Help: dance ball, dress dillema

Hello ladies
This weekend I and my SO (and ballroom dance partner) are attending an yearly dance party/ball. The ball is organized by our dance studio (amateur) and the dress code officially is evening, but people show up in various dressed up levels. Evening gowns in floor length are not uncommon, maybe aprox 15% of women will wear them.
Of course the question is what to wear! I had an image of a dressed up flared midi skirt for a while, but it seems I cant find one that I like at the moment.
This leaves me with three options:
#1 run and buy something
#2 use mint dress I wore at friends wedding in summer. Dress it down somehow and try make it look less summery, more wintery (weather is nearing to zero outside). The dress is ivory and mint jacquard, ribbon belt detachable.
#3 take my red zara dress and try dress it up, despite the fact that the fabric is quite casual - fine knit.

My dance shoes are simple black leather T straps

I thought I could participate more in this forum, but life gets in the way, and I see that I can not do more than occasional WIW or a question without straining myself And straining is not the point in participating in an (online) community. Still I am very grateful that this invaluable place exists

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Zara

Knit Dress

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Top Pick

9 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

You know, I get into trouble trying to buy a dress at the last minute...I would advise wearing something you already have for this one...I would wear the red dress and add accessories...like maybe a shiny belt of multiple strands of faux pearls...I'll think and if anything else comes, I will post again..
Mainly have fun and enjoy going to the ball...

Joana

Active Member

Thank you crutcher
I am thinking if the mint dress could be paired with black accents, like clutch, tights, belt, as the shoes are already black. I saw that done, but only casual mint dresses paired with opaque black tights.
Originally I wore the dress with nude accessories, but of course it was a very summery look.

viva

Can you dance in the Zara dress? I'm sure you can dance in anything -- -- but I always think of ballroom dresses as needing more give below. I love the mint dress worked more as a winter wonderland kind of dress. I think black accents could work.

You don't have a little faux fur capelet, do you? I just saw one at Anthro that would be just amazing. Or a fur cowl? Anthro is pricey; faux fur accessories are available at all of the lower-priced stores too.

Anthropologie

Broglie Faux-Fur Cowl

Rue Faux-Fur Stole

L'Abeille

For ballroom dance it seems a shame not to wear your twirliest skirt, so I vote for the mint.

What if you wear it with long gloves? Elbow or above.

Seconding the idea of the fur wrap or capelet. Or if that is too hot to dance in, a sheer or shimmery wrap or stole?

Instead of black, consider accessorizing with silver. Go all Wintry Ice Queen.

Aubergine

I like L'Abeille's suggestion of wearing the mint dress and trying to do an ice queen type of look. I think the black shoes would work, but I'd maybe try to do a mix of black with lighter options like silver or cream for the other accessories, because black everything might look too heavy with the dress. Have fun!

LAR101

The cream belt vears the dress towards summery. Thank goodness it's detachable. See if you can match it with your black or silver accessories or go without. You probably already know this.

Sveta

(website)

He-he, I have the same dilemma as you - what to war to a ballroom dance party in a month
I think that mint dress is the best option from what you have - it is really lovely. Remove the ribbon belt and add white / silver accessories. Cream faux fur capelet would be smashing with it to wear when you are not on the dance floor. Please let us know what topper you find for it because I am frantically searching for one myself!

I tried both dresses on and I have two news about mint dress: the bad, it seems I gained some weight and fabric is non stretch. It meens only shallow breathing possible, not an option for dancing sadly :(; the good, this dress pairs quite well with black accs
This leaves me with red dress in hands. It has enought strech for moving, but I may get hot in it.
Well... I don't know maybe run&buy option isn't elliminated yet
This leaves me with red dress

Please ignore last repeating sentence, posting with my phone is weird.

Jenava

Well, I think the red is a possibility if you wear it with sheer black hose and black fancy accessories. It all depends on what you have as for as accessories! Black seems the way to go with red for dancing.

FWW, I would prefer the red to the mind anyway, since it's more seasonally appropriate. Can you add a very fancy necklace and earrings, for example?

As far as purchasing something, what shops are near you that might have something in stock? If you're near a mall you could almost certainly find something...

tulle

Your mint dress is lovely, and has a sort of frost-pattern look that works just as well for Winter, I think. A wider, more structured leather belt with a pearly finish would accentuate the waist--always nice when dancing. Add some statement earrings or multiple loops of crystal beads, and you're there.

Oh dear, I'm sorry--I missed the too-tight message on the mint dress. That would be no fun at all. You may need to take a few hours and do some very focused shopping in the evening wear department of a good store. Take your dancing shoes with you, and treat yourself to a grande latte first!

I'll make a quick run to the shops, what I have near me are mostly fast fashion chains: H&M, zara, mango etc. Maybe I'll get lucky, if not I still have the red dress and statement earrings
It's a lesson not to procrastinate till too late
thank you all for your input!

jurocha

I was already imagining you all wintry ice queen! Either easy by layering a polo neck sweater in a fine gauge under the dress or go party with white/silver long gloves and stole.

But if fast fashion is an option, H&M has middle dresses in lace now, one in pink and very princess like. And Mango is full of sparkly options. Good luck and let us know about the results.

What about a full twirly midi length skirt? you might be able to pair it with a dressy top you already have. (just so you don't limit yourself to looking at dresses).

Hello, I ended going to ball in my red dress. To my surprise movement restriction was minimal But I was quite hot (as was everyone else). I wore black matte sheer tights, black clutch and long, big statement earrings, and the overall feeling of the outfit was good
L'Abeille I seriuosly want to find a nice twirly or draping full skirt, I feel it would be a long living and easy to dress up/down piece in my closet.

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