Ball in May, black tie optional

[ImightbeLulumama]

What to wear??

how can black tie be optional?

shall i wear jeans?

help me!

large of bottom and of nork, better in trousers

small budget

ideas?

anyone?

you need a dress for sure

bargains at hobbs at the mo
monsoon 25% off this weekend if you download the voucher from their site

i cannot do dresses

really!

if black tie is optional, then surely it is not unacceptable to wear a trouser suit??? or something

would need to be a fancy suit
you don't want to look like you are going to some office job

got any nice black trousers?
sparkly top?

One mum wore a black evening trouser suit to a ball I went to a few years ago. I was surprised because it was all black tie and posh frocks.

But if it isn't black tie, I'd say you can wear whatever you want to as long as it looks dressy. Black evening trousers and sparkly top?

snap!

i have a fabulous dress/ tunic i bought from emma somerset ( in the sales! ) like a bronzey gold, , i have sparkly gold shoes, but no decent trousers . have fabulous accesories, so if i could find decent trousers, i will be sorted!

i wore the dress as a dress with thick black tights and very high black patent wedges, but it would be too wintry i feel and the shoes were impossible for walking in !!

so, find me some fab black trousers!! i have some floaty ones, but they have silver down the outside seam, which won;t match with goldy bronezey dress

debs sale
what size do you need?
do you need tall/petite?

These Coast ones are fab. They aren't that cheap but a great investment.

I went to a posh spring ball on Thursday night. It was black tie though. I went in a summer cocktail dress and felt very underdone when I first arrived. It was 50/50 ball gowns and cocktail dresses mainly black, no trousers for the women.

Also went to a christmas firemans ball in December and my friend wore trousers and a nice sparkly top and didnt look out of place.

Sorry not much help but next time I go to a ball I will go overboard and invest in long.

No trousers if it is black tie, find out for sure.

A nice skirt and top will work just as well. Will look.

Would recommend dress. Debenhams has big sale on at the mo which includes dresses that would be fine. TKMaxx usually good too. However, I have been to black tie events where women have worn glam tops and smart trousers. Anything goes these days with the exception of jeans. go have a look in charity shops, esp if you have a posh area nearby. Or a dress agency.

This skirt is nice and this one

this top

this jacket

Will keep looking.

Depending when in May, you may find the black tights entirely appropriate! Wear shoes taxi-to-table and ditch for dancing when everyone will have had too much to drink to care about what you are wearing! Slip a pair of ballet pumps into your bag if you want something on your feet.

However something like black crepe trousers from Next might be useful

www.next.co.uk/shopping/women/goingout/8/1

Spend some time over the next few weeks looking for the right pair of trousers and buy them within the 'return policy' of the store. Take them back if the weather is wintry and you wear your tights instead.

Alternatively, if you feel comfortable wearing black tights with your tunic/dress, would you feel comfortable wearing some other kind of natural-coloured tights instead?

Or white trousers with a gold top? Very cruise wear? I just linked to some high-waisted wide leg ones in M&S for someone on another thread, and suggested a gold silk top to go with them...

Maybe you could also go for the dinner jacket 'le smoking' YSL mannish chic thing if you don't mind being a bit stand-outy but I think you probably have to be Lizzie Jagger to carry that look off...

Have you tried on a long dress lulu? I know you feel your bottom is large but they can be quite flattering to the curvy figure. Especially with a rap. Go for it. My sis bought a lovely long dress for less than £60 last week. I'm going for long next time.

wow ! thank you all very much for all the gorgeous suggestions! i am sorry i did not come back to this yesterday

white trousers might be an idea if the weather is good

if not black crepe trousers might be just the ticket.

thank you all for your help!

from what i can gather, trousers will be acceptable!