Is this dress okay for a posh dinner dance?

[pipicalzaslargas]

I have been invited at short notice at a posh dinner dance at a private school next Friday. Dress code is black tie. Do you think this dress is okay? www.whistles.com/women/sale/dresses/olivia-lace-dress-24251.html?dwvar_olivia-lace-dress-24251_color=Multicolour#start=1

I am short so it fits just below my knees. It does look very nice on me, I just don't know if it's appropriate as I haven't been to one of these functions for years!

[hahahaIdontgetit]

Thank god you came around from your fainting fit

[WellErrr]

It's not a black suit with a bow tie. It's dress trousers, a dinner jacket, dress shirt and bow tie.

[Okite]

Black tie is a dinner suit for men (as opposed to a lounge suit) with a dress shirt and bow tie. In my view anyway, don't know what debretts would say!

[hahahaIdontgetit]

What do you think black tie is?

[WellErrr]

Men can just buy a black suit and bow tie



No they can't.

There needs to be a sticky link to Debretts on here; some of the dress code advice that gets trotted out is just terrible.

OP, black tie is pretty vague these days. It depends on so much; the event, your age, who else will be there, the venue - loads of variables.
Ask other mothers or housemistress about the usual expectations/traditions for that particular event. I'm also 5'2 and I would wear that dress for a black tie event if it was a less traditional setting.
None of the shoes are suitable though. Nothing that shows your toes, and nothing with a high strap as us shorties can't get away with it, makes you look stumpy.

[heateallthebuns]

At black ties I've been to recently it's full length or much more cocktaily i.e. Sequins or satin in evening colours. That is more day time with light coloured lace imo. The shoes are too casual as well. Sorry op!

[dementedma]

whew, just won an auction on ebay for a lovely full length one.
Dinner is in Edinburgh castle so I'm guessing tipping more into formal..

[hahahaIdontgetit]

It's definitely not over for full length, but I understand why some people would rather go for a cocktail dress, they are certainly more wearable if you aren't attending black tie on a regular basis.
Men can just buy a black suit and bow tie, women end up buying a few dresses and recycling. At least if it's a cocktail dress you can wear it for dinners as well.

[Patsy99]

I went to a black tie in February and it was split 50/50 with women wearing full length and dressy cocktail dresses. It's not over for the full length.

[dementedma]

is the general consensus that full length is dated for black tie then?
I hope not, i have a new full length dress for a black tie dinner at the end of the month...

[Patsy99]

Oh yes, I missed that post. If it goes below the knee it's a better bet.

[ErrolTheDragon]

I agree a knee length cocktail dress is usually fine for black tie. But this dress is significantly shorter than that

It isn't on the OP though. The model is way taller than her.

[AnotheBloodyChinHair]

That dress is unusual and stunning. I think as long as it reaches your knees it is absolutely perfect for a black tie event. As others have said, at a school, this will be a far more casual event and actually,ladies in long black gowns or even prom type dresses will look out of place.

As for the shoes, I am also a 'wedges with everything' kind of a girl but I see everyone is horrified at the thought here, so I'll get my coat. Have a great time pipi!!

[Patsy99]

I agree a knee length cocktail dress is usually fine for black tie. But this dress is significantly shorter than that and I think a bit borderline in terms of being sufficiently dressy.

Anyway, it's a lovely dress and it sounds like the op is going to go for it.

Please report back op and let us know how it went op.

[ceeveebee]

My MIL has just bought that dress to wear at their golden wedding party - it's a lovely dress in real life and not at all casual - definitely needs heels and nice hair to dress it up a bit

I agree with PP that knee length is fine for black tie, I go to a lot of awards dinners and the people in long satin numbers look a bit old fashioned.

[ItMustBeBedtimeSurely]

The dress is absolutely fine. It's a lace cocktail dress, not a day dress!

And as for thin heels, that's just a fashion thing imo. Chunkier heels are definitely more current.

[Mamia15]

M&S have decent heels at reasonable prices. I picked up a pair of royal blue kitten heels for a wedding at just under £20 the other week.

[dementedma]

But if it specifies black tie, the blokes in lounge suits and ties are under dressed, ignoring the dress code and will look out of place.

[Mamia15]

The dress would look fine if you wear posh heels & clutch bag, blingy earrings, have your hair done etc.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Somewhat surprised at people saying an all-over lace dress is too casual - I'd have said it was a bit too fancy for daywear except a dressy wedding.

Its a just school dinner dance, fgs, not a 'ball'! I bet a lot of the blokes will be wearing lounge suite and some sort of normal tie. Its a lovely dress, a bit unusual, looks easy to wear confidently ... honestly, it'll look way classier than some ostensibly more 'formal' frocks ... and at a school event overdressed is much worse than a little underdressed.

Dark shoes definitely though for evening. Certainly don't choose spindly ones if (like me) you can't walk in the damn things.

[Wondermoomin]

Have to agree with Pringle. I can see the Pinterest link you've posted, and it still isn't styled in a way suitable for black tie. I just don't think it is the right sort of dress for that.

Have you been able to check with anyone who's been before?

[SinglePringle]

I really don't think the dress is suitable. I've seen it and considered it as a dress for a wedding - it's a day dress, certainly not black tie or even cocktail.

[pipicalzaslargas]

I could get the navy as the dress is navy even though it looks black on the photographs...

[NashvilleQueen]

The Kendra ones would work I think. I'm not mad on nude shoes personally and there's lots of slightly deeper colours which would match the dress and be a bit more glam. That said the shoes you've linked to would be fine and with hair, nails, make up etc etc will be lovely.

[pipicalzaslargas]

I don't know if you can see this link from Pinterest but it shows the dress in a more styled fashion. Like I said, on me it reaches just below the knee. The fit is very nice on me (even if I do say so myself - which I don't, often)
uk.pinterest.com/pin/493636809141394713/