Monday challenge: help me find a black tie dinner dress

[Kailoer]

I have a black tie dinner coming up with DH's new workplace in mid-August. i literally have nothing to wear to it.

it's unlikely that i'll get much use out of any newly bought dress, so i'm loathe to spend too much on it.. but i was wondering if you ladies could offer some inspiration with what's currently out there?

I've never attended this dinner before but the dress code is strictly "black tie" so i think (based on previous rare occasions i've attended this sort of thing) that means floor-length dress. it's also a very conservative culture (think legal, old school types), so probably dark colours best. Under £100 would be best, I'm also happy to look at 2nd hand item on ebay if you're aware or selling something nice..? I can order online or get to most high street department stores easily.

in terms of body type, i'm a standard UK 10 with fairly ok (D-cup boobs), fairly short (just over 5 foot), but really terrible legs, so the floor length is going to work for me

I found this dress in a dark navy on ebay and think it's gorgeous, but i'm assuming the quality would be awful for that price and i don't want to risk an ebay horror story: lovely dark blue dress

How about this - they have other petite dresses on there too

that;s really lovely and a great height! thank you countingto10 - i'm off to see if asos has any other good examples, but feel free to suggest more if you spot them. the one you gave is lovely though! and just right for a formal but fairly fun event!

Would this be considered acceptable for black tie?
here

Definitely.

I found one of these in a shop locally to me: ever-pretty.com

It's a brand i've never heard of/used before but I'd thought it was quite an expensive dress having seen it in real life. (hence googling it)

has anyone ever used their website/any experience on here?

they look like an american brand, lots of talk about proms etc on their shopping cart

the prices i'm seeing on there seem very cheap, hence reluctance to trust something i've never heard of before

sorry that didn't link, it's this one:

www.ever-pretty.com/uk/sleeveless-shimmery-floor-length-prom-dress-ep08740.html

(it's the green one)

I think black tie doesn't mean floor length and most professional women will choose mid-calf, cocktail dresses without much skin. Decoded, IMO, the instruction is evening business dress, so more jewellery, sheer tights and higher heels. No cleavage or high thigh splits. It is a very conservative dress code instruction.

Looking back at dresses linked, I think the aubergine one shoulder dress is very smart indeed (my choice aesthetically, but it would look pants on me) and that it would be hard to fault the embroidered bodice option, but it lacks presence.

I have one I'm about to sell, quite similar to the first one you linked to. Navy, lace. Might need to be taken up at the hem a touch as I'm taller than you. Size 10 and I'm a 32D. Looking for £30 including second class postage. Maybe pm me if you're interested?

Thanks all - stackedcups do you have a pic? Thanks

Ooh I have never posted pics before. Fingers crossed it works.

The back bit you can see is a tie at the nape of the neck. Let me know if you're interested and I'll send the other photos as they are taking an age to load.

Have you looked at chichi logging?
Example here
https://www.chichiclothing.com/products/Chi-Chi-Petite-Charissa-Dress.html

*clothing!

Thanks for the help - with DH input I've decided to try the ASOS ones. The extra suggestions are all lovely though!