Black Tie Event - Dresscode?

[TheNewKaren]

I am obligated to attend a work related black tie event (and yes I am grumpy about it) and I have a feeling that I won't be able to expense my outfit (Aibu?)

Am I expected to wear a long evening dress?

This article is helpful

If I were you, I'd ask a colleague who has attended before what people tend to wear to get a feel for what would be appropriate in this specific instance.

Because it's a work event, though, I would definitely steer away from anything that shows too much skin, whether that's decolletage, back, leg or shoulder.

Thank you! Great article - I was wondering if I have to wear a long dress and I am glad that this is not the case. Unfortunately I simply can't ask advice from my colleagues - and it wouldn't be useful advice either.
Still I am a little annoyed to have to buy an outfit and accessories that I have not budgeted for and can't really afford either. It's fair enough that I am expected to have a good amount of suits and workwear for client presentations, but I should not be expected to spend on evening wear, in my opinion. I am not in a particularly well paid position.

You could hire a dress for the occasion, not sure how expensive this option is though. Alternatively search eBay or look in the sales, price match events which are frequently online/in store. There is a great function on the John Lewis website called the style edit, you put in all your vital statistics, body shape, favourite colours etc. and then it compiles recommendations with complete accessories. Personal shoppers are on hand in branch at JL, Selfridges and House of Fraser.
Monsoon, Coast and Phase 8 have a great selection for black tie events.

Can you ask to see photos of previous years? (Might they be hiding on the corporate intranet?)

What's your budget, size, shape, colouring? There are some amazing steals out there at the moment, I'm sure we can sort you out for not much ££££

John Lewis has black tie section and some great dresses in the sale
www.johnlewis.com/browse/women/womens-dresses/price=50-100/black-tie/_/N-flwZ6qnhZ1z0rov3

Have you thought of charity shopping? We have a black tie event in a few weeks (we have regular events which require different outfits..it gets expensive) and we went looking in a posh part of our city. I found a suitable very posh dress (if it had been worn at all I would be extremely surprised), and husband found a black tie suit (again in excellent condition, and we think handmade, not from a store) for the princely sum of £27 between the two of us. Nobody would ever know that they came from a charity shop, and I won't be telling anyone.

Hi thanks it's next week and I only noticed that it was lack tie when I got the agenda a couple of days ago, so it's too late to order anything online.

Charity shopping may be a god plan round here and nobody would ever know as the event is in another country.

My immediate reaction was to find pics on the intranet, nothing there (therefore there am not be any long term damage in being badly dressed). Unfortunately some VIPs attending.

I want to buy a house, not clothes!

*black tie not 'lack tie' - wishful thinking.

twostepsister this is a useful link - thank you. John Lewis would be next day collect and I quite like one of the long sleeved dresses.

I'm a size 12 and it would be great to spend less than £100 on the dress, OlennasWimple.

Good luck TheNewKaren and enjoy the event

Can you say which country, OP, in case there are some peculiarities about black tie there?

It's in Europe Olennas I hope that there are no such peculiarities, but the dress I picked from your list is rather short albeit long sleeved, so may be the long sleeves would compensate for the lack in length.

Thank you twostepsister .
(Feeling guilty about going and leaving kids with incompetent exH coming to babysit plus annoyed with myself that I don't have the courage to ask to expense the dress).

Try TKMaxx. I got a beautiful full length dress for a black tie event there for £40!