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Sleepinggreyhounds · 28/04/2023 13:02

Am I the only one that imagines that dress should be accessorized with a pile of fruit on your head a la Carmen Miranda (there's a reason I rarely frequent style and beauty)?

Doggymummar · 28/04/2023 13:04

IhearyouClemFandango · 28/04/2023 12:03

Tough one. It is a formal dinner at the end of a conference. Have yet to see the invitation to see what the specified dress code is, but DH tells me that last year (I couldn't go as babysitter fell ill) there was a mixture of what I would class as cocktail dresses (shorter) and black tie type floor lengths. He wore a dinner jacket from memory.

I had wondered about this dress styled in a similar way to the pics with unusual earrings etc...a bit younger and fresher than traditional evening wear.

I am also wondering whether I am just looking for an excuse to buy it cause I love it, so am shoehorning it into this event. 😄

At the other end of the spectrum I have also seen these (am a size 18 hence the plus size):

https://goddiva.co.uk/products/goddiva-bardot-pleated-maxi-dress-royal-blue-1

https://goddiva.co.uk/products/goddiva-plus-sequin-mesh-embroidered-maxi-dress-emerald

https://goddiva.co.uk/products/goddiva-plus-velvet-band-sequin-bodice-maxi-emerald

As you can see, I am a little hectic in my likes/dislikes.

These are more what I would envisage for a cocktail party, which is usually just an hour before dinner and would also see you through the dinner as well. If it were going in to an awards ceremony I would go maxi or floor length

wincarwoo · 28/04/2023 13:29

LilylilyDaisy · 28/04/2023 12:52

It's too casual for a cocktail party in the usual sense of the phrase. Unless it's very definitely a very boho, creative kind of crowd.

Cocktail dress is generally a shorter dress (midi to knee to mini all fine, but not long) and made a fabric and in a style that you wouldn't go to the beach in.

Does anyone follow these rules any more?

UsingChangeofName · 28/04/2023 13:35

Does anyone follow these rules any more?

Well, from what the OP's dh has said about what people wore last year, then yes.
The fact you have said it is a dinner jacket occasion, followed by dinner makes the first dress even more of a 'no'

YouNeverSeeTheRealMe · 28/04/2023 13:37

It's more of a picnic in the park kind of dress, not for a cocktail party

Original poster
IhearyouClemFandango · 28/04/2023 13:39

Maybe I'll have to find a picnic in the park to go to as well 😆

Funnily enough, the invitation arrived today and is coded as black tie.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 28/04/2023 13:45

Yes, though not a colour I'd wear.

LilylilyDaisy · 28/04/2023 14:20

wincarwoo · 28/04/2023 13:29

Does anyone follow these rules any more?

Show quote history

For an occasion involving a huge group of corporate people such as this then yes they do. Not sure why that would be surprising. If there's a dress code specified then people generally follow it rather than ignore it. OP's DH told her that dinner jackets were worn at the last one which kinds of underlines that people are likely to be following the dress code at this event at least.

OP why not look up the event online to see if there's any pics posted on social media etc of the last event, it might be helpful in giving you more of an idea?

Blossomtoes · 28/04/2023 14:48

IhearyouClemFandango · 28/04/2023 13:39

Maybe I'll have to find a picnic in the park to go to as well 😆

Funnily enough, the invitation arrived today and is coded as black tie.

Please buy the green sparkly number you linked. It’s a knock out dress.

NatashaDancing · 28/04/2023 15:22

IhearyouClemFandango · 28/04/2023 13:39

Maybe I'll have to find a picnic in the park to go to as well 😆

Funnily enough, the invitation arrived today and is coded as black tie.

If it's coded as black tie your Monsoon dress isn't formal enough. Personally I think it's much, much nicer than any of the Godiva dresses, none of which I like and you might be better hiring an expensive dress than buying one of them.

BeverlyBrook · 29/04/2023 04:43

Do you know what? I'd wear it to the do. It is a totally gorgeous unusual dress! You will be the best dressed there.

Black tie is the mens dress code, and these days the women's dress code is more fluid.

Theos · 29/04/2023 04:48

No

Oblomov23 · 29/04/2023 06:39

No. Too casual. Hippy. Not cocktail suitable AT ALL.

Sandra1984 · 29/04/2023 07:50

This is the type of dress you can wear casual in a beach setting (flats no make up etc..) or dressy, for the latter to work you need to stylise properly, make up, fancy earrings, proper bag and proper shoes.

Sandra1984 · 29/04/2023 07:54

IhearyouClemFandango · 28/04/2023 13:39

Maybe I'll have to find a picnic in the park to go to as well 😆

Funnily enough, the invitation arrived today and is coded as black tie.

sorry just read this. If it's coded as "black tie" I would defo not wear this dress as it's too hippie (more appropriate for a millennial start up company cocktail), I would wear something more "office fancy professional" like a conservative and pretty well tailored dress, or pencil skirt with designer bag.

TolkiensFallow · 29/04/2023 07:59

Depends, is it a chilled evening with mates at someone’s house having cocktails or a bar that sells cocktails? If so you can wear it.

but if it’s a formal cocktail party then no

AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 29/04/2023 08:18

I liked the blue floor length best out of the 'black tie' dresses.

I think you'd look too much like a Christmas tree in the green ones. Royal blue is a knockout colour and the lines on that dress are beautiful 🙂

Blossomtoes · 29/04/2023 08:35

I would wear something more "office fancy professional" like a conservative and pretty well tailored dress, or pencil skirt with designer bag.

In which case you’d be very under dressed. Black tie means an evening dress, preferably floor length but anything knee length or longer is acceptable now.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 29/04/2023 09:07

The model is maybe an 8? Expanded I think it would be rather overwhelming.

anyway, your query is answered , if it is black tie, you would stand out and not in a good way.

( I’m expanded too so not being snippy).

AnnaMagnani · 29/04/2023 09:13

For the conference parties I've been to, most women want to get out the satin and sequins.

For the one's DH goes to, it's jeans and a T-shirt.

So I think it varies a lot depending on your work.

Blossomtoes · 29/04/2023 09:25

AnnaMagnani · 29/04/2023 09:13

For the conference parties I've been to, most women want to get out the satin and sequins.

For the one's DH goes to, it's jeans and a T-shirt.

So I think it varies a lot depending on your work.

The invitation says black tie.

NatashaDancing · 29/04/2023 09:46

Blossomtoes · 29/04/2023 08:35

I would wear something more "office fancy professional" like a conservative and pretty well tailored dress, or pencil skirt with designer bag.

In which case you’d be very under dressed. Black tie means an evening dress, preferably floor length but anything knee length or longer is acceptable now.

Again it depends - I attend a "black tie" event every year which is connected to the sector I work in. It's always on a Thursday evening - whilst the women are glitzy and dressed up almost nobody wears floor length evening dress.

NatashaDancing · 29/04/2023 09:51

And thinking of the specific work black tie event I referred to the first Monsoon dress, if dressed up with glitzy accessories would probably look better and be more in line with what most women wear to it than those (frankly godawful fuax red carpet) Godiva dresses.

BeverlyBrook · 29/04/2023 10:33

NatashaDancing this what I think to. Accessorised up you would look amazing. Hair done. Smashing

urbanbuddha · 29/04/2023 11:03

If it’s black tie

This?

or this

or this?