What to wear at black-tie do at Apothecaries Hall

[Snowshill]

DH and I are invited to a black-tie alumni do at the Apothecaries Hall in late October.

Last time we went to one of these, at the Royal Courts of Justice, I wore a dress + jacket but I froze.

I have a dressy Chanel-style white wool jacket from the White Company and I thought I could wear it with black velvet trousers. Would that be black-tie enough, or does it have to be a dress?
TIA.

Dress Guide

I think your outfit is on the edge ; not so much of being unacceptable as such but you'll feel under dressed.

Is this your jacket? Personally I wouldn't wear that as evening wear. I think it needs bling , and real bling at that to elevate it. If the velvet trousers are palazzo style as suggested in the guide, then maybe or cropped cigarette style with glitzy shoes, flats or heels. If you can channel Piloma Picasso might work

White Company Jacket

This is the jacket. Different cut and a lot whiter than the one on eBay.

Obviously I would have to wear something underneath that's a bit nicer than my vest! 😂
It doesn't show up on the selfie, but there's a shiny thread in the weave which gives it a dressier look than you can see on the screen.

There's a place on the cuffs where I could attach beautiful 1" diameter pearl buttons, but I don't that would make a lot of difference.

Many thanks for the dress code. I'll have to give this some thought!

Jacket is beautiful but agree you may feel under-dressed. Go bling or go home. Have fun!

Is this it/more like it?
White Company Jacket

I don't think it's black tie unless you wore it with something dramatic like a tafetta ball skirt, either just above ankle or ballerina length. Underneath either something like this black silk pussy cat bow or the plain black.

Pussy Cat blouse
Plain blouse
Ball skirt
Ball skirt 2
Ball skirt 3

The velvet trousers might be ok , but again I think they need to be dramatic and defintely evening trousers- not just trousers that happen to be velvet.

This is the jacket. It looks closed in the photo, but when you put it on it opens out as in the shot upthread where I have it on.

It's a lovely jacket. If I were going to wear it as an evening jacket I'd wear it like this.

Better picture

Pashmina over a dress - I’ve never felt cold in a college venue. Coat to go in. Wear tights

Sorry looks like a scary clown Halloween costume

For a one-off event, consider renting rather than buying. This is cheaper and lets you pick an outfit for that one event without having to consider its rewearing potential.

What you describe is a lovely outfit, but not really black tie. And not black tie at Apothecaries, which is at the more formal end of things.

If you are able to afford a new outfit I’d go for a velvet dress to keep the chill out, ankle length, and with tights under.

I have been to two black tie corporate events this year and tbh, women wear anything and everything. The ones who went full ham looked the most out of place tbh! Lots of summery dresses at one and trouser suits.

Did those corporate events have a detailed and hilarious dress code guide though?

From the guide posted this do sounds at the more formal end of things.

I wouldn't wear separates unless they are obviously a "set" - that jacket is too casual except as a cover up which is taken to the cloakroom.

You have loads of time to find a lovely outfit.

There's black tie events and there's black tie events. The last one I was at was a business sector awards event on a Thursday night at a hotel which used to be a lot swankier than it is now. The OP's suggested outfit would have been fine.

The venue and event the OP is going to is looks a lot swisher than my one.

The black tie guide says trousers and shorter dresses are fine!

It's black tie, not white tie. Reading the guide a knee length dress or trousers are perfectly fine.

It doesn't quite say "perfectly fine" To me it reads like an order of preference which starts with

Ladies should wear an evening dress or skirt; long, or at least not very short, is usually best

and ends with

Evening trousers are an option, but it is better to go for a palazzo cut, rather than tight­fitting.

Although the dress code is ‘black tie’, dresses need not be black. Equally, wearing black in of itself does not ensure the right level of formality.

I.e you won't be thrown out but you might be under dressed

Thanks. Our invitation just said "black tie."
The printed guidelines are from something @IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle found, not anything sent to us.

DH is going to enquire as to whether they apply to this event.

The venue is very swish. If the event were organised by the actual Livery Company one would be expected to be on the posher end of black tie and your suggested outfit would not really do unless you have an obviously posh top to wear under the jacket. Or some obviously expensive jewellery. However, it seems the venue is being hired for the occasion so the dress code may be more flexible. It is as well for your DH to check with the organisers to see what their view is (or to get some steer on what other women will be wearing if that is possible)

Apothecaries Hall is lovely, but is one of the smaller livery halls in the City. Because of its size, it doesn't feel overwhelming or overly grand. As long as you feel dressed up, wearing more is better than wearing less. I have the opposite problem one year in mid summer of absolutely baking there, so imagine the winter can indeed be chilly!

I think your jacket is lovely, and as long as your trousers are dressier than regular black work trousers, you should be fine. Certainly you won't get turned away from your alumni event!

I described the proposed outfit and sent the image of the jacket to the coordinator of the event. This was her response:

"I am familiar with the Livery Company guidelines and this event is certainly not held in full compliance with them! There will be a wide range of dress styles on display from full length evening dresses to much more casual ensembles and the trouser and jacket combo you have suggested looks perfect- the jacket looks very elegant and will certainly not be out of place."

What a relief! Now all I have to do is work out (and probably buy) something to wear under the jacket!

Many thanks to all for the responses.

Told you so! Enjoy!