Black tie do - can I wear knee length dress?

[pinksomething]

I have a black lace dress, high neck, knee length - all lined and 3/4 sleeves. Is this posh enough for a black tie ball or do I need to beg/borrow/cadge something full length?
Thank you!

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'd have said full length.

[pinksomething]

www.neimanmarcus.com/products/mx/NMT5ED5_mx.jpg
This kind of thing but to the knee and the neckline is straight not scalloped.
(I hope the link works - I haven't tried it on my phone before!)

[kaumana]

No, though beautiful, look for a full length dress.

[MoonlightandRoses]

Should be fine as 'black tie' is effectively cocktail dress, but some people choose to wear full-length. Now if it was white tie, that would be a different matter.

[CointreauVersial]

Would be fine for a black tie do, but the word "ball" implies something long.

[thenightsky]

Ball = full length.

[kaumana]

I went with the fact she said black tie ball otherwise I would say the same.

[MoonlightandRoses]

Interesting on the consensus for the 'ball' bit - I go to a few most years and, for black tie, there's definitely the full gamut from bit too short to floor-sweeping gowns in attendance.

Thinking about it however, if it's somewhere conservative (e.g. military) then floor-length is probably the safer option.

[pinksomething]

Right I guess I'd better get something long! It's a charity ball and it's for DH's work. I don't know anyone else so best stick with long - I don't want to be remembered as the one who got it wrong!!

[VestaCurry]

Floor length if a ball (I've never bought, always hired because I don't get invited to tons of balls, they're always on before the bloody sales are on and I can find something great to hire without spending a sodding fortune).

[kaumana]

Ball = long dress. You will look stunning so go for it.

[pinksomething]

Thanks for the advice everyone. My friend has offered for me to try some she has from mess dinner days. I will definitely borrow if I can!

[VivaLeBeaver]

Tk maxx often has cheap full length dresses as well.

[AlwaysWantingMore]

I was at a black tie ball last night with 600 attendees and there was a mix of long and knee length so I wouldn't worry too much as long as the dress is fairly formal.

[Ephiny]

I think you could probably get away with knee-length, though the dress you linked looks a bit informal to me. Maybe just because it's so short on that model though!

[gymboywalton]

went to a black toe ball last night too and here were long dresses, knee length dresses and thigh skimmers.
i don't think it makes much odds really.

[DameEnidsOrange]

Last black tie ball I went to was a real mixture, and your dress would have fitted in perfectly.

[Teeb]

I really like the dress you've linked to, but it's the kind of thing I see people wearing to clubs/bars these days rather than black tie balls.

[ItsALongWayToPickAWilly]

The last black tie ball I went to there was loads of women who looked like they were at an office party or something! Definitely not wearing full on gowns anyway.

I went with a very smart knee length dress and didn't look out of place.
The dress you've linked to is lovely but needs jazzing up IMO