Is this ok for an awards ceremony?

[Woahtherehoney]

Hi all, some advice needed please.

I’ve been invited to an awards ceremony at work - the dress code is ‘dress to impress’ and it’s at a ballroom. It’s not an actual ball and my workplace is corporate but more like casual corporate if that makes any sense at all!

it’s definitely not as formal as black tie and so I’m struggling a bit with what to wear. I feel very meh about myself at the moment and was wondering if something like this might be ok? I’m 5ft6 and a 14-16.

I don’t have a huge budget (ideally under £50 which this is)

Goodness no, this recycled polyester one I’d wear to an events at a push

https://joanieclothing.com/gaia-v-neckline-midaxi-dress-black.html

To be fair to the person suggesting Joanie, I think you've linked a few pages in and it's thrown up a bit of a random selection! If you go to the party stuff there's actually some really nice options, like the velvet jumpsuit! https://joanieclothing.com/the-edit/party-time.html

Goodness no, this recycled polyester one I’d wear to an events at a push
Oh yes, I'd filtered by 'blue'.

Honestly that’s quite bad, the material looks thin and cheap. As do most on the page, I reckon it’s just a niche taste.

I go to a few awards ceremonies each year with work, one is black tie and more formal, the other is similar but slightly more laid back. I'd say your outfit would work for either. There's always a few women in very fancy gowns but most are wearing fairly normal "going out" clothes.

That black jumpsuit with some nice heels, clutch bag, make-up and hair done nicely would be perfect. If you want any other ideas I usually go hunting through the Coast and Oasis sale sections. Lots of dresses under £50 in there.

Frumpy is a very silly word but if I were to use , your selections are beyond frumpy. It's as if throwing a bit of glitter around makes those tacky outfits glamourous. It doesn't.

Oh for goodness sake @NatashaDancing this thread is being derailed by you and your pique. This is hardly supportive to the OP and her original choice.

I think it's very hard to find this type of dress on a budget, but M and S does seem to have the "least worst" options. This? https://www.marksandspencer.com/velvet-v-neck-midi-tea-dress/p/clp60624153?color=BLACK#intid=carousel_FUNH_AT_PHOENIX-SIMILAR-PERSONALISED_END_PDP_15_5:d8c8c008-2b51-4a7f-9486-dba2ab9cf569

Agreed and those joanie dresses are overpriced, over patterned and hideous. Eco or not!

😂😂

I like it.

@Woahtherehoney I would get a great clutch bag - did see a great one on an evening out but think it was ostrich feather 😳but you can get some fake ones too.

I've been to lots of awards ceremonies and corporate events. You'd stand out in a Joanie dress alright - for the wrong reasons

Those Joanie dresses are absolutely perfect if you want to cosplay as a sofa and absolutely hideous for any other purpose.

Oh @NatashaDancing read the room! I do agree frumpy is a very silly word (open to your suggestion of an alternative?) but totally appropriate in this instance when all other words failed me. I did not want to mention specific groups that I thought the dress may be suitable for (if indeed there are any) as I did not want to be mean to anybody, you clearly don't care as evidenced by your dismissive, condescending and frankly nasty comments regarding the OP's choices, Asda clothing and sequins in general (of which the latter has wounded me deeply 😂)

Not for OP- way over budget- but am just sharing this which I adore for anyone else looking for a party/awards dress, shared by another poster. I hate sequins usually, but loved this. https://www.east.co.uk/products/brogan-black-velvet-dress . I like a lot of stuff on East lately, but expensive, of course.

Op - I've been to a fair few awards ceremonies. Your outfit is great for a work/business event, and I see trousers in various forms quite a lot. Personally, I'd get the same sort of thing but in two pieces, because I hate battling jumpsuits in toilet cubicles. 😂
Be brave with your jewellery, go dangly, big and bling. You'll look fabulous.

Frumpy is a great word! My mum would have said ‘stoaty’.

I like your outfit OP.

Frumpy is a very silly word but if I were to use , your selections are beyond frumpy. It's as if throwing a bit of glitter around makes those tacky outfits glamourous. It doesn't.

Stop being so absolutely horrid and dismissive on S&B.

You have the entire of the rest of the site for that .

Joanie is an awful idea for an award ceremony. I'm so over that kind of look anyway personally. Your outfit is great, OP.

Those Joannie dresses are something like a desperate mum would wear to school sports day. Stick with your original outfit OP.

Those Joanne dresses are absolutely NOT award ceremony material.
Your choice is much better op .

Ha I'm flouncing about in a Joanie dress today. Tbf I do look a bit like a 70s carpet. However, personally I think I look pretty good and I do get a lot of compliments on how I dress. I think maybe some of the revulsion is a bit unnecessary. But world would be dull if we all liked the same things.

That said, I probably wouldn't wear this to an awards ceremony.

Disclaimer: I am not a geography teacher and it is not sports day.

@NatashaDancing clearly has shares in, or works for Joanie. Sorry, but the outfits on there are outdated, out of style and not suitable for the event you are going to, OP.

I like your outfit choice a lot. Lovely and dress without being too in your face, and you are likely able to re-wear at some stage, which is of course a bonus!

I kind of like some of the Joanie dresses, but I suspect they only look good on a certain type of person with a particular "look." Not me. I would look like an overstuffed sofa. Boy, they look comfy though. I might wear them for WFH. Not for an event.