Corporate Black Tie Event Attire?

[craftynancy]

I'm representing my company at a black tie corporate event in a couple weeks. I'm a bit stuck with what to wear.

I've attended black tie weddings and events before, but never a corporate event. The event I'm attending is a new event, so I can't look at photos from previous years for inspiration. However I've had a look online for corporate black tie event photos and it seems like there's a bit more flexibility and rule bending than what would be classed as a traditional text book black tie event. I don't want to look out of place in a full on gown.

Many of the women in the photos I've seen online looked to be wearing more midi length to maxi length dresses. Perhaps what would be classed as more formal / cocktail rather than text book black tie. All the ladies still looked lovely. Just not in floor length gowns.

Could I get away with any of the below dresses? These are dresses (or very similar) to dresses I already own, or could potentially go out and buy. Although I'd rather not have to buy a new dress. Which I suspect is the case for most women attending corporate events like the one I'm going to.

I also have an almost identical dress to the green sequin one below, but with dark grey sequins. I had the third dress (a very old one from Self Portrait) altered so the skirt is longer and sits lower to, but still above the knee. It's not as racey as it looks in the photo.

I still need to sort out jewellery. I'll be doing my own hair. Most likely wearing it down. I have quite a selection of headbands. Provided they don't clash with the dress, are they acceptable for black tie? Or are they too wedding-ish?

I do a lot of corporate black tie and always have wear a full length gown. There is often a mix of people in more cocktail style dresses, but I definitely feel more comfortable and like I fit in more in a floor length gown, but I’ve seen people in dresses similar to those pictured (although less the blue/purple dress as that looks more casual to me) at the events.

The purple lave one looks the most current in terms of trends, if that matters. But all would fit the bill imo.

Lace

Any of those would be fine at a corporate black tie event. I find there is a mix of floor length gown and cocktail type dresses these days, with events I have attended recently having more ladies dressed in cocktail than full length gown.

Agree with most of the others. Corporate black tie definitely more relaxed. All of those dresses would be suitable IMO.

Thanks very much ladies. I've been thinking about my dress options some more today along with the type of people that will be at the event.

It's an industry event, but not a flashy / high roller industry where black tie events would would regularly pop into the diary. I wouldn't expect most people to go out and buy a black tie gown they'd likely never wear again, so am going to assume many will just wear the nicest dress they own regardless of length.

I've looked at photos of a few similar types of events and a lot of the women seem to be wearing mainly midi length dresses. Some quite formal. And some that look like they've just come from the office.

I'm hoping to wear something that gives off a classy, elegant but modern vibe. While I do like the green sequin dress, it's from Whistles and was around for a couple seasons. It fills me with dread that I may show up and come face to face with someone else wearing the same dress, so I'll probably drop that one from my list of options.

Isn’t white tie floor length and black tie more flexible anyway? I might be wrong, it’s a while since I’ve been to either!

Most events I attend ladies wear cocktail/midi rather than full length. I think the lace dress is too revealing to be elegant. The others are fine, although IMHO full on lame or sequins is quite Christmas/Winter seasonal and I wouldn’t get the wear out of it. Maybe something like this?

Coast high neck with sleeves

Coast stripe Organza midi