Where would you look for a black tie dress if you'd won an award?

[SoftPlaySaturdays]

Name changed for this.

Long story short, I've won quite a prestigious industry award. It's not been announced publicly yet and I'm using my nervous energy to think about what to wear to the black tie award dinner in a few months' time. 😂

I used to go to quite a lot of black tie stuff 10+ years ago, but it's been a while (and two kids) since then. Where would you look for something great?

Me: mid 30s, 5'7, size 12, pale with dark hair, pear shaped.
Preferences: midi or maxi, would prefer a colour like red/forest green/dark purple rather than black maybe (but black is ok), no pastels, £150 budget, needs to photograph well because it will be photographed a lot!

This is such a minor thing to be thinking about right now, but I can't tell anyone anything about it yet so why not!

Thanks for any recs!

Reiss

https://www.reiss.com/style/su184464/k80822#k80822
https://www.reiss.com/style/su350761/e26408#e26408
https://www.reiss.com/style/su177730/q99114#q99114
https://www.reiss.com/style/su185988/k83113#k83113

I'd probably go to a department store place with concessions. Like House of Fraser if there is still one near you

Congratulations!

Don't buy. Instead, rent a Vampire's Wife dress - the Falconetti in dark forest green will be perfect

Well done for your award! I hope you find a gorgeous dress

Sorry didn't mean to add that emoji!

Club London

Charity shop
Vinted

These beautiful gowns are generally only worn once.

I'd rent. You'll get more bang for your buck

I would second going to a good department store with lots of concessions, even if it's just to get an idea of what you like. Industry award events can vary massively in terms of what's appropriate (banking will be very different to advertising, for example) so it's hard to offer specific advice on that but overall, my general view is that they SAY it's black tie, and it is for the men, but full blown ball gowns are NOT appropriate. Agree completely re the pastels. For work, I'm also a big fan of going for something more structured - this isn't the time for that super floaty number and similarly, not the time for a sort of stretchy bodycon number, even if you have the world's greatest body! So get something that has some tailoring and structure so it looks properly "grown up". At the same time, don't be afraid to show off your best bits - if you have good legs, show a bit, shoulders etc. Cleavage is fine... within reason (and again, depending on industry!)

Top tip too - book a hair appointment for on the day. You can feel like a bit of a tit going off to get your hair done, but you will feel 1000% more confident for photos etc if you have.

Congratulations!

Never considered renting and not sure how the logistics even work - any websites to recommend?

These are all lovely suggestions, and yes I'm definitely getting my hair blown out!

@bunnybunnybunnybunny Oh my word, Kate Middleton vibes might be just the thing! 😄

I would say there will be a wide range of acceptable "black tie" options, based on experience.

Have a look on vinted. I've had some lovely dresses from there

Another vote for a 'personal styling' appointment at a John Lewis and/or look up small boutiques where you can get to know the people

It's a good time of year to find 'black tie' kind of events. What would your ideal outfit include? Are you a 'little black dress' and heels sort of person or maybe a dinner jacket worn over a minuscule top a
and evening trousers sort of person.

Start googling the kind of outfit you fancy and keep looking til you find a few options.

As well as the blow dry, I'd encourage you to go to an independent underwear shop (rigby and peller for me but any good one will kit you out with what you need to make your outfit look a million dollars.

Enjoy xx

I have a Falconetti dress that is the perfect event dress. Mine is silver and it never fails to dazzle. Should you go VW and rental, I know you will love it! Everyone's who's anyone has worn them, Falconetti in particular.

Like another poster has said, you get more bang for your buck when you rent. Also, due to the proliferation of Vampire's Wife dresses for rent, the pricing is good. I've rented from both Hurr and Rotate before. It's all straightforward and well-explained on both websites. I must confess that when I've rented for work events, I've expensed it, and why not, the men who hire black and/or white tie do.

Grief! Don’t go to John L. or the High St if it’s high profile! (£150 isn’t nearly enough for the sort of outfit you’ll want to be seen and photographed in.)

Rent. Here:

https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/g29187954/rent-dress/

Congratulations!

(But Vampire’s Wife dresses have become an overused cliche now. Don’t know if that matters to you.)

Try MyWardrobeHQ, Selfridges and Harrods rental

This is all so kind, thank you.

It's a big award to me, and I will be in some photographs (more than I'm used to) but fortunately it's not the Oscars or anything where a designer outfit would be even vaguely expected. There are a lot of very ordinary/slightly scruffy people where I work, some pretty conventional, a few more edgy. Think authors/literary agents/academics/scientists, not fashion or media execs. I promise £150 is more than enough!

Personal shopper at John Lewis or Fenwick's is probably a good shout.

Good luck softplaysaturdays, and will you let us know what you decide on?

As someone who never gets asked to black tie do's, I live vicariously through these posts ....

Thanks, @zaxxon, I think I am going to keep an eye out on Vinted and perhaps also bookmark a couple of sites to check in the sales (the dinner is after Christmas).

I like the Reiss suggestion and I've also seen a brand called Hope & Ivy that has a few possibilities. I might be a bit accident prone for rentals...