It's another black tie thread, sorry!

[FourStringsNoWaiting]

I have to attend an awards ceremony (work thing) in May, the ceremony includes drinks, canapés and a three course dinner. It's a black tie dress code

I'm not even really sure what 'black tie' means but I gather from other MN threads that for women it includes a floor length gown. I own nothing suitable.

My problems:

• I'm 4'10" so would need a floor length dress that doesn't make me look like I'm a child playing dress up in mummy's evening gown

• I'm currently a size 12, hoping to be down to a 6/8 by May. For my height 12 is pretty big so this is a factor in my choice of dress

• I'm on a tight budget, ideally under £100

This is going to be impossible isn't it

All of the charity shops have loads of evening/party dresses in now, in the run up to Christmas. For your budget you could buy one and then have it taken up if it was too long.

Do I have to wear black or is colour ok?

I'm a redhead with brown eyes and I love wearing emerald green, can I get away with that?

Black tie doesn’t usually mean it has to be floor length - anything from knee to mid calf will also be fine. Any colour is also fine - the black relates to the colour of the man’s jacket and tie not the colour of the woman’s dress.

summary of what Debrett’s (the bible on social etiquette!) says on the subject is here - definitely a more authoritative source than any individual poster in Mumsnet!

https://www.crouchersorchards.co.uk/a-black-tie-occasion-the-low-down-on-dressing-up/

can you Google previous award ceremonies by the same provider and see what people are wearing in photos?

I would wait until the January sales to scoop up a bargain dress. Other than than vinted is your answer - you can filter by petite on there x

Black tie doesn't mean floor length and I'm pretty sure it never did. That's white tie (ballgown).

Black tie means the men should wear a DJ and the women can wear something very dressy. A cocktail dress is fine. Or a ballgown if you like. It can be short and slinky rather than long and puffy if that's your style. An dyes it can be any colour, emerald green would be lovely.

I might be tempted to look on Vinted at that price OP - might get lucky with a worn-once prom dress?

This is the perfect time of the year to go looking for something to wear to a black tie event. You've really got the most of all of the options out there.

Firstly, would you prefer something that is a sheath style or something with a bit more flounce to it?

Just because it's black tie for him, you have the run of the colour spectrum pretty much for what you want to wear. He generally would get a pocket square/cummerbund or similar to complement your outfit (from what I remember).

Would any of these from JJ's House work for you (with whatever alterations you might feel are necessary)

Option 1
Option 2(slightly over your budget)
Option 3
Option 4
Option 5

These are just a tiny selection from that website. I can attest to their quality as I bought two dresses for my daughter and they both looked fabulous on her. Just make sure of the sizing before you place your order (as you would with any site nowadays I guess)

Or hire something for the evening if you don’t often attend these sorts of events?

Something like this would be lovely and around £60 to hire

https://hire.girlmeetsdress.com/collections/long-dresses/products/teal-embroidered-dip-hem-dress

Here are a few from Next:
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
Option 5

Good luck with your selection.

You can absolutely year green and gold. Also if you go shin length it will give the impression of Height also go for fitted. My husband is a personal stylist and colour specialist. So I know emerald green is your friend or any warm green.

Do we like this? A little over budget but that's ok, and I can have it altered if necessary

www.debenhams.com/product/ever-pretty-double-v-neck-floor-length-sparkly-evening-dresses-for-party_p-47da34f9-1337-4370-bd53-859bdd19a26d?colour=Dark+Grey

It's a bit bridesmaid-y.

I just went to a black tie event this week. The women looked lovely in lots of different styles and colours. Many were wearing floor length dresses (I did) but there were also a lot of stunning cocktail dresses which might work better if you're more petite.

Given that it's not until May I would take PP's advice and wait until January for the sales/Vinted.