Are battle of Britain balls usually long floor length dresses

[Saltire]

as the dress code for women?
We've just coughed up a shit load of money for DH to get a mess Dress,a nd now I find out I may have to buy/hire a bloody ballgown

yep afraid so - if it is senior ranks or officers definately

FFS. That's all I have to say on the matter

But herbie - I am 6ft tall, so those dresses would need to be lengthened altered.
Its not a joint one, it's Sgts Mess. Well Sgts Mess and whole lot of random SACs/ Cpls that the CMC invites along but won't let anyone else invite any along

Ah well, more bloody money in the name of "RAF".
While I'm at it, can we be "made" to attend a fucntion in the Mess? There's another one "ladies dining in night", in November, I've said "no we're not going" Dh says "it's 3 line whip we have to". er why?

some messes will use "3 line whip" rule to guarentee attendance - only way to get round it is for DH to be duty - then you won't HAVE to go. I have to say though, these events are normally great fun but if you go thinking you won't enjoy it then you won't. find one nice dress that fits and you like and then just get different wraps/ jewellery to change it's look. I have been going for years to events like these in both Seniors and Officers Messes at various establishments and they all have something different about them. You can normally budget price of tickets by splitting cost over a couple of months on the mess bill and it may be worth seeing if any other local ladies want to organise a dress bring and buy type event to sell old dresses and buy "new" ones. Also try Ebay - lots of women I know buy evening dresses off there from overseas companies and seem to love them.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=170528044996&Category=63861&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D1 try that link - says it measures 120cm from bust to floor which should fit if you are 6ft and it's only £22 buy it now (better than over £100) - not sure on your taste in clothes and colouring but it's a start - i just put evening dress into the search on ebay

It is compulsory for hubby as it will be classed as a parade, not for you though so it's up to you and hubby to decide whether you go or he goes alone. Also ask him to check with the CMC about dress as it now tends to vary from mess to mess.

I would second checking with the CMC - and if possible some ladies, what people actually wear.

For example - you mention your height as an issue (am 5 ft 10 so only a little shorter!) In a lot of messes, it would not need to be an actual floor sweeping dress. One that comes to the ankle would be fine. Also, a lot of the maxi dresses that are around at the moment would fit the bill perfectly when teamed with some nice accessories and scarf/wrap. These are much cheaper than self proclaimed 'ball gowns.' If you think you may be going to a number of these event, it could be worth trying to get one smei-traditional dress (Monsoon do nice ones) and then some cheaper maxi style ones.

There are generally a mixture of dresses - the more mature ladies tending to go for a 'ball gown' and the younger going a wider range. As long as it isn't too flesh revealing and meets the length requirements you will be fine.

Well DH won't be going to the dining in night, compulsory or not. I've booked us 3 nights in London for my 40th

Try Phase Eight, as well. Their maxi dresses were out in full force at our summer ball. Only a few ladies wearing "ball gowns" as you would traditionally describe them - all the rest in just longish dresses - as long as its below the calf, then that's full length.

Dining in nights are fab fun! If you're booked in for 3 nights away, presumably DH has already booked leave so they can't 3-line whip him. Pressure, yes, but not compulsory.

But if you do get a chance to go to a dining-in night, then they're great fun - wonderfully old fashioned but worth seeing what they're like. Dresses (even the Station Commander's wife) at dining in nights are definintely not ball gown - get DH to check with the Mess but ours is cocktail length.

You're a wife - nothing is compulsory for you Saltire! A 3 line whip is for the serving men/women. Even if it's a ladies night, doesn't mean you have to go.

Ladies night just means ladiescan go, not that they have to

Ballerina length is usually the safe option, but there don't seem to be any in the shops at the moment, but there are lots of maxi-dresses to choose from.

Cocktail dresses can be a bit of a nightmare: some Messes really frown on them. One friend of mine was actually bollocked in the loo by a Senior Wife for wearing one (even though she was fab looking, and in those days pre-children still slim and well-toned), whereas my DH's CO's wife had fab legs and had them on show at every function. The one universal no-no seems to be bare shoulders at table.

If you do go, it's worth asking around to find out the local norms.

No harm in not going, especially if you have a landmark occasion elsewhere; but if you just don't fancy it do make up a good excuse so you/DH don't get unhelpfully branded as antisocial.