2 questions about how to wear my new dress!

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I ordered a dress which arrived today. I will be wearing it for a super posh Christmas dinner in a couple of weeks.

I have two questions though. Firstly, it is navy, but a significantly darker blue than I realised. I will be wearing black patent heels with it and had planned on black tights but that won't work. Do I just go for nude ones or is there another colour that would work? If nude ones, can anyone recommend some decent ones as I always seem to end up with pairs that ladder easily or are too shiny!

Secondly, it also has a more open back than I realised!! It is drapey, so it will mostly be closed but if I lean forward or move in certain ways it will show a bit of the back of my bra. Do I just go with the flow, have a dark bra on and that's that? Look for a bra with a pretty back? Wear something over the bra?

Many thanks for your help! Clueless in Seattle here

Why won't black tights work? I always wear black tights with my navy dresses.

The dress is too dark a blue, so black tights make the dress seem like it should be black but isn't quite right.... I'm not explaining it very well, it just didn't look quite right!

Why not do bare legs, bright shoes (pink? Coral? Silver?) and match the bra to the shoes so that you get an occasional flash of colour when you move?

That's what I'd do, but I love to look a little bit less conventional- and can carry it off because of my usual style.

Tbh I'd just wear a nice black bra and forget that it is visible.

Various solutions to the bra issue here - Asos sell converters:
thebraguide.com/best-bra-low-back-backless-dress/

My choice would be nude tights and take a spare pair if you're worried about ladders.

I can't see the colour of the beading? sequins? Do you have a pair of shoes to complement these sparkles as, for my taste, black patent is too 'heavy' for such delicate dress and out of place at a classy evening event.

This is the beading goddess
The black shoes are the only smart ones I have (sahm who does not get out much!) so I would have to get new ones. I'm not very good with heels (but need to wear them to look smart) and really struggle to find posh but comfy ones. Any suggestions?

Black bra. Maybe these shoes? Bare legged would surely be too chilly? Nude Micronets are good and last very well but not so cheap.

Silver shoes, Matt natural tan or nude tights from M&S. Black tights I think are a boring 'I can't be bothered ' option. Nude tights don't have to be orange.

And don't worry about the bra, just wear a black one.

I would wear nude tights. I recently got some great ones from Primark.

Silvery shoes would look good, but would you wear them again? If you wouldn't I would just wear the black ones and tell myself no one will be looking at my feet especially if you will be mainly seated?

Lovely dress btw

I probably wouldn't wear new shoes again but hey, they wouldn't be the first single use item in my wardrobe!
I saw these which I quite like....

Don't agree at all that navy always looks awful with black - often wear them together. But as OP feels this particular dress won't look right with black nudes fine. My favourites are M and S Autograph. They do matte and non ladder,

Because navy looks awful with black.

Disagree wholeheartedly.

Must be the way my eyes see black and navy then because I think they all look dreadful!

"What's your colour palette today?"

"Bruise."

I'm loving Vicky B's outfit in that picture. She looks great. Sorry to go off topic!

There used to be a widely held view which some of us grew up with that they didn't 'go', but that's not the case any more. I really like the combination. But if they look wrong to you, they look wrong.

To my mind the silver shoes you've linked to are too light for the dress and look as if they're the winter equivalent of the ubiquitous nude platforms that the D of C has done to death.

Having been unable to find a good looking pair of dark pewter court shoes, I'd wear the dress with dark navy blue stiletto heeled courts These are classic: www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Dune+Abbigal+pointed+toe+court+shoes/233582669,default,pd.html

I like these a lot - I'm sorely tempted by the night emerald: www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-shoes-boots/heels/ar772-nav/womens-navy-suede-wave-mid-court?cm_mmc=PLA--Google--Shopping-_-Product&istCompanyId=a40e1fa1-0635-4a1b-8d9a-2caa763eeee2&istItemId=xtltqxamxt&istBid=xzqt&gclid=CNzS_JLzs9ACFdU_Gwod-DEEXQ

I'm not a fan of textile shoes but these look as if they could pass for suede and have an appealing quirkiness about them: www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_068010734743_-1

I'd add an unembellished dark navy clutch/evening bag (lots to choose from on eBay), a delicate evening watch, and sparkly diamond or crystal drop earrings. This may seem a tad conservative, but if I'm going to a super posh dinner at a swanky venue I haven't been to before I opt for a classy understated look with a twist, and the 'twist' in your outfit is that sexy glimpse of your naked back when you move in a certain way.

I hope you enjoy the evening as much as you'll enjoy wearing your beautiful dress and that you'll update with a photo in due course.

I don't mind navy and black as a combination, but it just doesn't work with this dress. So it will definitely be nude tights.
I like the idea of silver shoes but as goddess predicted, the ones from
Debenhams are too bright and don't work. I haven't yet come across any others that I like

Google Navy diamante shoes - maybe something there will suit - with either bare legs or nude sandal toed tights?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-navy-blue-diamante-strappy-sandals-size-6-/302137368524?hash=item4658ca5fcc:g:FgYAAOSwA3dYKKMb

www.amazon.co.uk/Diamante-Stiletto-Strappy-Evening-Sandals/dp/B01MCTAWNF/ref=sr_1_16?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1479589613&sr=1-16&keywords=navy+diamante+shoes

I think Victoria Beckham always looks awful, so that alone would put me off black with navy.

I'd buy the best nude tights I could afford, then they really do look nude

www.very.co.uk/river-island-glitter-stiletto-heel/1600122707.prd?crossSellType=item_page.recs_1
www.wallis.co.uk/en/wluk/product/shoes-5387625/little-mistress-gold-glitter-strap-sandle-4741658?bi=20&ps=20

www.lipsy.co.uk/store/office/office-metallic-mirror-pointed-high-heels/product-is-ea01505_132

Any of these take your fancy? I prefer gold with navy as its warmer and less predictable

Or these www.very.co.uk/v-by-very-carmel-platform-graduatied-glitter-black-silver/1600102651.prd