Going to a Black Tie event... Help

[notnowbernard]

On a bit of a budget

Will need a dress and shoes, have nothing appropriate

Not even sure what I should wear, tbh

Would someone kindly point me in the right direction? Thanks!

Short or long?

Is it a ball? If so, full-length evening dress. Look on Ebay - they have some fabulous ones.

Would like to cover the knee, ideally. They are a bit footballer-ey

What time of year?

Do you know anyone you can borrow from? One of my pals loaned me a dress, and another loaned jewelry for my most recent outing. Very sweet of them...

June, evening. Not a ball

Don't think borrowing is an option. All my friends are thinner than me

Notnowbernard, have been to hell and back so many times over these dos. The good news is that anything seems to go these days. Was at one recently and there was the full range of cocktail/long/balcony dresses mixed with people wearing skirts/trousers/tops - almost like office wear some of them. Such a range you'd hardly stand out if you came in a bin-liner!!!
What's your budget? TKMaxx, charity shops, and dress agencies would be my first port of call - you have to keep going back to them but you have plenty of time. Or give a hint as to where you live and perhaps a MNetter could lend you something?

this website seem to have good stuff at good prices

and a friend of mine always gets her evening do dresses from here

Thankyou

Am thinking the total budget of dress, shoes, bag will be around £100

Is a little black dress appropriate for a black tie event or are they usually more ballgown-y?

I wore this to a black tie do last saturday.

Entirely depends on the event. I take it the invite doesn't specify? Can you ask people who went last year whether they wore long dresses, in which case, ballgowny is fine. If it's "cocktail dresses" then yes, little black dress is very appropriate.

some charity shops have some fantastic designer dresses at reasonable prices and might even have the shoes/bag and assessories too well worth trying.
by the way are you aware that black tie means evening suit with any colour tie execept black.

Lovely, DKMA!

It's not an annual event, it's an awards ceremony... am praying thinking therefore a LBD is the safe bet... just CANNOT see myself in a ballgown

Just looked at Debenhams on-line, there were ome reasonably priced dresses

Dp is hiring his suit, apparently

I go to a lot of these kind of things (a bit of a lush!) and very rarely do I see people in proper ballgowns. Either cocktail dresses or long straight dresses.

Yes that sounds like little black dress is fine. Or any other colour for that matter.

Ebay's fab for such things. Chance to try all those expensive names you could never afford in the shop.

LBD would be perfect, and reusable. Not an awards event in London on the 15th by any chance is it?

Thanks, feeling nice and reassured now

Lilo - not in London, no! Good point re 'reusable', am going to 2 weddings later this year

Will investigate other colours too

Fuck, forgot about the bloody bra scenario...

Any advance on £100? Can you justify a bit more on three events ?

where do you live - roughly - so locals can suggest other places to try

I have access to all the good high-street stores (mid to top end ones, too)

And lots of boutique type shops

Can probably go over £100 by a bit (might see if I can borrow a bag from someone)

Debenhams often have nice dresses. My sis was going to a black tie do in Feb and got a gorgeous dress in Debenhams in the sale and bag and shoes too - spent less than 100 on all.

Oasis have some nice dresses for around £100

and Debenhams love this one and would be good for weddings as well

I've got a few cocktail dresses/ballgowns I'd be happy to lend out - about size 14-16

Tilly - v kind of you

wrong size though

am going to head to Debenhams I think, as a starter. Prices look quite manageable

Thanks all, I now have a good idea of what I need to look for