Ballgown for Formal Night?

[wwdpjd]

Ok this is it. The grandaughter is getting marrried on the ship. She wants everyone to be dressed formally. She wants us formal for the wedding and the Captain's dinner My handsome husband is easy to dress but I am a different story entirely. My profession keeps me a Tom Boy. After 23 years as a cop I'm okay with it. I don't want to look like a country cousin so I have been prowling EBAY for a reasonably priced used outfit. No sense in spending a ton of money for a one time deal. Found a beautiful outfit which was a long black ballgown skirt and a white shirt that is very plain wrap around style. I think it will be okay as I am generously endowed and look better in tailored attire. This is the question. Is this "too" formal? Would I be better set to wear a black skirted cocktail suit? Are these events on two different nights meaning I have to have two outfits? I don't want to shame my husband's grandaughter but don't want to be so formal that I feel weird either. Thanks for all advice!!

[Murrah Miss]

If you feel the ballgown length is too formal, simply hem the skirt up to a tea length. I did that to a black taffeta skirt I bought many years ago, and have found it to be so much more versatile at that length.

[6rugrats]

This is absolutely not too formal for formal night. It sounds elegant and understated and a good choice for someone not comfortable with too much frou-frou.

If you aren't wearing something you are comfortable in, you are going to be miserable.

Have you shown the picture to your granddaughter? Why not ask her opinion?

[catllar]

I agree with 6rugrats - it sound elegant. I guess you could always change the top for the second evening - could you get the same style in another colour perhaps? I used to be a tomboy until several years ago I took up flamenco dancing and gradually got more and more comfortable in girly stuff as we had to wear long full skirts and frills. Now I just love it! Bring it on! What's important is that you feel happy.Enjoy the wedding and good luck to the happy couple.

[cb at sea]

You don't actually need a "ballgown"---an evening gown (slinky, sparkely, etc.) will be just fine! You don't have to have big skirts and wrinkle-prone material for it to be formal!
A cocktail dress is also appropriate!
There are alot of evening clothes that travel well (jersey's and other stretchy, embellished materials!) so you are comfortable and don't need to worry about wrinkles!

And, on "formal" evenings, you can not be "too formal"!

[trish1c]

What you describe sounds lovely & totally appropriate although the bride might not be thrilled with your white top. No one will know you wore the same thing 2x. I wear the same formal dress every cruise.

I will offer you other suggestions though:

Try a local consignment shop, preferable in an upscale neighborhood. It's a low tech version of e-bay.

Also, depending on when you will be sailing, wait until New Years Day & shop the evening gown section of your local department store. They discount a lot of stuff then.

You may want to consider investing in a pair of flyaway pants -- they are big wide legged pants covered with a filmy chiffon. You pair them with a top like eth one you described or something more sparkly. If the prices are right perhaps you can get 2 tops; problem solved.

Happy shopping & congrats on the wedding.

[wwdpjd]

Originally Posted by trish1c

What you describe sounds lovely & totally appropriate although the bride might not be thrilled with your white top. No one will know you wore the same thing 2x. I wear the same formal dress every cruise.

I will offer you other suggestions though:

Try a local consignment shop, preferable in an upscale neighborhood. It's a low tech version of e-bay.

Also, depending on when you will be sailing, wait until New Years Day & shop the evening gown section of your local department store. They discount a lot of stuff then.

You may want to consider investing in a pair of flyaway pants -- they are big wide legged pants covered with a filmy chiffon. You pair them with a top like eth one you described or something more sparkly. If the prices are right perhaps you can get 2 tops; problem solved.

Happy shopping & congrats on the wedding.

You are so smart!! Thank you for the great suggestions!!

[linkerbink]

I second the idea of dressy pants. I have a pair of filmy-silky pants that I take along with two different dressy tops. They are comfortable and easy to pack. Even at age 62, I'm not a frilly, girly type (a former Naval Officer and probation officer) and I've found that to be a perfect solution.

[GORDONCHICK]

If you do purchase the outfit off ebay (which is perfectly formal), you might look to find another top to go with the skirt and then you have two outfits. But keep in mind - you will have to pack the outfit.....

As another said, you may want to wear either a colored top with the skirt for the wedding, depending on how persnickety the bride is. If you have the chance to ask her or her mother, that would also be good.