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Original poster

Please help! Black tie wedding!

32 replies

Northernexile · 09/08/2012 12:14

I have the dubious pleasure of having been invited to a black tie wedding in a stately home in October. I have no idea what to wear! I live in jeans normally, my pasty legs are rarely revealed! Do I have to do floor-length? Any suggestions or guidance would be gratefully received.

Other info- I'm 5'8, have brown hair and am a size 10 with large-ish boobs (not too keen on strapless). Hate pink, like green/blue/grey. I'm also 5 months into mat leave so don't want to spend more than £150-£200. Would also love something I could feasibly wear again if possible. Or should I just hire something? Arrrggghhh!

OP posts:
minipie · 09/08/2012 12:32

No need to do floor length these days for black tie. Basically just wear the kind of thing you'd usually wear to a wedding but at the more "eveningy" end of the spectrum - eg cotton floral prob not suitable, silky or satin jewel colours more so. Then dress up evening style with sparkly jewellery. Black (thin) tights or micro fishnets could look good.

Something like www.reiss.com/womens/womens-sale/70pc/hallie/silver/this or this or this or this perhaps? (all from Reiss in the sale - annoyingly I can't see what sizes are still available)

MyinnergoddessisatLidl · 09/08/2012 12:36

Hi,

It used to be that a black tie wedding would be pretty formal and require a full length dress. I would actually check with other people if you know who else is going.I used to go to a lot of military evenings and it usually meant floor length.

A mid calf length dress is also acceptable and i have seen others wearing knee length cocktail dresses.

How about a nice maxi-dress? Bang on trend and you could wear some nice sandals underneath. You'd also get more wear out of it, if it was something you could dress up or down.

http://www.coast-stores.com/ try Coast for Formal dressing style ideas, and they fit into your price range

I would try and buy not hire if I could, there are plenty of choices between Coast, Monsoon, Debenhams and John Lewis for acceptable evening wear these days.

Original poster
Northernexile · 09/08/2012 12:38

Thanks minipie! I actually like all those dresses- lovely colours. My MIL told me that I HAD to do a maxi-dress for black tie (but then she isn't much of a style guru Grin!), but I was hoping to avoid floor length if possible. I always think they'll make me look stumpy!

OP posts:
Teeb · 09/08/2012 12:39

How fancy pants do you think it will be? Could a rental company be a good idea? Here have some thing things.

This is a lovely shade of green.

Blue. Very flattering for bigger boobs.

Navy always looks very expensive. Plus more practical for October.

Original poster
Northernexile · 09/08/2012 12:40

Hmmmm. Calf length isn't an option. I have shot-putter calves. Knee length or floor length would be my options. I was hoping I could get away with knee length tbh!

OP posts:
Teeb · 09/08/2012 12:40

Ooh those Reiss dresses are lovely. I don't think you'd need to worry too much about looking stumpy at 5'8 though!

MyinnergoddessisatLidl · 09/08/2012 12:42

try Karen Millen?

For your figure and price range they do a nice choice of dresses.

I think if you go knee-length and it's glamourous and still had the wow factor it'll be acceptable.

When's the wedding op?

Original poster
Northernexile · 09/08/2012 12:43

Thanks Teeb! Like the Ghost one.

I'm 31, but do look young (not a stealth boast), so don't want to look like a little girl in someone else's posh frock iyswim. I think that's why floor-length scares me so much!

OP posts:
Original poster
Northernexile · 09/08/2012 12:45

That Karen Millen one is lovely, and I could probably get more wear out of a slightly shorter dress I imagine. The wedding is in October. Thought I'd better get cracking and have a look now though before all the shops are full of sparkly Christmas shit!

OP posts:
minipie · 09/08/2012 12:48

Having your hair done in a fancy up do is a good way to make a less formal dress (ie knee length) look more black tie. Especially paired with sparkly earrings.

Do check with some other guests just in case full length is required, but I really doubt it (military do's are different!)

MyinnergoddessisatLidl · 09/08/2012 12:56

In October you could wear dark tights with some great dark heels and a knee length dress which would glam it up and also you wouldn't be so conscious about your legs.

The autumnal colours on Karen Millen are lovely. I'm not a huge fan, but they do really know their dresses. Although I recommended Coast it is the "go to" for a lot of people - as is Monsoon.

TBH I'd avoid any colours around white shading - grey, silver, pale cream. I went to a wedding where someone wore a bang on trend lace pale grey maxi dress and she became the centre of conversation for the older ladies about upstaging the bride! Hmm

Original poster
Northernexile · 09/08/2012 13:32

Will have a good nosy round Coast, Reiss and Karen Millen I think. There have been some lovely dresses on all your links though, so it gives me a good place to start.

OP posts:
MyinnergoddessisatLidl · 09/08/2012 13:42

I think the most important thing is to find something you feel comfortable in, op.

I think confidence really shows through when you wear something that suits you, and not always rigidly to the occasion.

sweetheart · 09/08/2012 13:49

I have a full length electric blue dress from coast which i have worn once for a NYE ball. I'd be happy to sell / loan it to you. Let me know if your interested and i can send pictures

Lottapianos · 09/08/2012 13:49

You don't wear hats to a black tie wedding, do you? I only ask because my parents went to a BT wedding a few years ago and in the photos, a couple of the ladies had long evening dresses, with black blazer type jackets over the top and massive daytime hats! It looked all wrong Confused but I'm clueless about these things.

Sorry for hijack! Lovely options to choose from OP

minipie · 09/08/2012 13:52

No, no hats

Lottapianos · 09/08/2012 14:03

Didn't think so minipie - it looked ridiculous!

Yummymummyyobe1 · 09/08/2012 14:22

Not on a unrelated subject there are two balck ballgowns here that I wore for an hr each. Will happily sell.

Yummymummyyobe1 · 09/08/2012 14:23

Have your hair done in a french twist with a few light curls cascading down your face. A nice manicure and simple makeup. A touch of your favouate perfume.

MyinnergoddessisatLidl · 09/08/2012 15:46

The op has a £200 spending limit yummy!!

Yummymummyyobe1 · 09/08/2012 15:55

Myinnergod dessisatLidl woops I hadn't read that bit sorry.

Original poster
Northernexile · 09/08/2012 16:04

Hello, I'm back from doing a spot of dog walking and baby-juggling! Wish I could afford Issa and McQueen Yummymummy! Am very Envy!

I like that dress sweetheart, lovely colour! Is it a size 10?

OP posts:
Yummymummyyobe1 · 09/08/2012 16:45

Northernexile I hadn't fully read your post before I went shopping. I do like the one Sweetheart found a beautiful colour.

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