Can anyone help me with the Summer Ball?

[triffictits]

If so, could you take a look here please and see if you can find me a suitable dress!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2350/537459

sorry i wont be much help but i wanted to wish you luck, i am also 5'10 and struggle like mad to find dresses suitable for mess functions.

i got really lucky in river island last year and found a gorgeous floor length wine coloured gown, the year before that i found a full length black dress from bay trading which i managed to jazz up with nice shoes and bag.

as you have already mentioned it is best to avoid the obvious places as you will end up in the same dress as someone else.

do you have shoes yet? we are going to dh's friends wedding in aug and when i was in next the other day i seen a lovely pair of kitten heels (they are in the occasion section in the book) that i bought right away incase they sold out in the summer. because of my height i try and stick to kitten heels but usually find it a struggle to find a pair suitable for wearing to a night out.

thanks kerry.

No I havent got anything yet - we only decided to go this weekend!

Do you go for evening dresses rather than ballgowns (or bridesmaids dresses as I think they are!)?

Its hard to get a full length dress that actually goes to the floor at our height.

I'm jealous. My first chance of going to a summer ball and we have no sitter
Not much help for getting a dress though

Have you tried TK Maxx? great for dressy stuff as well as casual,and really reasonable prices.Unlikely someone would have the same,as some things in there are only in 1 or 2 sizes.

Awe, why your first chance saltire?

Is there no way you can go - they are so worth it. Where are you? I'll come and sit for you.

You must go to the ball!

First opportunity becasue DH just got promoted (finally) last year. I'm in hampshire BTW

its more evening dress rather than ballgown, but we are usually in the cpls mess. have been to the officers mess a few times but the dress was basically the same. (except for the one wife who always turns up looking like she has fallen of the christmas tree)

tk max is a good idea as well, i cant be bothered with the rummaging but one of my frinds is the same height as me and has had a few nice dresses from there.

thanks all of you. Kerry - I've been to 2 of them before, and they were mixed to be honest - some were evening dresses and some were more like gowns - this is a bloody nightmare everytime I go.

Ok, Saltire, wing your DC's up to the wirral and I'll babysit!

Thanks for all your help - I've got a thread in style and some nice options in there so need to have a day out shopping

Saltire - when is the ball??

I'm near you, depending on the date may be able to help.

Try Ebay - you can get some bargains on there. TKMaxx is also great, I've had loads of dresses from there for £40ish. Monsoon often have some nice dresses, and aren't much different in price to Debenhams.

Remember you'll need a wrap to cover your shoulders, and a matching bag. I always forget to sort these out as I've got a massive collection, then spend the hour before we set off madly hunting round for a particular shawl!

I dont think it has to be a shoulders covered event laura, although I will double check now!

I'm scared of monsoon due to it being high street and loads of people in the same dress - it has happened to me before and I dread it!

I'll try tk maxx though

Saltire when is the ball, love.

It probably won't be a shoulders covered event, but you normally go in with a shawl wrapped round you. Virtually everyone has had them at all the balls I've been too.

Can you try a Monsoon outlet? I know there's one in Portsmouth, but not sure about up your way. There's some sort of outlet village Liverpool way though isn't there?

Sorry I forgot I hadn't replied to Shoshe and Sidge! The summer ball is the 5th July at 7pm

Saltire if Sidge can't do it, maybe we can work something out.

I'll also help out if I can saltire - you must go

LL - I saw the marvellous dress do oyu think the green pattern would suit me?!

I second the ebay option. When DH was PMC in the officers mess, I challenged myself to get a different outfit for each do under £10- best one was a gorgeous full length monsoon beaded dress from a car boot sale for £2- gave me a real thrill to think that I had a bargain!!

My prob is that I am short so I look for the petite ranges

Saltire - DH is away on July 5th but if I can get a babysitter for mine, I can sit for you.

Let me know if you need me and I'll see what I can arrange. CAT me if you want to get together so you can see I'm not really a hairy trucker called Alan

I got a dress designed and made just for me from www.bellissimagowns.co.uk

The dress cost me £175 which i didn't think was too bad.

I get my dresses from ebay , I always cover my shoulders during the meal I went once in cocktail dress thinking won't need to but everyone had! lucky it was for pre-dinner, pre-dinner drinks IYSWIM haha

coast also do some lovely dresses for you lucky taller people, I always have to have mine altered

That's a week away! get sorting NOW!
pinkem, you really can find beautiful dresses for £50 or less. One of the best gowns I've ever worn cost me £7.00, yes! SEVEN pounds and everyone oooh'd at it! TK MAXX.
My most expensive was £199.00 from Coast, but I could afford it then...gorgeous! Bloody gorgeous.

Ours is shoulders covered and no high splits in the skirt. Vewy, vewt stwict!