Gaudy Dinner: What to wear

[ChadySharacter]

So dress code for men is black tie OR lounge suit. September so possibly still warmish. I don't do black, pastel, shiny, frilly or knee-showing. I am a 16, 14 in some shops, hourglass, 5ft 9. I know from previous experience that academics can turn up in all sorts, but obviously there will be lots of civilians at this and I'm not quite sure of where I should be pitching the 'dressed up' level.

Midi wrap dress in navy with some heels and a clutch bag

I thought you had to be sub fusc? So navy or any other dark colour and relatively low-key with accessories, esp if you are wearing cap and gown?

Yay for Dorothy L Sayers!

No idea but try Monsoon

I thought of Gaudy Night, too!

Something like this? depends if you need sleeves.
red hobbs dress

No, definitely no cap and gown - I'm the hanger-on in this instance, not my University.

Me too, ShutUp. Imagined OP running around in subfusc with a poison pen, or rushing in to find chess pieces in smithereens.

Annadale, arms not best feature, but flared skirts definitely a no-no, my enormous hips just look even bigger. Good length though.

Oh, the chess pieces! That bit in the punt is proper literary porn. I love it!

I used to go to quite a few of these types of dinners, knee length cocktail type dress, not too 'glitzy' or clingy or revealing, just relatively simple and smart always works.

Something like this maybe:
www.lkbennett.com/product/CDSASHAPOLYESTERBlueImperial%20Blue~Sasha-Dress-Imperial%20Blue

There will be a complete mix from v dressed up to academic frump...

That LK Bennett dress is perfect and an absolute steal at the moment !

Ooh, that's great to know whitemarble, just the sort of knowledge I was after, thank you. (The dress is a steal, but I wouldn't wear anything so high-necked and I find lace a bit fussy generally speaking).

And if you don't know what a gaudy dinner is, shuffle off quietly (that's me then).

What's your budget? I went to dh's gaudy a couple of years ago and people were quite dressy. I wore a knee-length sequinned cocktail dress with a man-style dinner jacket over the top and heels. Definitely felt I'd pitched it right. There were quite a few ladies in long evening dresses too (not ball dresses).

I guess £100 could be thrown at the issue.

It's definitely not sub fusc-
Lol!

I'd have a look in Phase Eight - lovely cocktail dresses and a very good sale right now.

Like other posters, this reminded me of Gaudy Night - wonderful novel

If you haven't read it OP, why not give it a go to get you in the mood?

Yes, I have read Gaudy Night, long while ago though.
I have looked at PE and didn't see anything tempting ( apart from a work dress).

If you like unfussy dresses, have you seen the Issa dresses at H of F?

A gaudy is a college reunion, I think derived from "gaudete", or "rejoice" in Latin.

I would avoid black and navy and go for a colour that suits you. The men are a sea of black, especially if most or all of them are in black tie, so if you wear a very dark colour, you merge into them, and it is more fun standing out.

I would think cocktail is fine but so is a maxi or evening gown and personally would choose on the basis of what suits me best and what I feel most comfortable in.

I haven't been to one for a while, but have been surprised at how old (and often unrecognisable) the men look, especially if bald.

It is easier in way if it isn't your old college, as you aren't navigating the various people who loved you and whom you loved when you were 18.

I bought an evening dress from TK MAXX for £39 for the last one I went to.

Thank you all, it seems like I can't really get it too wrong then, given that there will be a wide spectrum of dresses in evidence. I would personally feel most comfortable in something fitted, just over the knee (so 110cm), 3/4 or 1/2 sleeve, orange/green/navy/darker (not lipstick) reds or bold print, low cut or at least scoop neck. I have lots of dresses like this, but they are work dresses!

I've seen everything from floor-sweeping sequins to jacket and trousers. I wear a cocktail dress usually.

How about this

Any cocktail dress will be fine (but then be prepared for the look to be ruined by the academic gown over the top, anyway!)