Help! Below the knee!!!!

[wheresthecorkscrew]

Hi

I've just been told by my lovely but rather vague boyfriend that we are going to a summer ball this evening - he's going to be in mess dress and I have to wear a dress below the knee - how fr below is suitable and how dressed up should I be - obviuosly this is a first for m so any help very gratefully received!!!

very excited though!!

hello, I would go for 3/4 length.. And dressed up.. as it is a formal event..

Have fun hun.x

Oh I would always go for full length to a ball - have a fab time!! Ours is this time next week - I have no idea what I am going to wear

Dress codes are quite relaxed these days. Cocktail length is fine! Long is fine! No meringues though. I have seen too many new girlfriends in tafetta ball gowns sticking out like a sore thumb, after being given duff advice by their boyfriends. Be glam, but sophisticated!

Oooh yes forgot to add the meringue advice - good thnking! Think sophisticasted is great advice, def steer clear from not "get me noticed" - you'll be the talk of the ladies lunches for months

You will have a lovely time though, they are great fun esp if you've never been to one before

Just one other thing - don't rule out buying a second hand/vintage dress. There are some fabulous dresses around if you find the right shop. That way no-one will be wearing the same thing - every girl's worst nightmare!

Remember a simple dress is easy to adapt to the smartness of the occasion - i.e wear a showstopping shawl with a block colour dress.

Just realised! No wonder she's called wheresthecorkscrew (as in she would definitely need it) if she's seeking advice at 18.06 for a Ball tonight! I would have shot the vague boyfriend.

I agree! He must have known weeks in advance. Maybe they only met today.

Dying to know how it went.

lol mcdreamy - i still remember the one that turned up in the (very small) dress held together by strategically placed and rather large nappy/ safety pins... in the (gasp) officers mess... eeek! do you think her oh survived the night???

Hello!!! It was fabulous thanks for all your advice - needless to say my rather complimentary description of my dp was the result of a very large and swift glass of wine, it wasn't at his mess so I'll let him off for not knowing what was going on. Anyway looking forward to the next one and maybe I won't fall off the table this time - high heels and tequila have ensured I won't be forgotten in a hurry

Bristol - it was an OTC one so lots of young uni girls and boys all drinking pints of disgusting red stuff - I felt quite mature and elegant - until I ended up on my arse luckily I was dancing with a big wig so dp wasn't shown up by my first outing. Off to the Netheravon one soon - very exciting!!

Takes me back to 1992 - a wild party in the Officers' mess. We all streaked across the lawn and banged on the CO's door. Thankfully he didn't answer.

Oooh, port - nice and easy to remove!!

Oh I love Mess Dos!

I vaguely remember falling off the grand piano in the Wardroom at Sultan - I perched up there to talk to people as I'm such a shortarse I was on everyone's armpit level. But like LittleLapin, I was getting rather involved in a tale I was telling, swung my legs and went head first off the piano into a sea of people

I don't think DHs ship is having a summer ball as the ship is away most of the summer - I shall have to get invited to another one!

Glad you had fun wheresthecorkscrew

What were you wearing in the makeshift pond??

Mine are either going to get a lot worse or more tame - not sure what dp would prefer, although as he was buying all the drinks he's only got himself to blame

....just a bit worried about the streaking, you know when an idea is in your head and sudenly seems a really good idea when very very drunk .... although think they spend half their time streaking up there, must be something to do with dropping to the ground at great speed everyday affecting their sense of decorum