Black Tie - how dressy?

[Allshallbewell2021]

I have a nice dress but it's not satin and ball gown. I'm worried I'm going to be under-dressed. How informal can you go for black tie these days.
I hate clothes for older larger women. I don't want to look like a gaudy bus.
As long as you look smart it's ok isn't it?

It has to look like you wouldn't wear it to the office. A level above that.

Show us your dress?

IME a huge range, cocktail dresses, jumpsuits etc. Depends on the event. Are there any pics of last year's event?

(i always opt for cocktail length or jumpsuit because i love to dance!)

Has to be a rung above what you’d wear to a wedding - defo not something that you could get away with at a day time event . Not necessarily long though. Vinted might be a good source if you don’t want to spend a lot fir a “one occasion” dress

You can get away with just about anything plain and black if you wear a lot of sparkly jewellery with it. Red lipstick helps too. The rules have relaxed a lot.

It's fairly flexible but avoid materials like jersey. My evening dress is pretty simple but is full length

I generally wear a long black dress and a dressy (chiffon, silk, cut velvet, beaded or sequin depending on occasion) kimono style jacket over it.

I think there’s a difference between ‘work black tie’ (low key cocktail dress) and ‘fun black tie (as wow as you fancy).

Second PP’s suggestion of looking at previous pics.

Generally black tie is dressy because it’s just by definition black tie. If it’s a corporate event don’t wear anything above the knee; that looks like you dressed for the daytime and you won’t see many other knees on show.

I am fortunate to attend quite a few BT events and every so often you’ll get someone who tries to get away with a short dress and then ends up sitting through a three-course meal and an awards ceremony on their knickers and trying to pull their dress down as they are sat next to some director or other of their company! It’s painful but a bit funny to watch!

It's definitely long but not floor length. It could be too day time. But it's too late, I have no time to shop, I work full time and just have to dress up so rarely that I don't have the motivation. I hope it's ok but I feel bad now. Oh well it's too late now!

Thank you all for your advice. I find so dressing up so so hard. I was skinny for years and years and still can't work out how to dress now I'm so much more generously proportioned. I try things on and just think - you look ridiculous

Show us your dress

Try JD Williams Joanna Hope, you have time.

Accessories. Smart clutch bag, sparkly jewellery, good shoes. Women have a huge scope at these sort of things. Wear it with confidence , you say it's long, that is always good.

When I realised I'm now old & fat, I bought a bog-standard black dress for all 'formal' purposes. It's crepe, about knee-length, with a crossover top and a high waist, so it looks like I have an interesting chest 😏 but flows non-commitally over the rest of my shed-shaped body. Most women have a bog-standard black dress (henceforth to be known as the BSBD).

Your BSBD dresses up with sparkly shit and hairdos, down with something under/over it, and will never have the room gasping as you enter. But it will be comfortable and appropriate, no matter what. Wear that 🙂

Thank you all, big hug to you garlic; I am really comfortable on this dress and feel like I look good in it so that is at least something, it's a dark
Reddish colour so that's a plus

Brilliant, @Allshallbewell2021 ! Have a good time!

I'm going to make it a job for this year to purchase a BBD going forward!

This is true

Just to say the do went really well and I looked fine! There was a huge range of women's level of glam. Lots of sparkly dresses, some really outfits. My project is to have something ready for next time!

Oh, it's nice to hear you had a good time - thanks for the update. Enjoy your new outfit planning!