Black-tie dinner in Oxford dressing options - Pictures!

HannahC

Hi everybody,

Continuing my previous thread of what to wear to a black-tie dinner in Oxford - I took pictures of my fallback dress and of my accessories (not fallback ). Here is the link to the whole album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ha.....directlink
It features clutch and then shoes alone (without me), and then me in the fallback dress from Bravissimo (the main problem being the fabric), various pashminas (silver, cranberry, and teal), and several jewelry options: brooch and earrings, pearls, and also the brooch attached to the pearls, per Shiny's suggestion.
I will say later what I think, as not to affect your judgment. Opinions please! CRS or just in words is fine.
Thanks!
P.S. I was too lazy to take off the tights. Naturally, I will not wear opaque tights with the dress and the heels.
P.P.S. I am also not wearing any makeup and my hair is totally wild in the pictures. Ignore Of course I will put some makeup on and do my hair for the actual event.

17 years ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from HannahC

shiny

Veteran

Oooh!!! I LOVE the brooch on the pearl necklace!! And the dress is killer - what a gorgeous figure you have.

I will be interested in what others say, but I really don't see a problem wearing this dress to the event. In the dark nobody is going to have any clue what the fabric is made out of anyway! I think it isn't wool but some synthetic material, right? I remember reading the description and thinking that several of my LBD's that I dress down or up - and wear to cocktail parties - are the same fabric.

I'm leaning towards the grey pashmina, to coordinate with the purse, but then again I was just at BR yesterday and I have that shade of grey stuck on my mind now. The cranberry is very lovely with your coloring. Hmm, yes, I vote cranberry.

I think all you need is some patterned or micro fishnet tights.

17 years ago

shana

Veteran

Hannah, I missed your first post but I think the black dress is fab on you - it fits beautifully and accentuates your figure so well. It's such a classic! What is the fabric? I can't imagine that the fabric would be an issue unless it was say linen??? I like both the cranberry & teal pashminas and either would be fine with the clutch. I like the brooch with the necklace as well each piece on its own. Personally, I prefer a statement piece of jewelry when the dress is so simple - a multi-strand or large pendant necklace, chandelier earrings etc.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Hannah, this is a perfect dress for you! It really suits your figure. All the accessories are lovely. I have s slight preference for the cranberry pashmina and pearls.

17 years ago

Alecia

Veteran

Yes, what is the fabric? I think the fit and style is something so classic you can't really go wrong. It looks great on you.

I vote for the grey pashmina. It just seems more elegant to me. I think shiny and shanas' suggestions are good ones - micro fishents and statement jewelry.

17 years ago

HannahC

Active Member

Hi everybody,

Thanks so much!! I am overwhelmed by the compliments, and I am also very happy that you like the dress.

The fabric is a blend of polyester, viscose, and wool (12%), with 1% elastane (it doesn't actually have a strech, well, maybe just a tiny bit). Basically, it looks like a suiting material, so I imagine it will be very appropriate as a part of a suit, with a jacket. It is also fully lined.
My main worry is indeed the material because I read somewhere that the material for a dress suitable for a black-tie event should be silk, satin, taffeta, or something like that.

So, my next mission is to find micro fishnets. Hmmm ... wonder whether there is such a thing here in Israel. I know I complained about the lack of formal dressing culture in Israel already ... well, one of the results is that the selection of hosiery is very limited.

What I thought is essentially what you all said: that grey pashmina is more elegant, and I will definitely look appropriate in it; however, I do love jewel tones, and so I love the cranberry and teal as well. I just have a trauma from walking around Oxford four years ago wearing a bright fuchsia trench (mind you, I had a very conservative black suit underneath), and feeling that literally everybody is staring at me, I stuck out so much in the sea of neutrals. I think I will just take all of them and decide on the spot (they don't take much space in the luggage, and will probably be handy on other occasions as well).

Also, it looks like either choice of the jewelry should be fine. Shana, in everyday life (or on festive occasion, just not that formal) I love big pendants as well and often wear them. However, here the occasion is so formal that it seems to me that I should stick with diamonds or pearls.

OK, I am much much calmer now. I will wait for the JCrew dress, but even if it turns out to be wrong for me, I will still be fine with what I have now.

Thanks so much!!

17 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

I think the dress looks great on you and would absolutely be fine for the occasion. I prefer the dress with teal pashmina, pearls and no brooch.

17 years ago

HannahC

Active Member

Thanks!

