Can we define "black tie" again please?

[Katisha]

It's an evening reception/launch at a big exhibition in London. But no dinner. Hope there are at least some canapes or I shall get veh sozzled quite quickly.

DH thinks I have to wear a long dress but I was at a black tie do at a posh London hotel recently (not as a punter) and people seemed to be wearing pretty much anything.

Can I get away with a below the knee plainish linen sleeveless dress if I bling it up a bit? It comes with a three-quarter length sleeve jacket as well, but I suppose does look rather daytimey.

I would always rather underdress than overdress, but does it need to be more cocktaily?

I think you are right people do tend to underdress although there will be some in full length dresses. I'd go for something cocktaily. I guess the linen dress could work, but does sound more daytime, what colour is it?

I had to attend a couple of black tie events recently and was amazed by how many women stuck to black.

Most black tie I go to you get a big mix - mainly cocktail dresses or long dresses. You do get a few people dressed less formally, but IMo they are in a minority. Lots and lots of blak, but also a decent splash of colour usually too.

Not sure about your dress - difficult without knowing what it looks like, and how well you can glam it up.

It's cream with blue pattern at neck and a blue band at the bottom. (Kaliko)

Kaliko don't seem to have a useable website to link...

Hmm, sounds too casual - good for the school run.

Sounds like a trip to Monsoon to me .

Skool run!!!
I've just bought it for a christening!

If there's no dinner then I would assume cocktail dress, i.e. shorter.

You might get away with impeccably pressed linen if you have the right accessories -- mind you, they might cost more than buying a new dress.

Debenehams is good for reasonable priced dresses; much cheaper than Monsoon on the whole. Although Monsoon dresses are lovely for the special occasions.

SOunds like linen thing is out then.
I'm just looking at the monsoon stuff and am baffled by their definitions of evening dresses and day dresses - some of the day dresses are glammer than the evening ones.

Feel rather gloomy about the choice there - not keen on strapless/strappy/halterneck. Need understated elegance...

Maybe Debenhams?

Yes, look at Debenhams website - lots of dresses.

Only said school run as there are frequent MN threads about the perfect school run dress - honest.

My top tip regarding Monsoon/Debenhams et all is to find the dress you like and then see if anyone is selling it on ebay - I've saved myself a fortune doing that. In December I bought a new with tags Monsoon dress that was £180 new, got it on ebay for £60.

Well perhaps I'll look into updating my school run attire while I'm about it!

Ploughing through Debenhams site now. Not much with sleeves...(I know - extra expense for shrug type thing...)

But we reckon it doesn't have to be long for black tie anyway?

Definitely doesn't have to be long

No, from your description I think short would be better.

Ta. Will inform DH of the ruling.

Have bought this

oh spot on - very nice

I think Coast is pretty good for black tie stuff.

I'd say linen is too daytime.

Ta Mrs B

That's lovely Katisha, and something you could def wear again-unlike a full-length frock.

FYI: I think unless the invite said white tie (which would mean ballgown-a-go-go), anything goes, length-wise these days.

Standards are slipping!

Thanks Miss B!

(Shudders at thought of white tie!)

Funnily enough I went to something very similar last night and had been worried that the little black cocktail dress and matching shrug I was wearing was not going to be 'black-tie' enough.

It was absolutely fine - spot on and I felt really at ease with what I had chosen (rarely the case with me). I was really struck by the variety of what people wore - a very few long, but mainly knee-length Monsoon or Phase Eight sorts of things. Some things I would have thought more for a day time wedding, tbh (eg floral chiffon).

The thing is, if something is on a week night in London, and there is no meal or dancing, I think people are going to be slightly less glammed up than for say, a ball on a Saturday. I always fret about what the general look for an occasion will be, though. However, I think with the linen you might feel you missed the opportunity to dress up a bit, so would agree on looking for something more cocktail dress like.

Funny you should say about hoping there will be canapes - felt the same. There was loads of v. good fizz (dh was thrilled) but very few canapes to soak it up, so I was sipping slowly to avoid embarrassment!