Panicking

[whatalifethisis]

Please can you wise ladies help. I am panicking over my choice of dress for my partner's Christmas do (Saturday) I have just re read the invitation and it states black tie and cocktail dress. It took me ages to find something I feel comfortable in but I am now thinking that a cocktail dress should be short rather than full length? I planned to wear it with silver sandals and a navy chiffon cover up. Do you htink it will be ok or do I need to look for something else (I am very uncomfortable dressed up) Thanks for your help.

Not an expert - hopefully one will be along soon.

The dress looks quite summery to me. What is the fabric?

It's silk Recovery

Sorry OP, there’s no way that meets the requirement of black tie or cocktail dress.

That’s a summer dress through and through and I’d hazard a guess you’d feel out of place wearing it. It looks like a cotton paisley print?

Whenever I go to a black tie event there is complete lack of uniformity for the women. Everything from high sparkle glamour to very ordinary looking day dresses. That dress will be absolutely fine. Best to enjoy the party than feel trussed up like a Christmas turkey.

Hi Dragon it's silk and sort of swirly floral print

If you had decided to wear that dress and you said “look I’m not usually a dress person and I feel ok in this so I’m wearing it”, then fine.

But- if you are panicking then I think no. Just get a standard lbd and put it with your silver sandals.

If you wear that dress and you don’t feel confident you will be self-conscious all night, IMO.

Sorry, that's a summer barbecue dress imo...

Lovely dress but not suitable for a cocktail dress / black tie event. I would look for something else to go with the silver sandals

Ok thank you for your input....all I can say is thank God for next day delivery!
Will scour the Internet for something more suitable.

It’s a lovely summer dress
It’s not a black tie dress

This isn't going to be easy as I could do with losing a few stone and spend most of my time dressed like an old hippy in an assortment of tie dye type dresses.

Ho hum

That’s too casual. You could pull it off in summer at a relatively informal black tie event but not suitable this time of year. Just for clarity the dress code calls for a dress between knee length and floor length that is made of expensive fabric with no/very minimal print (embellished with beading or lace instead) with formal (closed at this time of year) shoes. For example you cold wear a floor length silk gown in one colour (preferably a darker colour or pale but not pastel colour like grey or a dirty blush pink). Or you could wear a knee length velvet dress for something more festive.

Thank you Racecardriver that's really helpful

I can crochet....at this rate I'll be crocheting a little number!

This dress from Biden is a very safe option and can be reused for almost any occasion for example

Sorry OP, that's a pimms and bbq summer day time. frock.

I agree with PP, lbd with some nice heels and maybe red lippy and a sparkly handbag would be better.

It’s a lovely summer dress
It’s not a black tie dress

I agree. It's beautiful but save it for summer.

They probably put "cocktail dress" so people didn't feel too pressured to wear a long dress.

I'd say an LBD type dress would be ideal if you can find one and you can wear your silver shoes esp if dresd has some silver trim

A crochet dress could be really cool. If you get a black midi/knee length slip and crotchet in black fine yarn (the non fluffy kind) that would look awesome.

Depends on your budget but you're normally a hippy tie dye person I'd look somewhere like monsoon

I quite like this to go with silver shoes with a hippy vibe?

https://uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/ukcatalog/monn1,mon1.2/5413450108

I like that dress spugzbunny sadly I don't think it will love my body!

I'll have a look in Monsoon.

That's a nice dress Racecardriver but not available in my size

www.johnlewis.com/fenn-wright-manson-courtney-dress-black/p3775156

This?

www.johnlewis.com/jolie-moi-lace-bodice-pleated-dress/black/p3499088?size=18

Or this?

Would I get away with this do you think? With shoes rather than boots?

I like the first one fringe as I would prefer my arms covered . They don't have it in my size but it's given me an idea of what I would like. I trailed thorugh John Lewis site but didn't see that one

No way to that pink one, sorry.

The black with the pleat skirt is fine (but don't wear a white bra under it like the model). Wallis do loads of simple and good value dresses.