Formal Black and White Ball

[heididrink]

I have been invited to a Black and White Ball and the invite says dress code is formal black and white.
Does this mean I have to buy a long dress or would knee length do ?
I cant check with any other guests as I dont know them
as I am being invited as DHs partner.
Reluctant to buy long as I am smurf petite
Any suggestions ?

TBH - I think this usually means long (though if you got very dressy knee length you may get away with it).

I'm prepared to corrected!

thanks thats what I was thinking.
Anyone else ??

I would say long dress too. Can you hire one? Or find one in whats left of the sales? Debenhams are still selling things off online.

Is it a work 'do'? You could ask DH to speak to his colleagues to see what their wives are wearing...

I would agree that it's probably long evening wear. I have a beautiful white maxi dress with black butterflys by Alice & Olivia or there has been several links to this dress recently which I would love to have an excuse to buy

I can't find it - one sec.....

this one

Definatly a full length dress for black tie, (have been to lots because of dh's job). Personally i wouldnt go for white or a light colour, dark colours always look nicer doesnt have to be black, maybe a navy shade or dark green (only my option though )
Good luck finding something
x x x

I suspect knee lentgh will be ok if dress is formal - you only need long if it is white tie

loads in Debenhams
one
two
three
four

finerthings, it's a black and white ball!

LOL big i misread it and was thinking black tie/white tie ball , def a baby brain moment,sorry, Whites good in that case
x x x

Does it have to be a black AND white dress though, or would all black or all white do? I think the latter, m'self ...

I've heard of events like this when people even wear fancy dress - despite the use of the word formal.

I would get more of a low down from dh.

Black and white balls I have been to have been a mixture of both Mumsnut, and come to think of it a mixture of gown lengths so I think you can do either providing it is formal enough (couple of people I know wore wedding dresses!).

The dress sweetheart linked to is very pretty.

thanks everyone I will hit the shops tomorrow.
Debenhams looks like a good place to start - wish me luck