Maxi dress for black tie and a wedding?

[OneDayIWillLearn]

I’m looking for a dress to wear to a black tie event next month and a close family member’s wedding in August. I’m roughly a size 12, 5 ft 7in.

I love the look of this Reiss dress, and the waistline and shape/ style of the top are perfect. I feel this dress could fit the brief for both events - do you agree? - but a) I’d really like a less full/ more fitted skirt and b) really I want to spend less than £200!!

Anyone seen a dress which is a similar shape but a bit less full and cheaper? Or ideas for what else might work? I’m open to pretty much any colour.

Black tie dinner yes - family wedding probably not unless they are having a black tie / evening dress theme and you could dress it up with a pashmina etc.

I feel that’s black tie but not wedding I’m afraid.

I think it looks like a beach dress.

At the last wedding I went to lots of women were wearing dresses like that. If you love it then go for it

Its a tricky balance to get right. You'd need to veer to the non floral end of the wedding guest market and then choose a style that is not fully to the floor and has a bit of structure. A halterneck in a plain bright colour so its not bridesmaidy would work for both. Some inexpensive ideas -

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su513665/h47851

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su923185/w87234

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/jolie-moi-halter-neck-maxi-dress_p-4c77c9f5-cf9c-42b6-9ed1-28261e7f564e?colour=Blue

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/karen-millen-jersey-crepe-asymmetric-neckline-maxi-dress_bkk13023?colour=cobalt

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/karen-millen-drama-halter-pleat-insert-woven-maxi-dress_bkk23781?colour=red

https://www.johnlewis.com/jolie-moi-sleeveless-v-neck-maxi-dress/p114210749

https://www.asos.com/prd/209992389?acquisitionsource=pasteboard

I love this dress.

Thanks for the links - I had seen that first one and liked it/ thought about ordering. What put me off is the neckline though as I’m quite busty (sorry, hate that word!) at 34F and high necklines can look a bit matronly. So I think a V neck suits me better…

They haven’t actually said a dress code for the wedding yet but I’m expecting to need to accessorise differently for two events, assuming I can find something that will work for both!

The wedding is by the sea so that might not actually be so bad! Though I do feel £500 is a lot for this dress/ a dress which looks like a beach dress….

Thanks that’s interesting. I almost love it and it’s the best I’ve seen so far but I don’t think it’s quite perfect (too much fabric in the skirt which would annoy me to wear) and I resent spending nearly £500 on something that isn’t perfect. Glad to hear it’s a style others have chosen for a wedding though :-)

i absolutely love it!
get it and wear to both events

I think it’s perfect for a wedding, but not black tie.

I think that is lovely for the wedding you describe. It’s not a black tie dress IMO.

Looks like a beach dress to me too.

I've just realised the price.
Really pricey for what it is.

It would work for a beachy wedding. I don't think it does it for black tie. Its too day time beachy looking rather than evening elegance

I totally agree!

What I am really looking for is a dress which has the same kind of shape at the top but less full (and therefore less beachy) in the skirt. And yep ideally a quarter of the price 😂

I’ve been googling but just can’t find it

My vision is a dress of a similar shape but less full and perhaps a single colour (blue or green for example) - which I think could then work better for black tie if accessories were right?

But I can’t find it. Perhaps it doesn’t exist….

https://www.johnlewis.com/omnes-nova-tie-back-dress/magenta/p112533203

that orange and cream is gorgeous so elegant I love it thumbs up for me

https://www.meandem.com/satin-drape-neckline-maxi-dress-deep-ruby-red

ive just bought this for a black tie event

I think that’s good for the wedding but perhaps not for black tie evening wear, depending on venue and event.

For £500 you could probably get one made to order.

I love the dress. Not suitable for black tie though

Hmm hadn’t thought of that, could be a good idea actually!

I just don't know where you'd go to get one made to order.
But I'd think they'd be someone if you ask on your local FB pages.