STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

curiouscookie · BCBG

Need help for Formal Dress

curiouscookie · BCBG

Since this is my first formal dress - I'd like to a buy a classic which I can use again. Black and marroons look good on me but other suggestions are welcome!

Tashina · Kate Spade

how much money are you wanting to spend? and what kind of stores do you have around you?

Hermione · Kate Spade

what is a b&m store?

curiouscookie · BCBG

Hermione wrote:

what is a b&m store?

Brick and Mortar as opposed to online

Hermione · Kate Spade

those are some dresses people found for collette's event that i liked

jcrew, neimans.

Elle · Hermes

These are from Cache, which has quite a few B&M stores around:

From Arden B.

Jcrew:

If you have some time, I'd also go to TJMaxx/Marshalls if you have one around - I've gotten lucky there a few times

curiouscookie · BCBG

Tashina wrote:

how much money are you wanting to spend? and what kind of stores do you have around you?

Tashina - I am thinking around $150 but am not sure if this is even realistic or I will have to increase my budget - as I said first time buy!

I have stores that are in most regular malls (Nordstrom, Hechts, Belk, Penneys, Ann Taylor, Bebe, Arden B) and have other malls within about 45mins that I can go to for other stores...

Do any look potential? I thought I would check out the Department Stores - but not sure about their sizing

curiouscookie · BCBG

One Question:

Would you think a short dress would work for this kind of event or would it be better to go for long ?

curiouscookie · BCBG

Elle wrote:

These are from Cache, which has quite a few B&M stores around:

From Arden B.

Jcrew:

If you have some time, I'd also go to TJMaxx/Marshalls if you have one around - I've gotten lucky there a few times

Thanks for the tip I will definitely check it out!

curiouscookie · BCBG

Hermione wrote:

those are some dresses people found for collette's event that i liked
jcrew, neimans.

I really like the last 2 dresses! Will see how they look on me if they have them instore...

relrel · Marc Jacobs

honestly, your best bet, since you need to try them on, is to start at department stores at the mall. since prom is coming up you might be able to find a really nice one. start at your larger department stores like macy's or bloomindales or something else like that. it take a while to find nicer, non trendy teen dresses, but it can be done. take a day off from work and just go cruise the mall by yourself. start with your body type, do you want strapless, halter, thin straps? do you want knee lenght, long? satin, velvet, lace?

i like these from macy's:

but in black!

from bloomies:

but in black

im throwin this one in here too cause it's just so pretty and fun, but prolly not what your looking for, but it's purty.

this in the black is prolly my favorite because it's so simple yet fun with that satin sash thingie at her waist.

relrel · Marc Jacobs

curiouscookie wrote:

One Question: Would you think a short dress would work for this kind of event or would it be better to go for long ?

do you have a paper invitation you can look at? imo, if it says formal, you're okay with shorter lengths but if it says black tie you're better off with longer lenghts. but then again.....just look at the golden globes and other awards shoe stuff, the lengths of the dresses are all over the place. personally, i tend not to like longer lengths simply because i feel like the dress is swallowing me. are you taller? then you might be okay with a long dress. im 5'7" and i look silly in long dresses.

curiouscookie · BCBG

relrel wrote:

curiouscookie wrote:
One Question: Would you think a short dress would work for this kind of event or would it be better to go for long ?

do you have a paper invitation you can look at? imo, if it says formal, you're okay with shorter lengths but if it says black tie you're better off with longer lenghts. but then again.....just look at the golden globes and other awards shoe stuff, the lengths of the dresses are all over the place. personally, i tend not to like longer lengths simply because i feel like the dress is swallowing me. are you taller? then you might be okay with a long dress. im 5'7" and i look silly in long dresses.

I will have to ask to see the invitation to get a better sense of it!
I'm only 5'2" and quite slender - things can overwhelm me really easily which is why I am starting the hunt for something appropriate early !

I really like the red dress you posted it's very cute!

Hermes

curiouscookie wrote:

My boyfriend invited me to a formal charity dinner event in the beginning of February. I am pretty overwhelmed, I have no idea where to even start looking for a formal dress!!! Suggestions please! I also need ideas on which B&M stores I can go to to look for dresses, since I am petite and need to try on clothes to make sure they fit right. TIA!

formal means full length. When ever I see women in short dresses at formal/black tie events, I always feel embarassed for them becuase they always look like they are out of their element...

small fry · Chanel

i love this one

Hermes

relrel wrote:

curiouscookie wrote: One Question: Would you think a short dress would work for this kind of event or would it be better to go for long ? do you have a paper invitation you can look at? imo, if it says formal, you're okay with shorter lengths but if it says black tie you're better off with longer lenghts. but then again.....just look at the golden globes and other awards shoe stuff, the lengths of the dresses are all over the place. personally, i tend not to like longer lengths simply because i feel like the dress is swallowing me. are you taller? then you might be okay with a long dress. im 5'7" and i look silly in long dresses.

I am going to be the contrarian here - the classic definition is: formal is a white tail jacket for men, ball gown for women, semi-formal is black tie and full lenth gown for the woman (although some wear short - the black tie events I go to it is rare to see a short dress.)

These days, formal tends to mean black tie, as it is rare to see white tails these days.

I am 5'7" and I don't look silly in full length.

this is me in a dress I wore a year ago to a black tie - it could have been a little longer, but it was still considered full length:

-- Edited by detroit at 14:29, 2006-01-17

-- Edited by detroit at 14:33, 2006-01-17

Tashina · Kate Spade

i found all of these dresses at david's bridal.

Bridesmaid Dress Style 81123 $180

Bridesmaid Dress Style 8856 $130

Bridesmaid Dress Style F11656 $150 this one comes in two other colors also

Elle · Hermes

Curiouscookie - if you do indeed need to find a full-length dress, I'd get a move on it because you'll probably also have to get it shortened

.

relrel · Marc Jacobs

detroit wrote:

I am going to be the contrarian here - the classic definition is: formal is a white tail jacket for men, ball gown for women, semi-formal is black tie and full lenth gown for the woman (although some wear short - the black tie events I go to it is rare to see a short dress.) These days, formal tends to mean black tie, as it is rare to see white tails these days. I am 5'7" and I don't look silly in full length. this is me in a dress I wore a year ago to a black tie - it could have been a little longer, but it was still considered full length: -- Edited by detroit at 14:29, 2006-01-17 -- Edited by detroit at 14:33, 2006-01-17

i love a good contrarian...especially when she's as smart as you, detroit. i just figured since nobody in real life really does white tails anymore that it was okay to slightly downgrade the definitions (does that make sense?). oh, and you look amazing in that dress, perhaps the long dresses don't look right on me cause im dumpy? curiouscookie...lid isten to detroit, ive only gone to one formal type event (which was charity as well, and im not counting prom) and it was about half and half with long and short dresses. but my initial ruling still stands, get your butt out shopping...it will take a while to find the perfect dress, especially if its supposed to be long. and elle called it right, it will prolly take hemming, hopefully done by whomever you end up purchasing it from.

but keep us posted...we're great with shoes too!