Will this do for black tie

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Hi, I have been invited to attend a black tie work function with my husband next month. Nice hotel, corporate business event.
Not something I would ever usually do, so don’t want to waste money on a dress . I found this Karen Millen dress in a charity shop a coupe of years ago For a few quid, and it’s been sat in the wardrobe ever since. Will this be acceptable or do I need to go buy a gown? I really don’t want to show my husband up by looking less groomed than the other plus ones. Thanks in advance.

No, I don't think so. It looks quite casual. I think you need at least a cocktail dress, it doesn't have to be expensive. Just a plain black dress dressed up with nice shoes and jewellery.

I wouldn’t say that was dressy enough for a black tie event.
Second hand is not a bad plan though. You know you can hire dresses now as well but it may not save you a lot of money.

Looks to casual for black tie sorry

No
it is summer drinks at local pub with family

You don’t need a gown - you could do “cocktail” instead, but I agree this looks far too casual.

I don’t think so. I reckon you could find an occasion dress on vinted or eBay that would be more suitable. I sold a full length Coast dress for £20 so you don’t have to pay a fortune.

Thanks everyone , you’ve reinforced what I thought. Guess I will have to hit the shops tomorrow, I hate clothes shopping so much!

Why do you have to ‘hit the shops’ when you could order something online? Assuming you have time for things to be delivered? There’s far more choice online and you might find a bargain. As long as you know your own measurements and only shop from sites that give full descriptions and visual details of clothes.

Besides which you have the full force of MN S&B to assist in your search …

You have a great figure OP so I'm sure you won't struggle to find something. If you have time I'd suggest trawling Vinted as there are bound to be lots of formal dresses on there they've only been worn once or twice.

I personally wouldn't bother hitting the shops unless it's to get ideas, they've been hot and miss for ages. Have a look on Vinted and even eBay.

Why don't you rent a fabulous dress you'll never wear again? What a great opportunity !

Agree - I have two for sale.

A black tie corporate work event isn't the same as say a black tie charity event or a black tie arts related event.

A full on fabulous dress you'll never wear again dress may well be OTT. The dress you're considering wouldn't have raised any eyebrows at the last one I was at.

The OP hasn’t specified a budget - but if she’s prepared to wear a charity shop Summer dress she might not want to spend the amount necessary to hire a spectacular frock. And it might not be that sort of event.

But she deserves a new frock! Appropriate to the season and event.

Black tie can be really difficult for women.

Men can wear the same dinner jacket, bow tie and dress shirt time after time and it does all "black tie" from the Association of Master Widget Makers' Annual Awards on a Wednesday night through to say, the something like the Booker awards, or a high falurin' arts charity gala and everything else until they hit the next specific dress code.

Whereas for women there are nuances where for some events almost any dress that isn't made of denim will be fine and full on red carpet stuff would be OTT, through to red carpet style.