Dress for a black tie ceilidh

[VenusClapTrap]

This is harder than I thought. I’m going to a Burns Night fundraiser which involves dinner and a ceilidh, and the dress code is black tie.

I thought I’d be able to pick something up in the sales, but I’m struggling to find something that’s right. I’ve done my research - well, done a MN search - and gleaned that I need a dress that is:
• appropriate for black tie
• comfortable enough to dance in
• not too long so I don’t trip or others step on it
• not off the shoulder as I’ll be waving my arms in the air (apparently)
• not long sleeved - too hot for dancing
• swishy enough for the skirt to spin out, but not likely to reveal pants.

In addition, it preferably needs to suit me! I’m short (5 foot 3), size 12, and 51 with a meno belly. I ate too many mince pies over Christmas so I’d like to find something forgiving round the middle - no nipped in waists. I suit muted colours; no brights. Black drains me.

Budget up to about £250. So far I quite like the following two dresses, but I’m not sure either is quite right. Help.

https://www.loragene.com/shop/silk-dresses/the-paris-dress-in-silk-satin

https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/product/leem-round-neck-relaxed-fit-pleated-woven-midi-dress_R04380960/#colour=GREEN

No strapless dresses at a Ceilidh. No strapless dresses at a Ceilidh
and repeat until understood

I’ve seen what happens. It ain’t good. Trust me.

A sturdy bra is your friend.

I have found my ballroom dancing shoes very good for ceilidhs to be fair.

they don’t have much of a heel and they’re designed for dancing.

I have tried to ceilidh dance in trainers and it wasn’t overly successful.

the two dresses you posted at the beginning look fine to me.

The first dress you've picked is gorgeous!

About shoes for a ceilidh, I’ve only ever come across people wearing soft shoes, to avoid causing any damage to anyone else. Ballet flats with elastic to hold them on your feet or just tie a ribbon around the foot under the sole.

standing on someone else’s foot in soft shoes is one thing, but even a low heel will cause a lot more damage. High heels have the capacity to really hurt someone.

Please don’t.

I really like the first dress! It’s better than any of the links (hate the second dress you said FYI)

but the first one is gorgeous.

I used to dance in 3 inch heels at ceilidhs but couldn't imagine doing that now!

You’ve NEVER come across people wearing heels at a ceilidh?! That’s all I’ve ever seen! What do people wear to weddings, for example? Never heard of people changing their footwear choices just because it’s a ceilidh.

Something like this might work? Very comfortable swishy enough and flattering cut.
I bought the berry colour for a work Christmas do and got lots of compliments, would also work if you change into ballet flats for dancing. Also comes in other colours. Much nicer in person than the photos have a look at the review pictures

https://prettykittyfashion.co.uk/products/claret-red-velour-deep-v-wrapover-3-4-sleeve-swing-dress

ETA if you're between sizes go for the smaller it's very forgiving

I think the first dress you shared is perfect.
Not been to a black tie ceilidh for a while, but at uni balls and weddings we just kicked our heels off. Occasionally bruised toes, but alcohol consumption helped and were never noticed until the next day. Definitely no trainers.

Trust me if its a proper ceilidh it will be riotous. Wear lace up plimsoles.
With ballroom heels you will slip, trip, get stood on.
In Strip the Willow, with drink taken, you will be launched into space. Your ball room shoes will get wrecked.
They are great fun, but not a place to be elegant.
Its survival.
Dont wear heels.

@VenusClapTrap

This is pretty (with stretch, so forgiving)

It's quite plain but you could zhuzh it up with some fab accessories

also, fer strippin' the willow, the dashin' white sergeant et al, your preferred heel height is the pre-requisite, be it courts, mary janes etc.. nothing fancy required

Have a blast 🎻⋆⭒˚｡⋆‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹

Gosh - some rather strange suggestions given here OP!! You've been very polite in your responses ...! That first dress you posted is beautiful, an easy cut, & will suit many occasions afterwards. And that shade of green would be good for most colourings. I'd absolutely go for that!! Happy to dig for more options - but I'm not sure they'd better that, I think it's really lovely & spot-on for a ceilidh.

Footwear-wise - don't wear ordinary ballet pumps or anything that could slip or fly off. Something soft that has elastic or a bow over the foot would be best - & a gold or bronze metallic leather - or even silver - would be perfect with that dress (tie in your handbag or jewellery or even your eyeshadow!!). Also, however soft they seem, wear them in around the house first!!!

These Penelope Chilvers ones are pretty. Either silver, or black velvet.

https://penelopechilvers.com/products/minnie-leather-pump-silver

These would be pretty with your green silk dress?

https://www.johnlewis.com/anonymous-copenhagen-fifi-cracked-leather-mary-janes-gold/p114033294

These Air & Grace ones are elegant - & they state that they are COMFY!!!

https://airandgracelondon.com/products/anais-gold-leather-pointed-t-bar-flats

More comfy Air & Grace ones!!

https://airandgracelondon.com/products/lulu-gold-glitter-pointed-flats

I like the green silk one but think but I don’t think it’s really a ceilidh dress and prone to show sweat marks maybe! I looked on the website and the https://www.loragene.com/ella-v-neck-silk-slip-dress on there would work if you like any of the colours? Some pretty jewellery and nice shoes. I think ballroom shoes are a great idea, don’t wear proper flats, would be mighty uncomfortable! Gold would work with the brown dress

@Ophir don't really think nighties are "de rigueur" for ceilidhs tbh, sorry 🙊

Anonymous Copenhagen are great for comfort. If you do want to be in fairly flattish ones, I'd go for a more pointed toe rather than very rounded, as the latter tends to look rather little girl-ish.

These are lovely & you'd get lots of wear out of them at other times (probably not the case with dance shoes).

https://www.anoncph.co.uk/products/fifi-lizard-metallic-goat-vintage-champagne

@EleanorMc67 did you see @VenusClapTrap's post where she said;

"I’m not actually very good in completely flat shoes due to Achilles problems in the past, so I’ll have to mull that over."?

They also do lots of low heels. These ones are a low block heel (I have a similar pair from Jigsaw that are very comfy). They are open-toe though ... but let's face it, if someone leaps onto your toes it's going to hurt whatever you're wearing!!

https://www.anoncph.co.uk/products/niabi-50-crackled-metallic-goat-gold

These are a low cone heel with a bit of a retro vibe. A few metallic finishes. I also think a clashing colour like the electric blue would be fab!

https://www.anoncph.co.uk/products/hermine-metallic-goat-gold

I did thanks - that's why I didn't post completely flat shoes. I posted ones with a proper sole & little 1/3 inch heel, rather than the ballerina style with absolutely no support whatsoever between foot & ground.

And that's why I've also gone on to suggest styles with a low heel - block/cone/kitten etc - from a brand that's known for comfort.

I think the model in the OP's choice of dress actually looks as if she could be ceilidh dancing!! It looks perfect to me (resident for nearly 40 years so can't avoid ceilidhs ...). As for sweat marks - it's a cap sleeve, & I don't think the dress itself comes right up under the armpits. Mitchum Ultra Powerful stick antiperspirant will prevent even a hint of that ...

Personally I'm not keen on the brown silk dress - I'm sure it's lovely fabric, but it's such a basic cut with zero embellishment that it really does look like a nightdress.

That is absolutely not the right kind of shoe for ceilidh dancing, you'll twist your ankles in a heeled shoe, if you have a proper dance shoe shop near you ask their advice. You want flats that stay firmly on your feet but have suede type soles so you can spin easily. The traditional type laces up the front.