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.

Got mine from tkmaxx for 70p before lockdown, just need a do now

The title was a bit pretentious sounding lol! Maybe call it an evening dress or long dress next time.

A bridal shop with a good selection of bridesmaid's dresses would be best I reckon. I can't see the smaller, independent-type boutique would hold much in the way of stock.

Now all I want is to go to a NYE ball!

I love the idea that I might need to buy a NYE ballgown

Maybe I should organize a ball for mumsnetters

I know you don't want to shop online but I'm the total opposite, I love trying on at home with the right shoes/bags/time to mess with my hair etc.

Trying on in a dressing room is horrible, the lighting, the lack of space, the fear that someone is going to rip the curtain open 🤣🤣

@EvilRingahBitch

I realise that my opinion is biased because I'm a Londoner but the sheer faff of going backwards and forwards to the post office with ball dresses for weeks on end would do my head in. Bridesmaid section of wedding dress shops is worth a try.

I wasn't looking for a ballgown but for a fabulous dress for a special occasion and I did this 5 times with dresses from Erdem and Matches.com and still didn't find what I wanted. At one point I had almost £6,000 out on credit/ debit cards. It was all refunded but it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Have you tried your local charity shop?

I volunteer in a very small shop and we have got loads upstairs. I am sure if you talked nicely to the staff they would bring some down in your size.
Average price about £6!

Have you tried an Asian wedding shop? I was shopping the other day in town (multicultural area, North, not posh)

^

North?? Not posh??

I'm having the same problem, although mine is for a formal dinner in January. I have kept several old ones which DD's try on every now and again, (apparently the one with lots of beads makes me look like a haddock...) but none of them feel right for the occasion.

I'm going to look on the Oxfam website, brilliant idea!

Bicester Designer Village used to be great for formal wear/posh frocks.

(I haven't been for years though, so I may have changed)

Have you tried charity shops. I work in one and we have done lovely ones in including brand new from corporate donors

Marks have great sequins this year. Do you have a black silk evening skirt?
I have bought loads of evening wear this year as i have a glamorous job. Hope fasion have taffeta skirts. I buy second hand designer wear off fleebay. If you are nornal size you are laughing. If you are seriously posh go to the Queen's dressmaker, Stewart Parvin. Might have something.

Next you will be saying you try to do what you can to save the planet!! Wear a frock that you already have. Nobody will notice. Although with some of your replies I think you are taking the p**s...

Buy? I was assuming my fairy godmother would appear with the ball gown and the glass slippers…

Ahhh what a nice problem to have

Can you order several for delivery to the shop, try them on in the fitting room, and sort out returns there and then? I've done that in Next and M&S (though for rather more mundane things like boots, not ball gowns!)

Don't bother the ball will probably be cancelled , unless of course your are going with Boris & co.

Coast, quiz, charity shops?

I tried this on in London last week in a Chelsea boutique. It is heaven!

www.thandth.com/gowns/aurora-in-ombre

[quote bestseason]I tried this on in London last week in a Chelsea boutique. It is heaven!

www.thandth.com/gowns/aurora-in-ombre[/quote]
That's so lovely! I wish I had a reason to need it. I'd feel like I needed a man so I could kick up my leg when we kissed in Genovia!