Where on the high street are you buying your New Year’s Eve ballgown?!

[sotty6]

John Lewis doesn’t stock full length evening dresses
My local Monsoons have closed
Debenhams has closed
House of Fraser has closed
TK maxx had no dresses in stock (used to have a whole rail full of options)

I’m close to three large cities and not a single shop sells full length evening dresses.

I don’t want to buy online!

It’s such a shame.

@LoveGrooveDanceParty

So off you go and do your online shopping to your heart’s content. No-one’s stopping you.

Oh, nearly forgot the ‘dear’.

Oh I already am it will be arriving next week.

You enjoy schlepping up the high street.

@sotty6 Quiz do bridesmaid type dresses. I'm not sure whether they'd be the type of thing that you're after but I remember that we'd just bought bridesmaids dresses for my sister's wedding (a fortune from the bridal shop) and then I saw some in Quiz that were quite similar and a quarter of the price!
They weren't as nice quality but they were still nice.

Might sound strange but you should try a charity shop in a fairly well to do area. I volunteer in one and we have loads of beautiful dresses that have probably been worn once.

Aah I think people are responding to the title which assumed this was a regular thing for MNers to be doing. I think people are being amused about their own plans rather than bitchy tbh.

The op didn't ask for help/advice, but asked where we are buying our ball gowns. It's a bit like a dinner party I went to once and the v lovely but frightfully posh woman next to me asked the table "where does everyone summer?"

The Outnet but that’s online.

@Worldgonecrazy

Have you got a branch of All Good Things near you?

Was just coming on to suggest that shop! I walked past it this evening and they had full length sparkly dresses in the window. There's one in Bristol and one in Merry Hill, West Midlands.

@ShowOfHands

Aah I think people are responding to the title which assumed this was a regular thing for MNers to be doing. I think people are being amused about their own plans rather than bitchy tbh.

The op didn't ask for help/advice, but asked where we are buying our ball gowns. It's a bit like a dinner party I went to once and the v lovely but frightfully posh woman next to me asked the table "where does everyone summer?"

@ShowOfHands, that reminds me of Phoebe in Friends when she meets Mike's parents!

You know what the complexity is...brexit. My housekeeper had to go to 6 different stores to find oysters and wagyu beef for supper last night. Between that and the lack of ballgowns im driven to distraction.

@habibihabibi Thank you for making me feel seriously foolish, I thought Riyadh was a posh town in Ireland and I googled incase there was a website ...

I volunteered and worked for two different charities btw Op and both were in a poor area but we still had beautiful gowns in stock, it's worth a punt. One was silver satin and absolutely gorgeous, they only wanted £40 and it was new with tags

I suppose it’s a bit late now, but next time, why not get something made for you. I tend to make my own clothes- it takes longer but I use really lovely fabrics (it’s not worth sewing polyester) and can fit as I go. Im in the middle of making up a vintage Vogue evening frock in silk taffeta for various parties coming up.

Maybe ask around on Facebook to see if there are recommendations for local dress makers.

But in the meantime, I think with John Lewis you can order some dresses and have them delivered to your local branch, try them on there and return those you don’t like. Maybe ask at your local Johnny Loulous?

Or make a trip to your nearest really big city: Birmingham, Edinburgh London? It could be fun!

Debehams online, Phase 8 or Hobbs.

I've bought this for NYE.

What about the shops that girls buy prom dresses from . Don't they do ball gowns ?

We have a local independent that is full of posh frocks (I think they hire too).

Sadly I have no need for a full length evening dress for NYE, more like pyjamas.

I want to wear a ball gown on NYE.

Have you tried Trouva? It may be online but they stock loads of independent shops and smaller labels.

And also to add: all the balls I’ve been to I wore a mix of long or mid calf length dresses. The style that really suits me is ballerina style top (I’m pretty flat chested with very toned arms) and a big full skirt with a cinched in waist. My favourite nice frock is in a gorgeous silk and the skirt is circular and gathered and very full (I know because I sewed the entire hem in a rolled method by hand) and it comes to just on my knee. But I also have a tulle petticoat that pouffes it out so it makes quite a “statement”. Together with some very nice formal jewellery (just semi-precious stones) it can look very formal.

Depending on your age and body type, could you look at prom dresses?

I commiserate about T K Maxx- my local one is abysmal for dresses. And T K Maxx used to be one of the good places to get unusual and nice quality proper frocks. Each branch has a different feel, I find. I always pop into the Birmingham one if I’m traveling through new street

@habibihabibi

On the outskirts of Riyadh there is the 'princess souq" where used ballgowns have a second life and can be bought for a few riyals.

Oh wow. That would be such fun to visit.

Debenhams online was what I used to get a ball gown for my SIL's wedding.

@ShowOfHands surely you summer in the Hamptons darling? 😜

Try a different branch of John Lewis as ours has them.

@LittleBearPad

A ball gown. Really?

There’s 628 full length evening dresses on the John Lewis website. That should give you enough options.

There are, indeed, plenty on the website. But none in store! I have been to three JLs now and no full length or evening wear dresses at all. I want to go into a store and try lots on!

@SallyWebsterr

You know what the complexity is...brexit. My housekeeper had to go to 6 different stores to find oysters and wagyu beef for supper last night. Between that and the lack of ballgowns im driven to distraction.

😂 I do sympathise darling!

@BusySittingDown

God, MN is so bitchy sometimes! Lots of hotels do Gala nights on NYE, where the dress code is black tie so many people wear long gowns. I've never been to one personally but people do!

OP, are you near a Selfridges? The one in the Trafford Centre has ballgowns, I think. Although online might be the best bet unfortunately. Otherwise, bridal shop.

Aha! Didn’t even think of Selfridges! Thank you.

@habibihabibi

Can you can nip over to Riyadh? There are hundreds of ballgown shops crammed with every imaginable variety . If nothing takes your fancy, there are absolute acres of beautiful fabric and tailors who will have one done in 24hrs.

Oh if only!