What to wear to a charity ball?

[Newmum102]

I’ve been invited to a charity ball in a few weeks time and I have no idea what to wear? Do I go long? Or can I go mid length?

Size 10/12 5ft5 in height. I’ve tried on a few long dresses and they are just too long and I just don’t feel like me in them?

I’ve seen a few dresses online and just not sure if they would be appropriate or not? I love the one shoulder style, but I just have no idea.

I love this one but not sure it’s quite the right dress for this occasion

They're really nice. But I think maxi is safer for a "ball"
Unless it's an annual thing and you can find photos online or someone who's been before. You can get away with a maxi if everyone else in knee length but vice versa you'd stick out more.
There are lots of one shoulder maxis online

Good shout! Quick look at the phots about 80/20 in favour of longer styles.
Ah the search continues

I go to quite a few charity balls and rarely wear long because I’m short and long swamps me. Also my legs are my best and slimmest feature so I don’t want to hide them. I’ve never felt out of place or underdressed. As long as your hair and makeup look ‘done’ and groomed and you don’t have too much skin showing I think cocktail length or midi dresses are perfect. In fact unless you have the height and figure of a supermodel I think long can sometimes look a bit elderly.

If you are absolutely sold on long a young colleague has just ordered this. It was not expensive and it looked stunning on her. Sadly she has decided it’s too much for our office party so she is returning it but it might be formal enough for your ball,without looking too much.

www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-one-shoulder-tulle-maxi-dress/prd/12892586?clr=oxblood&colourWayId=16468717&SearchQuery=&cid=8857

Not sold on long at all, I feel like I’m playing dress up. Main reason why I’m finding it so hard to settle on something.
Hair & makeup will be done, it’s just the dress I’ve to organise.

We go to an annual charity ball in December and I have to say anyone not in a long dress really stands out - you can count them on one hand and I'll guarantee it's people who've never been before.

Same for the men who turn up in a normal suit, shirt and tie.

I don't like spending too much so I've had some nice dresses from Lipsy for about £70 to £100 and I pay £20 to get them altered (shortened).

About 6 years ago we started getting invited to a big charity ball in Liverpool. I ummed and ahhed over wearing a long dress but on the night I was so glad I did as there was hardly anyone in shorter cocktail dresses.

Try Phase Eight, Next or Asos if you don't want anything too spendy.

Perhaps it’s a North/south divide thing. The functions I attend are London/SE and cocktail dresses are more common than full length. Where is your ball OP?

For a 'ball' the dress code is usually black tie for men (unless it's white tie, but that would be very clear on the invitation), and long for women. Doesn't have to be massive cinderella dress btw, can be quite slinky.

A cocktail party or evening party not marketed as a 'ball' would be the place for a shorter dress.

How about long, but with a split or one of those ones which is short at the front, but long at the back?

I also hate dressing up in formal type stuff. I don't mind going glam for a night out or whatever, but the minute it's a formal dress code, I just shudder as I always feel a twat in dressy dress clothes.

www.silkfred.com/boutiques/goddiva/clothing/one-shoulder-high-leg-maxi-dress-in-navy?locale=en-GB&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq97uBRCwARIsADTziyYObwuUuNST7ajVFOMoUcypJ9AO27MQAsUsEdMLH-0yAtiJAQY8PIIaAsMWEALw_wcB

www.foreverunique.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/33861/s/emerald-green-one-shoulder-maxi-dress-with-thigh-split/category/854/?country=uk&fo_c=2920&fo_k=8ea20a0f660be6f666b27b9c8afd4341&fo_s=gplauk&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq97uBRCwARIsADTziybIj2zlakFjMZ4u3S76deOAqMT_X7kLVskqHEU5RLir3FjBd5rBsmAaApEnEALw_wcB#183=12

www.silkfred.com/boutiques/liena/clothing/navy-one-shoulder-maxi-dress-with-side-gather?locale=en-GB&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq97uBRCwARIsADTziyZWAKMbzw6jufxLbZvWdRDk6CQmIYYf-XF7TGvVG6edjJHjCO4AAdIaAlSLEALw_wcB

I have had dresses taken up.
Phase eight also have petit lengths.

It’s in Aberdeen and it’s classed as a ball with a lot of Oil Company backers.

The ones with the split, I love especially the green. Would that sort of split be ok, as I’ve seen a few I like and I just didn’t know if they were appropriate or not.

I bloody hate fancy things like this, as I never know what to wear.

How about a dip hem / hi-lo dress like these:

www.chichiclothing.com/dip-hem-dresses/

I wore one like this to a ball in the summer (I’m short so most maxi dresses are far too long for me). Didn’t look out of place amongst the long dresses.

I go to a lot of charity balls , and there are all sorts of outfits , more and more women wear short dresses and even jumpsuits . That outfit will be fine

Cross posted. The thigh split dresses are fine for a ball I reckon. On the racy end of the scale but fine. Especially the green one as the split’s not too high.