Could I wear this to a black tie dinner?

[Myneaux]

Ive been invited to a black tie dinner with work and Im feeling stressed about what to wear.

Im comfortable with semi formal but I dont really know what is expected...I suspect that I could get away without wearing a full length ball gown but still need to be conservatively dressed.

I have a small budget (up to about £80) and would like something I could wear again. I found this dress in Warehouse today and it was only £20...it fits perfectly and is my kind of style. I am normally a bit quirky and know for wearing colour and unusual jewellery.

Its jacquard fabric and has a slight sheen to it....i thought maybe with heels, nude tights/bare legs and red lippy I could just about get away with it. Be honest is it too casual?

All the other formal dresses feel too frumpy (Im 40), bare too much flesh, are black (Im too pale) and expensive

for reference Im 5.4 with blonde hair, size 10.

www.warehouse.co.uk/gb/sale/dresses/wild-garden-dress/029484.html?dwvar_029484_color=99&position=84&cgid=sale-dresses#sz=60&gclid=CjwKCAjw6szOBRAFEiwAwzixBZkNYhv4eum42x6Wte4pp1n4y-tp3kB8v9Q4VoJ7RkBcdZ8lVu3h7BoClPAQAvD_BwE&start=84&categoryID=sale-dresses

Sorry it's far to casual imo.

*too

Sorry, OP, it's very casual.

I think it’s a bit too casual tbh although I do like it
Think it’s maybe the hemline? For me it needs to be a little bit longer and go straight down rather than frilling out

That is a casual summer frock not a black tie dress. Sorry.

Sorry, have to agree with PPs, it's too casual in my opinion

It’s too casual. I would say it needs to be longer.

Asos do lots of inexpensive and modern looking evening dresses.

Too short, too casual and too summery.

Agree with others it’s too casual and perhaps a little young... I would suggest a cocktail dress is what most women wear to black tie events these days. If you go for something simple yet elegant and probably in black, you can’t really go wrong.

It's very pretty though and only£20 so I think you should buy it

No from me too. Have you tried Coast? They have a good sale on so shouldn’t be too expensive plus they’re owned by the same company as Warehouse.

That needs flip flops and a beach.. far far too casual

Definitely too casual, even for the most relaxed of black tie "do"s. Sorry.

Also think too casual but can you find out what other peopl are wearing/how dressy?

I've found that a "black tie" dress code for women can vary wildly from lbds, to cocktail dresses, to long but slender dresses, to full on ball gowns.

£80 is a good budget for a cocktail type dress but I know it can be hard finding what you want sometimes!

Lipsy are always good and a modest neckline/length would be appropriate if you can find one on ebay? Or borrow one? I put something on Facebook once for a Christmas party and lots of kind people offered dresses!

Yep. Too casual.

As a side note - why do models stand like that with deliberate round shoulders and hunched posture??

It needs to be smart but can be long or short. Lots of choice then.

That's the kind of think I'd wear day to day with ankle boots, tights and a Cardigan. Lovely dress buy waaayyto casual

Oh no.....I had a feeling you would say that (I secretly knew it was)

Back to the drawing board I suppose.....I normally love shopping but this is proving painful. I have already trawled through 100's of dresses on asos but somehow none of them really seem like me.

Thank you for all your quick replies.

Way too casual. I went to a black tie do on Saturday. I had thought before I went that I could get away with a strappy top and dressy trousers or something like a black wrap dress but OMG the glamour at the event! People looked amazing - if I had worn a dress like that i would have felt out of place.

I ended up buying a cheap black strapless dress on ebay for £3.95. I added satin straps and tailored it to fit me - it was slightly a line with some discreet beads - I was one of the least "dressed up" ones there!

I havent tried Lipsy but associated them with the Wag look...so will check them out and hopefully be surprised.

I hate wearing black which is the main problem and I cant find anything that has a bit of personality (coast just seems very old fashioned and a bit boring). I also dont have any curves so the bodycon style / very fitted stuff looks awful on me.

Look at this on eBay www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272869804497

Ghost dresses are beautiful, come in all different styles and colours and can be dressed up or down. To buy new they are quite expensive but if you don't mind eBay then there are loads on there that would fit your particular needs.

I like this:
www.chichiclothing.com/products/Chi-Chi-Nicola-Dress.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw6szOBRAFEiwAwzixBW8gNaoJKdoINPcRlCFeOBSPkQp5aAdFyVryH_wMLDM7Hz7SvjawbBoC2DAQAvD_BwE

Monsoon has some nice ones.

www.zalando.co.uk/wal-g-with-side-frill-cocktail-dress--party-dress-dark-green-wg021c05v-k11.html ?

Thank you....I will try ebay but Im always worried about sizing as I hover between a 8 and 10 but have a big tummy (so something like the Ghost dress would probably cling in the wrong places).

Will have a proper look at the Chi Chi dresses too...first glance looks promising as they arent black! I really like this one but not sure sleeves would class as black tie either (and there is the bra issue)

www.chichiclothing.com/products/Chi-Chi-Zosia-Dress.html