Winter uni ball and the theme is ….,

[EachandEveryone]

Alice in Wonderland. Any ideas for a size 16 blonde. I can only think of a red/black evening dress. I have no idea the theme has got me stuck 😀 It will have to be done on student money and it is a very posh uni but we aren’t😀

Wear whatever you like, take a bottle of wine with a big label tied on to it that says “Drink me” 😜

A dress you feel really good in, and then pop a fancy dress hat on your head: google Smiffys Mad Hatter Mini Feather Hat for example.

Or bunny ears and pin a pocket watch to your dress.

Basically, like PP suggests, wear whatever you like and bring/add something as a nod to the theme.

Also if this is an Oxbridge etc. ball there will be loads of people just in any standard ball attire, ignoring the theme. Don’t worry too much about the theme!

Green jumpsuit and a hookah.

Dress with a large heart print (lots of women will be doing that, I reckon).

This dress from Shein (Two) https://www.shein.co.uk/goods-p-188801192.html

Any of the animal-themed characters (cheap costumes) except the gryphon, that looks a bit difficult.

Mad Hatter. You don't need to dress up as the character, just wear a mad hat.

Wear white with bunny ears, carry a large watch.

Grumpy cook. Apron, chef's hat, big pepper grinder.

I also like "Drink Me" above!

She won’t wear jumpsuits which is a shame. And I can’t open that shein link.

I would be a bit surprised if this is Oxbridge as ever come across anything like that

The Shein dress was like this. They've got half a dozen similar, all around £25.

What about a dress of her choice & choosing a flower headdress thing in a similar shade eg

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1536948483/fuchsia-flower-headband-hot-pink?ls=s&gaorder=mosttrelevant&gasearchhtype=all&gaviewwtype=gallery&gasearchhquery=flower+headress&ref=srgallery-2-42&organiccsearchclick=1&etp=1&cns=1&sts=1&contenttsource=17f0e92d-5bad-4dc1-a45d-721f07976b6c%253ALT42d7e3faf66a25e53b79324bb90f4ad8d2a56bef&logging_key=17f0e92d-5bad-4dc1-a45d-721f07976b6c%3ALT42d7e3faf66a25e53b79324bb90f4ad8d2a56bef

and she can be one of the flowers.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Playing-Cards-Patch-Embroidered-Casino/dp/B06X18JSH9

https://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/product/windham-fabrics-conversationals-fabric-playing-cards-red-5104

Or even the cloth patches in this kit: https://amzn.eu/d/7G5N9R7 (not the socks!)

If I’d had that theme as a student, I’d have tried to find a dress I liked (most important part) and then maybe added a trim around the bottom or something in this fabric? Or attached a few of the patches to part of the skirt? Playing card or heart accessories probably easier to pull off than a Disney style blue dress and white apron!

If its a ball then the dress should be floor length so the shein ones are both too short. I like the idea of just buying a nice dress and then sewing or ironing on some patches of playing card symbols.

Surely that doesn’t apply to a fancy dress ball?
and I doubt all the young women at a uni ball will be in long frocks anyway nowadays.

Does the theme actually apply to her outfit??

A lot of the time these balls have a theme but it’s just the decor of the ball that is themed. Dress code is just standard black tie or cocktail or whatever. Not expected to dress according to the theme.

@ErrolTheDragon She says it's a posh uni so I would assume it is still formal black tie? Might be worth checking the dress code on the tickets?

I was at Cambridge years and years ago and our May balls had black tie dress code, but really you had plenty of flexibility and i don’t think anyone would get turned away for a shorter dress. Perhaps there were some stricter ones but there wasn’t that much attention paid.

I agree with this - usually the ball has a theme rather than the attendees.

I assume it's St A? I'd look at photos online of previous Christmas Balls for an idea of dress code.

Thanks yes you are right. She was thinking of a nod to the theme. £75 it better be worth it 😀

All the Oxbridge balls seem to have themes too. It doesn't imply fancy dress!

And where in Oxbridge do they have winter balls?

It looks like Merton College has one this year with a Nutcracker theme, which sounds fun 🙂

I have no personal knowledge of Oxford balls, so I'm only going off info I've found online.