Can I wear this dress to a wedding celebration/party?

[Birdy28]

I am going to a wedding celebration/party (they got married abroad so this is the celebration party with friends and family at home). They are friends of DH so not in a position to have a ring round to see what everyone else is wearing.

The invite says black tie and DP and his friends have hired tuxedos but have now announced that they don't think that everyone else will be as dressed up (but they are going to wear them anyway).

Can I wear this dress?u

It was my bridesmaid dress at a recent friends wedding but I'm worried that it will be too much for the party and that most people won't be as dressed up despite the invite saying black tie?

Also, does it look too much like a bridesmaids dress?

I can't really afford another dress and my only other option is more of a corporate black tie dress (black and calf length) which I think may look even more formal but could maybe stretch to something around £50 if the above isn't suitable?

I think I'm more paranoid about because I won't really know anyone else there and don't want to stand out too much!

Could you link to the dress again, birdy? I th

Oops link fail

dress

Oh dear, I'm not very good with links! Third time lucky...

www.bhs.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=21&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=34096&storeId=13077&productId=5929664&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=471150&parent_categoryId=471109&pageSize=20&refinements=category~[471576|471150]&noOfRefinements=1

I personally like it! If your DP wears a tuxedo, this dress should be fine. You can always dress it down a bit with more "playful" jewellery if you feel it's too formal. The site states that the dress can be worn in 15 different ways. Perhaps you will feel more comfortable if you adapt it in some way? Either way, I do not think that this looks like a bridesmaid's dress and I also think that you will look beautiful.

Thank you kefy. For the wedding I had tied with straps and with a v neck cut at the front and twisted at the back (sort of Grecian styled).

I think for the party though I will wear it strapless as it is in the photo.

Will have a think about jewellery as I think you are right that it could help to make it look less formal. Maybe black, chunky jewellery?

May also do my hair up in a messy up do or loose long curls to soften it a bit.

They really are fab dresses!

Nice dress. I don't think it'll be too dressy at all.

Thank you trixy. I would prefer to wear it again as it seems a shame to leave it hanging in my wardrobe!

For necklaces I'm thinking either this collar type necklace uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_2,acc_2.3/3820260300

Or this statement necklace uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_2,acc_2.3/3820130300

Just wondering if the second one would be too much?

I think the dress will be fine - if the invitation states 'black tie' then it is suggesting 'formal dress', if people choose not to adhere to the dress code, it is they that should feel out of place, not those who have dressed as asked.

That dress is lovely. Wear it. Even if everyone wore jeans it doesn't matter, you will look fabulous.

It's lovely, wear it

same colour as my last to black tie dresses, so very biased

That dress is stunning! Yes wear it. It's not too much. Jewelry links did not work for me but I would keep it simple.

The necklaces are lovely. I agree that the first one is not as "loud" (although I love the look of the second one!).

I think it is lovely. Agree with the ideas to make it a bit more informal with 'messier' hair and chunkier jewellery. Have a lovely time!

Thank you all. It's made me feel a lot better having everyone say it won't be overdressed. I was getting a bit paranoid about it. It really is a fab dress and I'm lucky my friend chose it as the bridesmaid dresses!

Picked up the second chunkier necklace today as the other one just seemed a bit understated and didn't have much of a 'wow' factor.

Also picked up a new eyeshadow so off home to try it with necklace and practise trying to convince my hair into some sort of messy but chic look. (If anyone has any links to good websites for hair styles I would be forever grateful!)

Getting excited now