Can I wear this dress to a black tie event?

[Poseidensgrumpyneighbour]

https://www.oliverbonas.com/fashion/warped-animal-print-green-midi-dress-353373#selection.color=16

with black heels and black bag?

it’s not what I was after but I couldn’t find anything locally and this fitted well and the colour brightened me up but I now thing it might be a bit informal.

also, shoes: can’t find my sandals and it feels like an odd time of year to buy more so thought I’d rush off and get some closed toe shoes tomorrow after work. But I can only walk in low heels - any ideas?

thanks folks

I've ordered Reiss clothes from Next to collect from store and they (usually) arrive the following day. The green one is available in size 8 and the blue one in both sizes 6 and 8. I would order both, hopefully at least one will turn up and you can return the other. I'd go for lighter coloured shoes though - nude or silver/gold maybe? Good luck 👍🏼

This jumpsuit looks fabThis

@Poseidensgrumpyneighbour yes, ignore my second suggestion the first one is much better and a lovely green.

I’ve got the green dress! Brought it a few weeks ago for a wedding - it looks so good! Going to wear it with gold sandals

Love this but I look really washed out in both black and white 😞

i really like the green one! Clearly I’ve a bit of an obsession with green

Where did you find the gold sandals?!

The jumpsuit would be so good for a black tie event…..it’s a feline version of black tie. I’m pale but I just fake tan for special occasions and put lots of bronzer on

Gold sandals from Next. I’ve also got ones from Dune, Carvela, Aldo and LK Bennett (from all price ranges basically

Love theseSteve Madden at next

These are cute tooBit of fun

I hope you enjoy the event and feel gorgeous OP!

Both of your examples are pretty ordinary day dresses in not very nice quality
fabric. Most Oliver Bonas stuff is not very well cut and polyester. It’s cheaper to make dresses which are not fitted.

If you can’t afford to or don’t want to buy a decent evening dress (or get one made) you can rent or hire dresses, just as men do, who don’t have the lifestyle where they might need to wear black tie more than once a year ( that said, my father wore the morning suit he was married in and his dinner jacket for most of his life - tailor-made stuff fits and lasts!)

Have a lovely time, like the decision you have made.

Thanks @Smittenkitchen & @LlynTegid

@FarEast yes, I do know what you mean. Funny thing is, I hardly ever go to this kind of thing these days - I used to go to many more - but have ended up going to two in the space of a week. It's been a crazy week (lots of caring responsibilities for elderly mother plus kids and work and DH away) so I ended up wearing a jumpsuit for the event first event that didn't quite feel smart enough. Would like to have made more of an effort for this but there just wasn't time and, the honest truth is, I suspect no-one else there will care what I'm wearing. I'd just like to feel good.

I like the idea of having something made but I change my mind so often about what I like and what suits me that it probably wouldn't be practical. I did have a quick look at the range of rental dresses in Selfridges online but so many of them would require boob tape / special underwear of some kind and then I'd have to find shoes to keep up with the dress etc and it all feels like a bit of a racket for one night. Perhaps fancy events just aren't my thing.

I guess because I can sew, as long as I have enough notice (3 weekends) I can make whatever I need. But if you choose a really classic style (have a look at Vogue designer patterns from about 20 years ago or old Dior photos!) made in a luxury fabric - silk, basically - it won't date.

wow! That is an excellent skill to have :)

Black Tie Dress Code for Women: Attire & Style Guide (thetrendspotter.net)

I go to a lot of black tie events and I completely disagree with the majority: styled with good shoes and jewellery you could wear that dress, depending on where the event is.

People aren’t as formal as they used to be, I’ve noticed a lot of casual wear when I would expect formal wear to be worn. Anything goes it seems.

Really not. Too informal.