Black Tie Puzzle

[NotQuiteCockney]

Ok, I am finally actually going to this Black Tie thing next Tuesday. It is a geeky black tie thing, and DH is sure he's seen lots of blokes there just in regular suits. My clothing options are:

1. Dress from Oasis . I already own it. I'm not sure it's formal enough. It does suit me.

1. This dress . It's lovely, and silk. Above the knee. Quite funky. Bit too low cut, but whatever.

1. Go shopping.

1. Silk double-breasted trouser suit with either a man-style shirt or a blouse.

1. Quite boring but ok long viscose black thing with beading.

Opinions?

I agree with cod

(about the jacket with trousers)

if dp likes the dress what cod said about opaque tights would work.

I quite like the irony of the silk trousers though.

OK I'm back to this at a late hour.

I think the star dress, while lovely, is a tad short for a black tie do.

I lurrrrve the green jacket and think you should wear than with black silk trews. Do you have heels that would go?

I don't really have heels at all.

DH is making unhappy noises about the idea of me wearing trousers. I have a very plain long satiny skirt which I might use instead. Will try on various options tomorrow.

(Helpfully DH has no clue really. He was suggesting I should wear my grey cotton skirt with the skulls on it (Frances has seen this). He might have been kidding, but I fear not.)

LOL @ the skull skirt

yes wear a skirt NQC, you will look fab

the long silky one sounds nice

I really think he might have been serious. [fear]

I like the star dress still - can you put black tights on and high heels and photo it again for us

I do work based black tie events probably at least every month or so, and there is a huge range of what is acceptable. At the one on Tues this week, there were black evening trousers with bustiers and jackets over them, prom dresses (loads of them), evening dresses and full blown ball gowns!

Your star dress would have been absolutely perfect. Dress it up with a silver wrap, and a silvery bag (stars glittery) and go for it

soapy, she Doesn't Do Heels...

Well wedgies then

I don't think flatties are going to work - shame it's such a nice dress!

I will try the green jacket with:

a) silk trousers
b) satiny long skirt
c) rah-rah-y (black) skirt

And see what works.

I think I have to shave my head for this too, really. My hair has gotten long enough to look a bit scruffy, and I can't face the idea of putting gel in it, so I'll take it back down to 5 mm or something. (Very carefully! With the guard on at all times!)

Ok, I think I am going with the satiny sort of skirt. Here are pics of me in it, and in trousers with jacket. I'm wearing a camisole, but not a nice one, may try to go buy a nice one tomorrow? (Easy options: gap, topshop, v small JL, um ...) Ideally one with a bra built in, I guess? I think I'd rather be wearing something up there ...

Oh, should have said, yes, the trousers don't fit. I guess I could belt them, but am thoroughly about the whole thing tbh. I got married in those! And now I look like a hobo in them!

Oh, and I'm not planning on wearing grey wooly socks, and I'm not a shortarse, the pics were just taken by stupidly tall DH.

that's a beautiful jacket. I think the skirt, definitely

THE SKIRT gets a thumbs up

very nice indeed

don't wear those trews NQC, the skirt is glamoriffic

The skirt, yes.

(If you have totally discounted the Oasis dress 'cos I think that looks fab too)

Oh arse, meant to try flarey high waisted skirt, but it is only just above knee length so presumably a no-go? (cotton too, satin is better isn't it)

or the long dress for that matter - I thought it looked nice

I've had too many bad reactions to the Oasis dress for this. DH supports the Oasis dress. I will be happier in jacket etc, though, as I wore the Oasis dress at Easter, which is a bit too recent, surely? (albeit with giant startling hat, which is great fun)

yes skirt is good. camisole / vesty thing with secret support also good but they can be a bit flattening so might be better and easier to just look for nice wide strapped silky thing with bra?

hair gel sounds a lot less faff than head shaving to me but i just clip mine up all the time so what do i know.

I think if it must depend on how you feel about being dressed differently. I am fairly confident about how I dress, not too bothered about following fashion, just do my own thing iyswim
BUT, I do find it hard to feel out of place, I guess I am suseptible to this feeling. If you are not go for the funky one, if you are even slightly (they really can be very formal affairs) go for the boring long black beaded option.