Black-tie Dinner

[blacktiedupinknots]

I've been invited to a black tie dinner with work colleagues. It's an awards dinner so professional networking affair.

Do you guys think this Reiss ('Harlyn') dress is appropriate?

https://www.otrium.co.uk/product/harlyn-ls-plunge-jersey-m-black-black?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl6TYkofzAIVG-rtCh1CC[[https://www.otrium.co.uk/product/harlyn-ls-plunge-jersey-m-black-black?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl6TYkofz_AIVG-rtCh1C_wofEAQYASABEgLoWvD_BwE wofEAQYASABEgLoWvDBwE
]]
I like it, but am slightly concerned about the plunge neckline - would you guys wear this around work colleagues to a fancy dinner?

I wanted to stick to floor length, and ideally black / not too OTT. Would like to look nice, classy, stylish / not too frumpy.

I think it depends on how much boobage you have. It could look sleek and elegant if you are minimal up front, but an eye catcher if you are well endowed. Either way I would use that tale stuff to ensure you dont have to worry about leaning over to pick up your serviette from the floor! The leg slit is also pretty significant!

It’s okay. Bit boring. (Reminds me of the anonymous looking outfits worn by the ushers at the Oscars.)

Would I wear it? (There are no ‘you guys’ here - I’m not consulting any other MN poster before offering my opinion!) Probably not, because I’d want something more directional and individual.

Should you wear it? If it’s flattering to body and spirit, and makes you feel great, no reason why not.

But black tie really doesn’t have to mean black and floor length. Unless the custom of your occupation demands it, you could probably find something more fun.

You did notice the slit right?? Not what I've worn to black tie before less slit less cleavage

I like it if it looks like it does on the model.

Especially if this is a professional setting. Have some class.

It is nice.

You get all sorts at awards dinners and you really don’t need to spend loads - added a dress to my collection for this years events for £39. A colleagues dress last year was £13 from the sale at New Look! Beautiful.

Have any other colleagues been before? I've been to far too many of these - some go full glamour, some are little more than glammed up work clothes depending on the industry. Or check out previous social media posts of the event.

That dress could be a good bet, depending on boobage as a PP said. But I'd start with scoping out the event itself and what the 'norms' are.

You can always jazz it up and fill in some of the deep v with a big chunky necklace? I think it’s fine, agree with pp that it does kind of depend on your amount of boob age though, and tape is a definite must!

I think it looks OK stood up....
I'd worry about how it would work sat down - with that thigh split catching on the table cloth and less than ram rod posture revealing far too much up top. Are you there to impress or purely to enjoy. If there's any impressing needed I'd go for a safer option in terms of dress features - but if you have the figure to carry off this dress I'd get something more interesting.

The OP said she wanted to look ‘classy’ - now she’s supposed to leave the house in a slightly basic black dress, cut down to here, and slit up to there, topped with a huge chunky necklace …

Comedy awards, perhaps?

OP’s found a dress that she likes the look of and is presumably both in her budget and that she would feel comfortable in. Considering the partners of some of my younger colleagues have turned up to black tie events in spaghetti strapped cotton pastel frocks which stop just below their bum cheeks when the rest of us have been in floor length sparkly evening gowns and nothing’s been said, it’s unlikely to be an issue.

OP your best bet is to have this conversation with female work colleagues if you can - it helps to see what each other is thinking of wearing.

I think it's too much, OP. This breaks the old but solid rule of 'legs or boobs' and I'm afraid it is the opposite of classy. A work awards event is still work to some extent.

This

I think there are plenty of dresses out there that show less flesh than that one. Even if you have the physique of a model, I'm not sure it's necessary. A slightly higher neckline and a slightly lower slit would be fine though.

Maybe give your height and size and you'll get some other suggestions.

Thanks all.

I did notice the split, however I thought it looked bad because the model is specifically sticking her leg out! The next pic shows it looking much more normal / less leggy 😂 Agree I'd need to see it in reality though and possibly think about sitting down to dinner.

I don't have mega boobs, a small C cup, and I'm size 10-12, 5'5". No female colleagues attending, so not really anyone to run things past!

I went to one black tie awards dinner previously (same industry but not the same awards) and it was a mix of cocktail dresses and maxi dresses. I wore a cocktail dress but felt I should have been in floor length. It was a mix of "dressiness" though.

I'm not looking for super 'striking', which is why I was looking at black, but I do want to look un-mumsy.

Any other suggestions would be v. welcome.

Maybe I should do this a different way - I'm keen to wear something floor length, and black (or at least dark), so that I can wear it again to similar do's!

I would ideally like it to have a bit of a twist, so it's not totally plain. I have a toddler at home and feel I've lost my style a bit - I think that's why I quite liked the deep V neck, it was something I'd have liked 'pre-mum'! but appreciate the consensus seems to be that that is not a classy dress.

I'm aged 34, 5'5", size 10-12, B/C cup.

Anyone have any suggestions of where to look or dress ideas?

@Gruelle, you sound like you wouldn't choose a black dress, and have more style confidence than me! What would you wear? I'm not keen on being overly striking, which maybe you are - but I'd like to think I'm open to being a bit more fun!

Ha! It’s a good question. To be completely honest I dislike most long ‘black tie event’ dresses - they seem to disempower women by focussing on exactly the aspects of our existence that are problematic in day to day life. There’s something so dissonant in the stricture that the garment must have enough material to reach the floor, and yet at the same time display as much tits and bum and anything else as possible. Add to that the 97 hours up close with a make up artist. It’s … grim.

If I had to, and could sell a dispensable family member, I’d probably choose something by Melitta Baumeister. There was a yellow dress, a few years ago … Absolute heaven. And I do quite like this wonderful white egg confection.

In the real world … I’m still looking! It doesn’t seem to be the best time for evening wear - there’s so much tail end of the sale stuff that no one wants still cluttering up websites. But I’d say only wear full length if you can find something that actually makes you look fabulous - something short and snappy would make a good impression more easily.

In my industry (quite traditional), this would be much too much. Work black tie is tricky as for women black tie is so often about looking sexy by showing flesh and that's not necessarily how you want to present to work colleagues (or maybe you do- obviously personal choice and industry-dependent).

I think I'd be worried that it would be a bit cheap looking when it arrived at that price.

If you want something a bit like that, have you considered wideleg evening trousers and a v neck top either same colour or contrasting that you can glam up with heels and jewellery?

I'm a musician so have loads of "long black" (much picked up off eBay) and usually would wear some of that for a black tie social do, possibly with a coloured top.

@Gruelle I love these!! The yellow is my fave. But yes, likely outwith price range and also a bit too striking for the professional work event in question. Guess I'll keep looking!

@DietCroak I feel like the options are either sexy black tie or bridesmaid black tie? There doesn't seem to be a professional, sophisticated black tie category in the shops!

Here’s a random selection, mostly from Net-a-Porter. (Tap to see prices.) Obviously if you are expected to wear black, or something sober, it’s a different matter.

Sober but lovely, 3 views.

I think it's fine, OP. Slightly basic, yes, but you can wear beautiful accessories to set it off (I wouldn't wear a chunky necklace, though!) If you're smaller-chested, like me, it's not going to be overt or hugely revealing. The slit seems to be off to one side, rather than central, so I don't think you're likely to be flashing your pants and, as above the knee generally isn't acceptable for black tie, I'd rather wear a long dress with a slit than a mini.

Here’s the Beare Park site. (I’d never heard of then until a couple of hours ago!) Nicely grown up, contemporary frocks …

It depends on your body type. If you're curvy I'd say no. I wouldnt feel comfortable wearing this with colleagues