advice and help!

[geekster_girl]

Fatshionistas, I desperately need some help.  My husband and I have made the big splurge and are attending an inaugural gala on Jan 20.  The gala is "semi-formal/black tie" and I'm having a fatshion brain lapse.  So far I've found two different dresses that I think might work, but I'm completely confused about accessories and shoes.

Comments

[alogsdon]

According to Camilla Morton in the book A Year in High Heels, black tie means "dinner jackets...and a black bow tie [for men] while the women wear long gowns." Knee length is usually for cocktail parties. But you will know better than some book whether the even you are attending requires floor-length.

[cherrybgirl]

I'm also going to a ball and have a long and short dress to choose from- the short dress looks way better and will be worn again, long dress definitely a one-off. Basically I think all the balls will be such a crush of humanity that no one will even know what you are wearing, so wear what you like and feel good in. And have a great time!

[palaverment]

Between those two, I think the INC one is a bit dressier. It is, technically, more "cocktail" attire - but in my experience "semiformal" or "black tie optional" really mean "wear something on the fancy side of a cocktail dress" more than "go all out, floor-length formal". Even black tie includes shorter dresses these days, according to the venerable Emily Post (fact I only know because I just looked it up today to make a point to my own inaugural escort regarding his shoes. sigh.).

If you go with that dress, though, I think you should probably keep the accessories on the simple side given how much movement and dangle the dress has. Maybe some glitzy earrings and no necklace. The bracelets they have in the photo are a little casual, but maybe some other kind of bracelet would be nice.

Some other ideas, just from glancing through Macy's: one, two (my favorite, especially in "cobalt"), three, four. My guess is that the last two might be the best for an "oval" but I am a terrible judge of these things and always have to try 15 things on

[geekster_girl]

THANKS for all the great comments. Sorry for not replying individually, but yesterday was a crazy work day and I collapsed into bed as soon as I got home. On a whim, though, I stopped in at Nordstroms on my way home and found this (http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3000041/0~2376776~2374327~6007059~6007319?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007319&P=1). It looked great and I bought it immediately. I think that the posts above are correct and that a long dress might work better. The best part about this dress is that I don't need to wear any "shaping" garments underneath. Yay, I can be comfortable!

I'm going for peep toes with this and some amazing art piece necklace that I have yet to find.