looking for. The type of dress I need is either couture at silly money (which I'm not doing again) or a really individual, lucky find. Middle of the road and high street won't work.

[Eastpoint]

I don't know where you live but the branch in Hammersmith usually has full length evening dresses. They have a Gold or Premiere section (I can't remember what they call it). A friend of mine found a Valentino evening dress reduced from £950 to £189. They have cheaper lines in evening dresses too. Monsoon usually has full length evening dresses & they might be cheaper than the good stuff in TK Maxx.

[AmberNectarine]

Have you thought about hiring something OP? Girl meets dress have a good selection of ballgowns though you'd be looking c. £100.

[Jellaby]

Thanks, I really do appreciate it. I know I'm appearing ungrateful but this event has become an annual stress for me. High street doesn't really work for the event. It is avant garde, the dress I first posted was a silly example. It was just cheap and I got carried away.

MN probably isn't place to look for this in retrospect, but I'm panicking as it's so soon.

New plan: network through my designer contacts and try to borrow something unique.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

A few ebay options

gold - possibly too simple shape wise?
not subtle!
pretty

Just a thought, but could you customise something (even get someone to do it for you?) So something like the one shouldered dress could get a huge bow or ruffle added to the shoulder (something quite architectural?)

[Chocolategirl7]

Slightly off the wall but do your local council offer costume hire? Ours do - mainly to theatres, amateur dramatics societies and the like but also to individuals. I hired a beautiful vintage 70s outfit for a party for about £20. They had a huge range of outfits - historical and modern. They might be worth a try?
Good luck!

[CMOTDibbler]

Worth checking for large charity shops locally that have an evening/wedding section. I know the Sue Ryder home at Nettlebed used to have a gigantic eveningwear section with really high end stuff (often designers donated their samples to them) for amazing prices in their monthly sale

[BoffinMum]

Have the ivory dress dyed or altered by a dressmaker in some way?

[Mitchell2]

Ok, it's not super super cheap but how about these? They maybe a little safe though... Otherwise a plainer dress then some over the top costume jewellery?

one [[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BCBG-BLACK-TULLE-ORGANZA-FLORAL-PLEATED-GOWN-4-NWT-998-RACKG-9E-/330898266341?pt=US_CSA_WC_Dresses&hash=item4d0b12d8e5]]

[[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BCBG-BLACK-NUDE-TULLE-LAYER-STONE-BEAD-V-NECK-GOWN-4-NWT-998-RACKG-2A-/330896008088?pt=US_CSA_WC_Dresses&hash=item4d0af06398]]

[[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-BCBG-White-Feather-Woven-Draped-Gown-4-548-JUF6L011-/190871601467?pt=US_CSA_WC_Dresses&hash=item2c70d5813b]]

[Mitchell2]

No idea what happened there?! But the second part of link works...

[ImAThrillseekerBunny]

I agree that your best options are a) borrow off a high fashion mate who won't be going b) get something dirt cheap like the eBay thing and alter dramatically.

[Wishfulmakeupping]

Can you hire not sure if it possible but worth looking into?

[SocialButterfly]

I don't really understand what you want, the dress you linked to is very plain and normal but then you are saying it needs to be amazing and avante garde and high street is a no no?
What about something like this

[TheFutureSupremeRulersMum]

Can you post a picture of last year's dress for comparison?

[cece]

TK Maxx

[Eastpoint]

Viktor & Rolf at TK Maxx in an 8

Reduced to £399.00 from £1830. Viktor & Rolf are pretty cool by anyone's standards surely & £400 for a dress is pretty reasonable. I think if you show us cheap dull dresses on ebay we aren't really going to understand your style & budget.

[cece]

Any good?

[cece]

or this

[PrimalLass]

Why do you have to go?

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Do look at tkmaxx as they do occasion dresses that are far more white tie/occasion wear than the dress in your link that looks like a bog standard bridesmaid dress to me.

They often have some stunning ones on the website

[trixymalixy]

Please link to the dress you wore last year, sounds amazing!!

[FamiliesShareGerms]

TK Maxx have loads and loads of ball gowns at all prices.

I think in your position I would either go very very pared down in a complete contrast to what is expected, or go very off the wall in a jumpsuit or similar.

What size / shape?