Could you do Black Tie at less than a fortnight’s notice ?

[BikeRunSki]

Last week I was told by work that I could, in fact should, go to the industry awards ceremony that we were initially told we could not attend (public austerity).

I am not high maintenance at all and my wardrobe is largely outdoor wear, denim, fleece and hi vis (I’m in the construction industry), with a couple of smarter office outfits. Days in the office were rare enough before lockdown, since I spend most of my working time on construction sites. I do have a beautiful black tie dress, but it’s more than 20 years old, and despite being bias cut, it really doesn’t fit very well after 2 dc and lockdown!!

It’s been a bonkers week of ordering and returning dresses, bra fittings, realising that there appears to be global shortage of nylon tights and cursing my size 9 feet.

My mother is horrified that I can’t do black tie at the drop of a hat. Could you?

Yep, I go to construction black tie events. Ive got a few long dresses in my wardrobe. I’ve always ordered about 10 dresses from Very, formal long ones then send 9 (sometimes 8) back. Never had an issue.

Shoes - look at next on line, loads of size 9 shoes. LK Bennett if budget allows or other options.

@Coogee

I could do it with a few hours notice.

Me too. But I never throw out "special occasion" clothes so my closet is bulging

At the drop of a hat! I have a 3 foot wardrobe of formal evening/wedding/posh do wear because we do a lot due to DH's job and his interests and those of our friends.

Not sure about the size 9 shoes - will have a quick Google. I think there must be a huge market now due to the number of people transitioning.

Yes, but only because I've stayed the same size or a bit thinner forever. I could do any event with 24 hours notice I think, and I live in a very small town

Nope.

I'd be OK for shoes and jewellery but not for a dress. I'm assuming black tie would be full length though. If it doesn't I have a lovely dress I got for a wedding. I'd have to practise walking in heels though.

Long Tall Sally is still about and has some nice flats and dressier shoes in size 9 and in 3 widths.

I could (have a wedding coming up in a couple of weeks) but I agree that clothes sizing is ridiculous. I needed to order 3 sizes of each as sizes vary so much.
it's so inconsistent.
weirdly I find cheap places almost better for my size, they serm to cater better for mum-tum.

Just to say, full length dresses are rarely worn except to something on par with a Ball and not always then. Increasingly, people wear silk trousers and a beaded or otherwise dressy wrap top or a beaded top under a silk or velvet jacket.

I’ve only got two dresses, one is flowery so more wedding appropriate. The other is a brown ‘Galaxy’ style dress which would have to do, it’s also suitable as formal workwear, although it falls just below the knee. I’ve never owned a ‘ball gown’. I have some gold heels that go with both.

Op regarding shoes - Magnus, Crispins and Cinderella all do shoes size 9 and up.

I’m a uk size 10 and never have trouble finding what I need.

Yes I could. I've been to a number of Masonic Lodge Ladies Nights which are always black tie and also formal nights on cruises so I've got appropriate dresses (long and short) with shoes and accessories.

Yip but only because I had 10 years of working at a city firm where I needed back tie outfits, I always bought classic non trendy stuff, and I’ve been the same size and weight since age 30. My DH wears the same dinner jacket from university (25 years ago) though he did spring for a fancy new tuxedo shirt last year!

I also have funny feet.
'only' size 7 but wide.
for a new outfit I buy shoes first and dress after...

I have in the past had 24 hours notice to an event that was 'cocktail' rather than black tie. I had a NEXT next day delivery to the office which luckily arrived in time!

@Decaffe

I could do it for midday!

Me too!

Military spouse so I have shoes, dress, wrap and handbag ready to go at a moments notice!

I have semi permanent eye make up so would just need to slap on a bit of extra eye shadow and lipstick. Hair is a bob so I just run straighteners through it if I'm being fancy!

I miss black tie dinners and dancing.

I could do black tie this evening as long as no one looked too closely at my shoes!

This is the dress I’ve got. It fits well, and I feel smart but not too out there in it. I’m 50 and flabby, I don’t want loads of flesh on display, improve the chiffon arms, and my décolletage is actually one of my best bits. (Fair skin, matyr to shade and sunscreen all my life)Given than my starting point , even for work is jeans/fleece, my comfort zone is pretty far stretched. Dd (10) says it says “I’m here to win and I am having a great time”. DH says it’s memorable!! (???). The construction industry is not known for couture! I’ve looked at the photos of previous events, abs it seems fine. At previous events there were only about 10% women, of which only about 10% seem to be in floor length dresses.

Other big footed friend has lent me some black, low heeled, low toe courts, with patent toes. I know where to get big shoes, but sorting it out at short notice, and ordering sizes 8/9/10 because there is no standardisation, and finding the right style was one thing I am happy not to do right now, since the borrowed shoes are perfect.

I also found a fabulous grey velvet biker jacket, which I will wear too. It’s completely different style, but I love it, it’s pretty smart on its own, and if this weather continues I won’t need it anyway!

I think that's lovely.
and the velvet biker jacket sounds good as well.

@BikeRunSki. Not sure if someone has suggested this already, but for shoes, take a look at men’s opera pumps.

Bound to come in your size, and as a fellow muddy boot wearing professional Ivan say they are easy on feet that aren’t used to anything more delicate.

arthursleepers.co.uk/store/men/classic-slippers/opera-pumps/

These are ££££ but that shop has the best range and will give you an idea of what is available. There are loads more reasonably priced ones about if you hunt around.

I’ve attended similar awards do‘s, that dress will fit in nicely. After a couple of last minute invites to this kind of thing pre—COVID, I did swear to myself I’m going to rock a tux to the next one I’m invited to.

Predictably, haven’t had an invite since!

Enjoy. And if you team is up for an award…. Good luck.

• I can

Dunno who Ivan is

Hope he likes shoes.

That's a great dress, OP. Where did you find it?

Probably but I would be stuck what to wear! I have this lurking in my wardrobe because it was reduced from £120 to £19 and well, it is black and glittery so I couldn't resist

Shoe options:

ottoandivy.com/collections/all/products/emilia-flat-gold also has heels if you prefer

ottoandivy.com/collections/all/products/evangeline-court-grey-silver

www.elliedickinsshoes.co.uk/collections/slingbacks/products/slingback-in-hi-shine-leather

I take a EU43 (proper size 9) so can recommend both these brands personally

Yes I could do white tie, black tie and cocktail at a drop of a hat. But only because I've attended those functions before and my weight doesn't fluctuate. Yes it would be a "repeat" dress but I don't care 🤣

Yeah I could do black tie without notice. I'm not at events all the time but the companies I work for typically do black tie Christmas parties so I have a couple of dresses.

One general question - I always understood black tie to mean knee length/cocktail dresses. Long dresses go with white tie. I know in practice not one thinks anything if you wear a long gown to a black tie as long as it's not full ballgown, but was "black tie means shorter dresses" ever a thing or did I just make it up?