DH, Anita Rani and the see thru dress

Is she wearing a merkin underneath that swimming Cozzie?

Oldskool Burlesque dancers allegedly did.

Don't do it. It will be a massive faux pas, you are likely to be the talk of the ball (not in a good way) and when it gets back to your kids, how are they going to feel? You have to pick your occasion. I'm not saying don't go for a dress in that style for an evening out at some point, but this ball is not the time or place for it.

I really like that dress. Since the OP has a body good enough to be happy to basically wear a bikini to a formal ball, my guess is it would look lovely and classy.

Also, it follows the classic ‘boobs or legs’ rule.

How about something like this?

https://www.temperleylondon.com/products/silvana-halter-dress-black

I found another close up pic of Anita in that dress. It seems that the ‘bobbles’ are pearls and silver bugle beads, so perhaps the ‘underwear’ would stand out less in the flesh so to speak. That said, I don’t think it is at all flattering - the colour is difficult to wear and apart from showing that Anita has great legs, it looks like she has no waist. As PPs have said she’s a beautiful woman and it actually detracts from that beauty, but perhaps that wasn’t the point. In any event, she said she felt great in it, and it was the BAFTAs so good on her.

As to whether or not it would be appropriate for a school (or any ball), nope, I don’t think so. There are far more glamorous and flattering ‘sheer’ dresses online that wouldn’t also embarrass your children.

@DontShow why don't you wear what you want? I do and don't care what other people think as I don't have to look at it. The photo of Anita Rani is not flattering to my eye but then she doesn't have to look at herself unless she seeks out a mirror. Maybe she felt brilliant in it, who knows?

Nah. It's so Kim Kardashian.

Jesus think of your kids in this!

...ooo I saw yer mums knickers

Like you’ve got the dry cleaner’s wire hanger stuck in the back of your hair!

I agree! Can’t see what’s attractive about hover straps? I think they just look stupid like the dress doesn’t fit properly.

A beautiful woman with a brilliant figure doesn't need to put everything on display. She would still be a beautiful woman with a brilliant figure even if she wore a frumpy old Laura Ashley gown, or a bin bag, or something understated and timeless.

In fact if you have a nice face and a great figure wear something understated that doesn't compete with your natural beauty.

I’m not sure OP, I’m not even sure it did Anita Rani justice, she’s a stunning woman as are you.

If you feel you want to wear it then do it, I’m sure others will be wearing more risqué stuff. As a parent at a mid level private school I don’t feel people go all out at balls, not as much as they did at my kid’s state school at their school ball.

Except I’ve never said that so you are apparently feeling able to judge me based on ….. absolutely nothing (or your own internal monologue).

As I said, interesting perspective.

A terrible accident has occurred involving the ironing starch!

It’s try hard and screams desperate at any age. Don’t do it.

Weirdly I hate both the dress and every single judgy comment about it.

Go for it OP, you are clearly committed to wearing it and that's fine - if it doesn't matter what your DH thinks and you're happy to wear it to a school event then it certainly doesn't matter what anyone here thinks.

If you want to know my personal opinion, it's that dresses like those are veering on the passé now, with the hover straps being the in thing.

I also don't think it's appropriate and wouldn't wear it myself, and I especially wouldn't wear something my husband explicitly had said he didn't want me to. He's never ever said that before so I'd know he really meant it if he did.

Plenty of beautiful sexy dresses out there without trying to pretend you're on the red carpet.

Unless I have completely missed the right threads (which is very possible), pretty much all these "rules" are common sense.

State or private, that outfit will be perceived in exactly the same way at a school ball.

That's not what I'm saying at all.

I'm not the type that denies judgement is happening at all times by all people - I was making an observation that it's only a certain type of post that seems to be "allowed" to have judgement without the sanctimonious folk leaping in to say they'd never judge anyone or their situation.

Capische?

You are not wrong. Though, I do think some schools are more rigid than others.

Bearing in mind the POW got bullied at one point for having non-upper class parents and the Middleton parents give every sign of at least trying to fit in, I think the OP’s children are going to have significant issues with a mother who either can’t or won’t follow the ‘rules’ (silly as those rules may seem to her).

This is a slightly different tangent but I have learnt a lot about private school etiquette on mumsnet and it's made me realise that 'having money' is not freeing. In fact, it's quite the opposite. There are so many rules to adhere to and you have to display and express your wealth in exactly the right way unless you want to be a social pariah.

While you can wear what you want, my honest opinion is that style of dress is neither classy enough nor appropriate for a formal ball where the dress code is going to be weighted more towards glamour.

And it seems I cannot spell today either.
'too' late not 'to' late. 😬

A terrible dress..

I’m getting Real Housewives vibes from OP.