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Original poster

Wearing a 'bridal' dress to a black tie do.

19 replies

Pennies · 08/05/2011 21:16

I've seen this dress that I really like and was considering buying it for a very posh evening do i've got coming up that is black tie. The thing is it's officially a wedding dress.

This is it

Is it too bridal? If so how can I make it less so? Or should I just not bother with it at all.

OP posts:
cremeeggsbenedict · 08/05/2011 21:45

I think it'd be fine - I've worn long, ivory dresses to black tie events in the past and not (to my mind looked too bridal). It probably helps that it's not strapless, a-line and with some form of beading on the bodice Grin

I'd avoid accessorising it with a veil and bouquet... But seriously, if you wore some brightly coloured shoes/wrap etc I'm sure it'd look lovely!

Original poster
Pennies · 08/05/2011 21:52

Really? No veil? Wink

I thought gold shoes and a cold clutch and just a simple cuff on my wrist (no necklace). Interesting that you say bright shoes. What colour would you wear?

OP posts:
chickchickchicken · 08/05/2011 22:00

its a lovely dress. my only reservation would be that it has a small train at the back and that makes it bridal. would you be having the hemline changed? lovely dress otherwise

chickchickchicken · 08/05/2011 22:01

just checked again and train is very very small so maybe ok?

Original poster
Pennies · 08/05/2011 22:04

Yes I would have the train removed, definitely.

OP posts:
chickchickchicken · 08/05/2011 22:08

i would wear it then as its a lovely dress. i also like your idea of gold accessories

SilentBob · 09/05/2011 11:32

I wouldn't, but then I instantly recognised it as a wedding dress as my sister has recently looked at every single high street wedding dress on the planet! I would be worried others would be the same I'm afraid. There are some just gorgeous maxis out there right now that I'd wear over a wedding dress. Sorry.

cremeeggsbenedict · 09/05/2011 11:49

Gold accessories sound lovely - I'd have gone for a bright pink or something a bit loud to lift it but I might be a bit brash Wink

I wouldn't have considered gold as I don't wear it myself but I think you'd look really elegant.

MrsCampbellBlack · 09/05/2011 15:14

Too bridal. Pennies didn't you buy a stunning red dress for a do last year, would that not do

FrameyMcFrame · 09/05/2011 16:17

I'd also recognise it as a wedding dress as I've been looking at them recently. Monsoon is very popular for bridal wear and they only do a limited amount of styles every season, so I'd be wary that people would know what it was.
Tgen again maybe you don't care and it is a fab dress!

FebreezeYourJeans · 09/05/2011 16:27

I would assume that you were wearing your own wedding dress, in a 'determined to get your monies worth' type way.

BunnyLebowski · 09/05/2011 16:32

It's far far too bridal to wear to anything other than your own wedding.

Honestly? I would be a bit Hmm if I saw someone in that at a black tie do.

Original poster
Pennies · 09/05/2011 22:37

MrsCampbellBlack - I did but I wore it to the same event last year. Tis year there's royalty going and it's a posher do than before. That red dress was more cocktail than black tie.

Interesting that the general opinion is that it is too bridal. I was hoping that if I team it with a gold pashmina and get the train taken off it would look less so.

Also it's fair to say that there won't be much high st stuff being worn by others there so I was hoping that it wouldn't have been seen by many people as they shop at a rather more er... couture level.

If it's still going to be too bridal can anyone find me something else? It can't be strapless or one shouldered or backless (have had mastectomy so have to wear a bra). It needs to be long and formal. I'm a size 8/10 and 5'3. I wear autumnal colours and don't want to spend more than £300.

OP posts:
Swedes2 · 11/05/2011 17:22

Shame about the train. Is it possible you could go and try it on and see if it's too bridal? It might look odd if you remove the train, depending on how it's cut.
this any good?

Original poster
Pennies · 11/05/2011 21:45

That's certainly a cool dress. Not sure if it's 'me'. I'm scared of prints in case I end up looking like Kat from Eastenders. But it is a very small print.

I reckon I'd have to have it taken up a lot but that would be the case in most dresses.

I tried the Monsoon dress on and yes it did look bridal. I think even having it taken up (which would be quite a job because there are a few underskirts beneath which I wasn't expecting) and the train removed wouldn't change that. Interesting that there's a Marchesa strapless evening gown on the Outnet site which is very similar to that Monsoon bridal dress.

OP posts:
Georgimama · 11/05/2011 21:46

It looks like a nightie tbh.

Original poster
Pennies · 11/05/2011 22:24

The outnet one or the the wedding dress?

OP posts:
pattylepoo · 11/05/2011 22:34

Why don't you add a nice thick black ribbon where the beading ends? tie a nice big bow off to one side and surely that would stop it looking so bridal...

Swedes2 · 12/05/2011 14:41

Pennies - LOL at Kat Slater. I think it's a cool dress. There's a dress agency in Harpenden (just set back from the High Street, No. 84b) might it be worthwhile calling in there and trying some stuff on? Friends have found some really gorgeous stuff in there and their stock has a v high turnover. Apparently as I've never been in, I keep meaning to but I always have a small child or a teenager, or even worse a husband Grin with me when I'm on the High Street.

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