My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.

MNHQ have commented on this thread

Style & Beauty

So, what does one wear to a ball please?

291 replies

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/06/2013 18:20

?!?!

Help! :)

OP posts:
Report
confusedmuch · 14/06/2013 18:25

more info please, context required, what does one's invite specify?

Report
MrsLettuce · 14/06/2013 18:26

You personally? SOmething simple yet stunning I suspect. Strictly speaking it should be full length but cocktail is more acceptable than it used to be.

Budget?

Report
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/06/2013 18:29

Me.
5'2, hourglass, size 12, brunette, pale skin. Budget - if it's a Westwood sale up to £150 but anything else, substantially less! Real shops, not online only.

Cocktail length probably better than full length due to short arsedness.

I wear black or grey pretty much exclusively, but can cope with purple, red or pink providing it'snot shiny, or with deep blue maybe. I am scared of colour on the whole. :)

OP posts:
Report
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/06/2013 18:30

Oh and nothing that draws attention to norkage.

I have decent legs.

OP posts:
Report
MrsLettuce · 14/06/2013 18:44

No man made fibers IIRC?

online only but free back and forth grey silk. Probably too fussy

Report
tethersend · 14/06/2013 18:49
Report
MrsLettuce · 14/06/2013 18:49

navy silk + orange too weddingy?
gold / olive silk again shame the pink is sold out in a 12

Report
MrsLettuce · 14/06/2013 18:53

and silk again neither colour in stock in size online but maybe IRL

Report
tethersend · 14/06/2013 19:12
Report
SoyYo · 14/06/2013 19:13

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Eliza+J+3/4+sleeve+ruched+waist+dress/144532692,default,pd.html
See above from House of Fraser, I recommend!
I never contribute to Mumsnet threads (but lurk sometimes), but today lots of answers from me. See above link, bought it last Xmas in the midnight blue for a ball, it is VERY flattering, VERY comfortable and has a great vintage look to it. Now I see it's in stock in purple and VERY tempted to get another colour...except I have no summer balls to attend.

Report
daftdame · 14/06/2013 19:15
Report
tethersend · 14/06/2013 19:16

purple

greyish

Are the necks on those too high?

Report
tumbletumble · 14/06/2013 19:17

I love Coast dresses

Report
tethersend · 14/06/2013 19:18
Report
daftdame · 14/06/2013 19:21
Report
SoyYo · 14/06/2013 19:24

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Eliza+J+3/4+sleeve+ruched+waist+dress/144532692,default,pd.html
didnt link properly last time...looks good on but maybe too covered up for summer/your age (great for hourglass/big boobs shapes though).

Report
daftdame · 14/06/2013 19:24
Report
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/06/2013 19:26

Grey silk = gorgeous, but that's the kind of thing I'd wear to work with a blazer stuck on top.

Helmut Lang = love it, but can't afford it and it might make me top heavy looking (Iwell, I am anyway, so more so!).

TK Maxx link not working for me, nor are the FC ones.

I think the metallic Westwood is too high necked tbh and a bit scary, colour wise!

Eliza one not for me - I'd look frightful in it.

Max M grey one too worky.

Purple link not working.

Second metallic one = terrifying.

Thanks gals - keep em coming please. :) Am bloody awkward, sorry.

OP posts:
Report
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/06/2013 19:32
OP posts:
Report
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/06/2013 19:33
OP posts:
Report
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/06/2013 19:33

But maybe too norky?

OP posts:
Report
Allice · 14/06/2013 19:45

I'm going to one next week, am dreading it but that's a whole other story!

I'm considerably bigger than a size 12, have ok legs compared to the rest of me! I tried on lots of full length which were ok but not great, tried this on and best friend and shop assistant liked it much better (was £100 less than the full length ones so don't think the assistant was telling lies!)

uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.2/3235180108?pageSize=&showAll=true&sort=score

Am wearing it with black tights if its cold and patent platform high heeled shoes. Still bloody dreading it!

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

daftdame · 14/06/2013 19:48

I like the 'too shiny' dress (and the 'boring' one but think not dressy enough).

Shame about the links, (worked for me when I checked). If you google the site they have loads (very reasonably priced) occasion dresses.

Report
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/06/2013 19:51

That's nice, Allice - you'll look great! :)

Will look on TK Maxx, but would prefer to avoid the hell that it is tbh.

Have looked on Ted Baker, Coast, Reiss, Whistles, Warehouse, French Connection. Where am I forgetting?

OP posts:
Report
OliviaMMumsnet · 14/06/2013 19:52

What is occasion?
Do you know anyone else going??
And venue (hotel/marquee/golf club)?
Fundraising?
Birthday party
Work function for you?/DP?


These will also help perhaps work out what other guests might be wearing

IME wearing long when everyone is wearing short (or vice versa) is awful

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.