Black tie 'do' Saturday, urgently need dress: is short ever ok?

[Kathleenkelly]

Have to go to black tie dinner - described as 'ball' but there will be no dancing- with DH on Saturday. Its an industry thing with his work, so I mostly just want to look appropriate, and not spend too much money. Something I could wear again over xmas would be a plus.

Had chosen long-sleeved, jersey dress online at Coast but decided not to buy it till I got a chance to try it on in person, which took a few more weeks than planned. And then they didn't have it in the shop, and its now sold out online in my size

I'm now torn between buying it in a 10 and hoping because its jersey fabric it will have some stretch (possibly a terrible idea), hoping to find something else I can order online as due to work will not be near shops before Saturday, or dry cleaning a knee-length grey dress I already own and hoping its ok.

Budget ideally no more than 100-120 as I don't normally go to these things. Everything I tried on in Coast and House of Fraser this weekend was too bridesmaid-y. I mostly buy work clothes in M&S, Hobbs, Banana Republic usually so not sure where to look for something like this. I'm a 12 and fairly hourglass-y (bra size 30 f, fairly sizeable hips) and early 30s.

In my position, would you go with the short dress or panic order some options to try on at home? Is there anywhere else I should look?

I was at a ball last weekend. I bought 6 long dresses online and tried liads on in the shops before admitting that short dresses are more flattering for me. I didn't feel out of place.

Lord. Nice coast dress but terribke to call it Reeva

Mango do lots of dresses like that lace one and i think they have 30% atm

I think long or knee length are fine for black tie / cocktail.

I like Roman for this type of occasion: www.romanoriginals.co.uk/icat/dresses

My first thought too Noelle

Agree, nice coast dress, shame about the name.

Love the otherstories dress Belinda. Do report back on the sizing. I'll also keep an eye for a sales purchase, I love it. And those Coast shoes you linked on your blog? Lovely. This is why S&B is so dangerous for me. Dangerous I say. We don't really need new walls in the house, do we?

Apols the side conversation OP.

[whispers to lurking: I was just saying to DH how much of a nightmare writing a blog is for my acquisitive side. I have to keep a tight rein on myself. Although the Coast shoes are great - Eve WornOut wore hers quite a bit over summer. ]

To add something to this thread, great party shoes are the ones the & Other Stories dress is styled with. In either the leopard or black fur versions.

For something to keep cold toes warm, I have just ordered the Office Gilly heels, which are a great designer dupe that are fab and stylish, but comfortable (too old and contrary to buy crippling shoes anymore)

Oh I meant those Office shoes! Those very ones in your photos. I saw them on your blog last night and itch itch itch. The heel height is perfect. And they're so stylish. And so comfortable. SO handy for my hectic social life . Itch itch itch.

Dangerous.

Oh yes, my social life. So hectic. It's not like I have heels gathering dust. Still, I love the shoes and suede is a good alternative texture, for when I wear my pleather leggings or pleather skirt. For all these fabulous places I go to, all the time [completely deluded].

God yes. Think long is very ageing unless it is totally 100% formal. If it is black tie and nothing else is stipulated and it's not a dinner dance (or the oscars...) then I think a knee-length LBD with black opaques is totally appropriate.

Knee length is absolutely fine. It helps if it's black and sparkly too.

I tried on the And Other Stories dress- looked terrible on me which was a blow, but I can't really do that shape anyway as I am nearly 6ft and look a bit like Grayson Perry if I'm not careful. True to size, I'm a 12/14 and it was a very comfy fit in a 14. The bodice was quite short I thought and I think the skirt is more flared than it looks in the picture.

Beautiful colour and great quality for someone shorter than me. I did find a lovely black silk dress in the sale instead so all was not lost.

Dress arrived, it fits, sorted. Just need to find some high heels (v. high as its quite long, I'm 5"6 and there's a couple of inches trailing). It is a v flattering jersey, I wasn't expecting the size 10 to work.

Am thinking gold sparkly shoes for the festive season and getting quite excited :) Love those black shoes though, would be v tempted if this wasn't a navy dress

Bother. My finger slipped and I ordered the shoes. Stop it!
Glad to hear the very very beautiful & other stories dress has a short bodice. Phew!
Glad the real quest was successful though!

Oh dear, your bothersome fingers, sonotkylie. Are you Australian, too?

BTW that the &Other Stories dress has a short bodice makes it sound even better for me, as I have a short torso. And have a big birthday coming up. Hmmm. I will be going to & OTher Stories asap.

Not Australian. From the planet 'Weak of Will'. You may have visited!
Go and get the dress. Its the least you can do

Shoes arrived ... That's 48 hours from finger accident to delivery to v rural location. Impressed. And the shoes are fantastic. They look gorgeous and I can walk in them. Really well balanced so they feel like heels but are comfortable. Look good with my oldest jeans even. Am in love.

kylie that's great! I wore mine today and am loving how a 7.5cm heel feels to walk in. What the Sam Hill am I doing getting suckered into higher heels? Must stop visiting the planet "Weak of Will". Must.