Black tie work do - can I wear trousers?

[Nevertooearlyforcake]

I agreed to go to an awards dinner, my idea of hell and every fibre of my being is screaming "noooo!!". However, I thought I really should accept. It's in London which isn't where I live so I'll be getting the train down in the morning, going to a meeting in the afternoon then the awards thingy. I'd prefer to wear what I'd be wearing in the evening all day as I'm planning on legging it around 11pm and getting the sleeper home - this means I won't have a hotel to change in and would have to change in the offices of the place where my meeting was - would be ok but pref not to and evening clothes might be pretty crumbled from being in my bag.

I feel much more comfortable in trousers than dresses and don't have a suitable dress anyway, also on economy drive at mo so don't want to buy anything. So (finally getting to the point!) would it be ok to wear smartish black or grey trousers (fenn wright mason, jigsaw) and a slightly dressy top? Asked a colleague but she looked horrified (but also taken aback when I said I always wore trousers to weddings). I know most of the women will be wearing dresses but would it actually be unacceptable to wear trousers? Accessorising with jewellery prob not going to happen as I don't own much and what I do have annoys me (don't wear wedding ring).

Any advice gratefully received!

Sorry, but clothing that would go to black tie would make you look gaudily overdressed in daylight.

Trousers may be OK - maybe silk or crepe with a flowing line? The top would need to be very definitely something that goes out at night, in terms of fabric and cut and probably embellishment. Sorry that doesn't help remotely with your changing difficulties (can you take a suit carrier and park it somewhere?)

I wouldn't. Black tie awards will be very dressy. There will be women who will like me spend weeks planning their outfit.

Borrow from someone if you don't want to spend anything.

Sorry, but you will regret it I think.

I'm not worried about looking slightly to moderately underdressed, that wouldn't faze me. What I don't want to do is look disrespectful to my hosts or actually attract attention due to being so underdressed (my ideal scenario is that my appearance attracts no attention at all). I want to go to the dinner to get more of an understanding of the workings of the market it relates to - it's not a very glitzy field (quite the opposite really) but it is in a vair posh hotel.

Nevertoo - I always wear trouser-y things to black tie dos. I rarely wear skirts or dresses. Anyway, most of the night you are sitting down, so whatever you wear needs to be glam 'up top'.

Start with black trousers and heels and a black or cream cami (which you should be able to wear during the day). Then wear fabulous jacket over the top for the evening and pair of dangly earrings or necklace. I hear what you say about not liking jewellry, but sometimes, you just have to do it! Sparkle from the waist upwards, is what I say!

Oh, have fun and don't drink too much