Massive Ball - £800 a ticket, what on earth to wear?

[anonymousbird]

In a few weeks DH and I are going (as someone's guests) to a massive Ball in the West End, dress code is naturally, black tie. I have a few dresses (none full length) that could pass as Black Tie, just, but when people are spending £800 and upwards A HEAD on my ticket, I kind of feel I ought to make an effort, but I HATE shopping under pressure to find "the right thing". I am a shit shopper basically. Does this type of do need to be a long dress?? Does a short cocktail style dress cut the mustard??

Also, slightly more crucially, finances are tight right now. We just had a wonderful holiday, been away for most of August, but there ain't much left in the pot and DH took the time off unpaid as well, so now til end November should really be "tighten the belt" time, to enable us to get afloat again...

I have a lovely dress from Phase Eight - one of those swirly tapeworm type dresses with a matching shrug - but it might not be dressy enough (sorry, cannot find a link). And, I can't get it out of my head that I wore this same dress to the 40 quid a head knees up at my local sports club, so wearing it to a major public event just seems wrong!!

I'm confused, as you can see, so need help/advice please!

TK Maxx is your friend here. They always have fabulous ballgowns for about eighty quid. Quite why, I've never understood, but I have always thought that if I ever got invited to something like that, that's where I'd buy the dress.

How about
\link{http://www.brandxs.com/gina-bacconi-red-full-length-dress.html\red}
\link{http://www.brandxs.com/gina-bacconi-black-full-length-asymetric-dress.html\Black and asymmetric(al?)}
\link{http://www.brandxs.com/gina-bacconi-red-sequinned-evening-dress.html\Red again}, but not sure if it's full length.
\link{http://www.brandxs.com/gina-bacconi-black-sequinned-strapless-dress.html\Black and sequinned}

TK Maxx? isn't that a bit like Primark? (Never been to either - you can tell, I only shop online).

Do they seriously have something non-shite or non-cheap looking? That isn't meant to sound nasty, but their image/advertising is crap, cheap, throw away.. isn't it? Or maybe I am confusing that with Primark. It's all the same to me. Sorry.

Oh, and \link{http://www.brandxs.com/gina-bacconi-blueberry-blue-dress.html\purply}.

No, TK Maxx is last-season's stuff from all sorts of brands. Generally they are horrible shops to spend time in (big mess), but you can get good branded stuff pretty cheaply.

Have you time to go to somewhere like John Lewis/Debenham/Harvey Nichols who have a dresser or whatever it is. You might find something suitable there, you'd get to try on lots of dresses in one go, and a professional opinion.

I've never used one myself, but I know someone who did for a wedding and found it brilliant. They ended up wearing something they would never have thought of and looked amazing....

A-ha, now purply I seriously like a lot a lot a lot.

Is this web only place, or can you go somewhere to try on? Thanks for those, at least just having access to these websites i have never even heard of is a great help....

Cambridge has TWO TK Maxx, it would seem, gosh, how have I never noticed?? Well, this could open a whole new world of shopping and knowing where to find things!

I'm pretty sure the BrandsXS is only online, but I have bought a couple of things from there, and they seem OK, I think.

Well, I have a couple of weeks, so if I get on the case after Wednesday and the Great Return to School, then I should have time to sort something out. Now just need to get budget agreement... After a pretty carefree and decandant summer (well, by our standards) the family has been on "stringent measures" since this morning - back to work and school so back to routine and budgeting - and here I am, less than a day in, having to come clean tonight to DH and say "Actually....."

He won't mind, but it is the classic of "right, no more spending, no luxuries for a couple of months, tighten the belts.." and BANG, oh dear, a luxury is needed. And of course, not to mention the visit to the beauty salon the day before for nails etc....

Eek.

Fun though.

if you want to see a personal shopper you need to get on the phone NOW. they are usually booked up weeks ahead

If you're in/near Cambridge do let us know where you get your nails done and if they are any good - I like the idea of having nails prepped by a professional before a big event but have never got around to it.

anything here?

Heard lots of people talk positively about this site, but I don't know what the fabrics would be like at those prices?

Love that website Pixie! I would get married in this one if it came in wedding-dress colours and if I were getting married.

That one could be made in any colour Trillian

Hmm, just one thing missing then!

I think you should hire because it is such a big event and a one off. Are you likely to go to such functions regularly?

I'd go with full length too, especially as it is a ball. You won't be over-dressed.

If you hire and say it costs you £100 then you will be wearing a dress worth much much more than that.

I used to attend these functions for work and always, always hired. They will do any alterations for you too and usually have a list of forthcoming events and will make sure that if they have 2 of something then only you will be the only one hiring it. You can also hire the accessories too and get a complete look.

Don't consider hiring as being a waste of money. It's a real chance to wear something lush that you would never buy yourself.

Well having consulted the gosple aka Netaporter - I think black-tie for a ball really does dictate a long dress.

I'd go for something like this as love navy and think with metallic clutch, heels and good jewellery it would look fab.

I go to quite a lot of black tie dos and would think that you'd probably need a full length dress for somethng like that.

Do look at charity shops (in posher areas!) I got a brand new long dress still with the tags on that said £100 for twenty quid.

Ebay also have a lot

Also - have a look at bridesmaid dresses - might sound a bit yuck but there are some nice ones around in loads of colours - look online, especially now at the end of the wedding season

If tracey says long dress, it must definitely be long dress.

LOL trills - afraid the last time I went to anything black tie was a long time ago but I do believe in NAP

This

Never done this before so hope it works! I know it's expensive but I do think it'd be stunning for your ball.

Ooo, I have some wonderful ideas from you all, thank you so much. Tomorrow I suspect there will be an hour of TV for the DC whilst I do some proper research and can hit the ground running when they are in school on Wednesday!

Ahhhh, I feel a step closer to making this work now!

I find this all so hard, I mean, we are real country bumpkins - it's all veg, chickens and wellies and dressing smart happens about 4 times a year, and even then it's just an easy dress/smart trousers etc... dress sense is just completely low key and muted tones.

Hey ho, now off to find out how I store my multitude of apples.... nowhere near as exciting as a super duper dress

As you have a fortnight to go, you could also try Ebay - there's a lot of new stuff with tags starting from very low prices - I think people pick them up in the sell-off sales & hope to make a profit but don't always. I got a new Monsoon dress for £26 plus postage new with tags.

Would recommend Monsoon or Coast for good full length stuff, which it sounds like you require. Team with a shrug or pashmina for warmth. Can also recommend Spanx undies for a smooth line or Vollers Corsets both holding in & can be worn as outer wear. As made with proper boning they are actually quite comfortable & great for your posture - wore one under my wedding dress & have a purple one for evening wear.

Good luck & have fun.

I think you need a long dress for sure. I know that at RAF mess balls even they dictate that you have to wear a long dress. Your ball sounds even posher.