I think I get it: the grey pashmina goes with the brooch, and the cranberry or teal one with the pearls. Right? It makes a lot of sense actually!

I just remembered that Angie said that the dress was too casual from the picture on the website. Angie? After seeing the picture of me in it with the accessories, what is the verdict?

17 years ago

HannahC

Active Member

Angieee! What do you say about the dress and the material?

Everybody else said that it looks appropriate in the pictures ... It is a suiting material - a blend with 12% wool (also polyester and viscose), and it is lined.

The JCrew dress hadn't arrived yet (I hate international shipping), so I am getting nervous again

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I’m here, Hannah! Sorry that I haven’t had a chance to comment earlier. Here is my 2 cents without looking at anyone else’s comments:

o The dress fits very well! I’m glad you have a fall back option. It’s hard to determine the fabric integrity from the photo, though. I know it looks business-y, but it sounds like you’ll get away with it. If you were my client, you would not be wearing cap sleeves. I generally find them unflattering and this forum knows that. Sleeveless would have been much better. BUT! You have the dress and wearing a wrap saves that part of the look.

o I know you won’t wear the opaque’s. Phew! You need black micro fishnets fast. It will add the necessary textural interest to your ensemble.

o The shoes are okay. I know that shoes are really hard, so if they fit, use them.

o Change the clutch. Its adorable but everything is TOO black. Your hair is black too. It’s nice to create a contrast against the black dress.

o I LOVE the pearl necklace with the pendant. It’s KILLER. It fills up that scoop neck perfectly. Try matching it with pearl earrings, the contrast against your black hair will be very striking.

o I like the cranberry or teal wrap best. And if the fringe bothers you, you can always cut it off!

I hope that makes sense Hannah. Let me knew if it doesn’t. Also, how were you planning on wearing your hair? Don’t forget to wear lipstick! Your outfit is well on its way :0)

17 years ago

Anonymous

Ooooh. Angie is always spot on. I love the way the pearl necklace with the pendant fills up the open space of the neckline. It also takes the whole look up a notch to very dressy.
I also love the teal pashmina on you.
You're going to look great with your hair done up and hopefully with the micro fishnets. I wonder if you will have time to find them when you get to Oxford? I also wonder what your second choice would be if you can't find the micro fishnets?
Edit: Oooops, forgot to say to Shiny, great idea to put the pendant on the pearls!!

17 years ago

HannahC

Active Member

Wow, such great ideas! Angie, thanks so much for such a detailed feedback!!!

I don't like cap sleeves either, but since I will be wearing a wrap, it won't be too bad (I hope). On the positive side, it is great to hear from an expert that my feeling about cap sleeves was right Actually, the JCrew dress is sleeveless, I just hope it fits when it arrives ...

The clutch is pewter with some shine. You are saying it is still too neutral, right? I can go check whether they have more cheerful options. I am just afraid to look too cheerful for Oxford

The shoes are actually quite comfortable for such high heels, so I am happy I have them (they have a little platform that makes the heel feel less high than it really is). The choice of colors was black or brown, so I went with black.

Great to get an affirmation of the pearl necklace with the pendant! Shiny, you are great! Angie, I love the idea of wearing pearl studs with it! I was feeling that my earlobes are a little bare without any earrings.

I actually never thought of cutting off the fringe ... I quite like it. Does it look bad? I can cut it then, I guess.

I planned to wear the hair either all up or half up. I am still practicing I spent one Saturday with my hair up in a French bun and it held quite well (with some hairspray), but I am feeling that it is too severe ... I am trying to come up with creative ways to wear it up but looser (suggestions are very welcome!), or maybe half-up (inspired by Angelina Jolie at the Oscars ).

Angie, lipstick is a big problem Any lipstick disappears from my lips in 10 min tops I have this Max Factor long lasting "lipfinities" thing (two tubes - one color and one top coat), which is a bit better, but nowhere near the promised 10 hours. I would say, if I don't eat or drink, it will stay for an hour. Plus it feels dry and icky. But it is impossible not to eat or drink at dinner!

San, I love teal too! And also thanks for the reassurance!

The search for micro-fishnets is not going too well ... I am kicking myself for not asking you all earlier - when I still had time to order them on the Internet. I still have a couple of stores to check, but I am losing hope. Now I am planning to carve some time in the UK before the dinner - I am sure there are many great options there. My schedule is pretty crazy, so I need just to go somewhere, buy the fishnets and be out in half an hour. I will be able to carve half an hour in London the day before. I guess Marks&Spenser should be a reliable source, right?

17 years ago

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