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Topic: O/T NYC Black tie wedding
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| Author | Message |
| SoonToBe | Posted – 10/9/2003 8:27:49 AM | show profile I know this may seem kind of frivolious, but we've been invited to a black tie (NOT optional) wedding in NYC. Not our normal kind of shin-dig, and I have no idea what to wear. For my husband, getting a tux is the easy part, but what about for me? It's at a plush NYC hotel, very lavish event. Can someone clue me in so I don't look like a moron? |
| Lowbrow | Posted – 10/9/2003 8:44:39 AM | show profile For the gals, black tie means you're supposed to look like you're attending the Oscars. Something long, dark, and fancy. If you need to scrimp on the $$$, check out the City Opera Thrift Shop at 222 E. 23rd. St. bet. 2nd. & 3rd. 212-684-5344. Fancy ladies and opera buffs donate the kind of duds sure to fill the bill. P.S. Ask about their sale on 10/15 if you've got the lead time. |
| TM | Posted – 10/9/2003 9:27:32 AM | show profile Nowadays you don't absolutely need to be in a long dress, but hell, how many occasions does a girl get to go all out? |
| Lowbrow | Posted – 10/9/2003 9:45:04 AM | show profile TM's right - a cocktail dress or dressy evening seperates will do - just make sure that after "dressing up" you look like you're going to a party rather than a job interview! It should be easy to picture your man in a tux, so picture your man standing next to you when you look in the mirror. |
| SoonToBe | Posted – 10/9/2003 10:05:36 AM | show profile I guess that's what I'm wondering. Do I need a floor length dress? If I go without, will I be the only one? I don't live anywhere near NYC. We'll have to travel for the wedding. I do know, though, fashion is a whole 'nother ballgame there, and I've got such anxiety over looking like a country bumpkin at this event. |
| sciwriter | Posted – 10/9/2003 10:17:19 AM | show profile i'd go with floor length- I went to a black tie only at a fancy nyc hotel last year and everyone was wearing floor length. I had on a black silk number that was quite formal, but fell just below my knee. anyway, I felt underdressed. i think in this situation, more is always better than less because I can guarantee you there will be other women out in full regalia. |
| Lowbrow | Posted – 10/9/2003 10:25:29 AM | show profile No sarcasm intended here, but none of us can tell you what the other guests will be wearing - so if you are worried about being underdressed, then don't go underdressed. I don't think a woman guest can overdress for a black tie wedding unless she wears a jeweled tiara and a bridal gown. I think a few Web searches on the subject will ease your decision-making process. Please avoid red. |
| westsidestory | Posted – 10/9/2003 11:36:09 AM | show profile | email poster some shopping tips Another option would be two pieces, a dressy top and a long skirt... Do you have a Lord and Taylor near you? That's been my best bet for formal wear, and they have frequent sales (last year I got a green silk ball gown for $40). Another option is Nordstroms, the catalog or nordstroms.com. They're pretty reasonable, have a lot of sizes, quick delivery and easy returns. |
| JDC | Posted – 10/9/2003 12:22:05 PM | show profile Underdressed Nothing makes you feel worse than that. Unless, you overdo the look. Basic black -- simple and long works. Just use some dynamite jewelery and you can carry it off. A great pair of earrings, or a fabulous necklace will put you in with the in crowd. Will you be arriving in NY a few days early? If so, there are actually places where you can rent a gown to wear. I'll try to refresh my memory and find a few places and post their names here. Or, you could hit a store like Lord & Taylor, Saks, or Macys and have a personal shopper sell you a perfect look. The service is free. And, personal shoppers are cool. They understand price constraints and work with you to find the best possible look for you that suits your budget. I recommend Leslie at Lord & Taylor on Fifth Avenue. She's great! |
| maggiecatnap | Posted – 10/10/2003 9:20:15 AM | show profile Dress ideas I have recent experience with an NYC black tie wedding and agree with other posters that you should try Lord& Taylor, also dont forget Bloomingdales, they have an enormous dress section. Good dress designers for "young" looks are BCBG Max Azria, Nicole Miller, and Betsy Johnson. I also agree with LowBrow and other posters that floor length is not neccessary, and that it is very difficult to overdress. As long as you dont upstage the bride or the bridal party. I dont know how close you are to the couple, but it is always helpful to know the style of the wedding and bridal party dresses in order to guide your decision (for example if bridesmaid's dresses are cocktail or tea length, then you know that you can wear really any length but run the risk of appearing more formal if you go floor-length, if thats a concern.) One unilateral piece of advice is NOT to wear a dress with a train. Save that one for the red carpet. As for color, anything dark will do - black, navy, red, green, violet, what have you. I am also a personal fan of subtle metallics, if the fabric is a good quality. But be careful of anything in the champage/gold family, if its too light it might too closely resemble a bridal gown. If you want to go budget, try Filene's Basement or Century 21, because you just never know. Also, ebay has a high-end online auction called "silk runway" that includes designer formal wear at good prices, but, its a huge risk. It does seem that Black tie weddings are quite in vogue - ive got three coming up within six months, and Im no Hilton sister. So if you have to break the bank for a dress, you might be wearing it again sooner than you think. Good luck - |
| madfoot | Posted – 10/10/2003 1:45:57 PM | show profile SoonToBe, you must err on the side of caution if you are worried about appearing as a country bumpkin. Take the safest route -- Black, floor-length, and simple -- don't wear anything floral. And then, relax and enjoy! Nobody's there to look at you. MaggieCatNap, I can't find that section on EBay -- do you know the URL or how I can find this fascinating Silk Runway section? |
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