Is this dress ok for a black tie dinner?

[chicaguapa]

I'm going to a big corporate dinner at the end of the month and the dress code is black tie. I had planned to wear a prom style dress similar to this. It's black and gold and I'd wear it with black heels and a black bolero jacket. It's not short per se as comes to below the knee, but it's not floor length. Do you think it will be ok?

I'll be attending with one of the executive directors so really need to be dressed right. I've looked at last year's photos and they're all in floor length dresses except one person. I'm guessing if she's on the website, she hasn't made a faux pas or she'd have been put at the back.

What do you think? Thanks

[WhoNickedMyName]

It's a very pretty dress. But I'd always wear a long dress to a black tie event.

If it's champagne, canapes and dancing I think you can get away with the dress you've pictured. If it's a sit down meal I'd personally always choose floor length.

[Impatientismymiddlename]

If it specifies black tie / formal dress then I personally would wear a floor length gown, but quite often knee length cocktail dresses are worn to black tie events these days. You saw one woman wore a knee length last year; out of how many women? How would you feel if you were the only woman not in a floor length gown this year?

[eurochick]

I would go full length too.

[Koothrapanties]

What are your legs like? I have to say, unless I had 100% perfect legs I would choose floor length for that kind of event. For some reason people with perfect legs make a dress like this look more formal if that makes sense?

[MrsLettuce]

Full length is only obligatory with white tie, cocktail length or full length for black tie. If you feel you have the confidence to style it out if it turns out all the other women are if full length then go for it! TBH I'd say going with one of the executive directors makes it more, not less acceptable to go off piste.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Knee-length is totally fine for black tie! As long as it's relatively formal (fancy fabric etc etc) which this one is.

[ShatzePage]

No that dress is not suitable for a black tie event imo.

[BitOutOfPractice]

No need for floor length. That is absolutely fine. Lovely in fact.

[Beeyump]

That dress is wonderful

[fatfinger]

That is lovely.

Debrett's says white tie only time floor length required.

www.debretts.com/british-etiquette/british-behaviour/h/dress-codes/black-tie

[chicaguapa]

Arrgghh! Mixed responses.

I don't have especially good legs so I don't think I'd draw attention to them if I was wearing a knee length dress.

How I'd feel if I was the only one is a difficult question. I could certainly give the impression I was ok (even if I was dying inside). I'd rather be in a short black dress than a long red one in a room full of long black dresses IYSWIM?

These are last year's photos .

[MrsLettuce]

Oh, totally forgot to say say that I love the dress. Is fab!

[Beeyump]

Well, yours is definitely nicer than last year's token short one .

[burnishedsilver]

Anything black tie that I've been to has had a mix of long and short dresses.

[chicaguapa]

Thanks! I will have to make sure it still fits then or I've got a few weeks of the 30DS starting from tonight.

[dylanthedragon]

I think it will be fine - you will look fab. Photo 17 shows a few mid calf dresses and some of the men are not wearing full black tie (a few without bow ties and lots of uncovered waistbands) so it doesn't appear to be that strict. I think there's a lot more flexibility for women, particularly since we can glam it up with hair, make up and jewellery.

Have a great night!

[MissMilbanke]

I think the phrase you used 'corporate dinner' sums it up nicely.

That dress is lovely and will be just perfect.

As others say long dresses are not compulsory except at white.

Where's the dress from < nosey>

[chicaguapa]

Thanks all. It's not the dress in the picture but it's similar.

It's F&F but I got a bigger size and took it to a dressmaker to make it fit better. It's quite old now, but thankfully still in fashion.

[FallonColby]

It's a pretty dress but as it is strapless and short I think it would be more suited to a prom rather than a corporate black tie. I went to a corporate black tie ball before christmas and wore this, it is really lovely on. Adrianna Papelle does some lovely evening dresses.
www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Adrianna+Papell+Embelished+V-Neck+Drape+Dress/189465759,default,pd.html