Is this too dressy? And help with accessories!

[villanelle75]

In October, we will be attending an event for DH's work. Typically, for anything that isn't casual, they were uniforms, but for this one, they've been told it will civilian coat and tie. DH will wear a fairly dressy Navy (subtle) pinstripe suit. I believe it will be an evening event, and DH thinks it is a dinner, but details are sketchy.

I bought this dress. I adore it and it was very very cheap, since there was a tear at the bottom, which is fine with me since it is about 8 inches (!!!!!) too long and needs hemming anyway. But I am worried that I will be too dressy. It is a sheer silk over a satin shell. What do you think?

http://content.nordstrom.com/ImageGallery/store/product/MediumLarge/12/_5449952.jpg

And assuming it isn't to dressy, anyone want to help with accessories? I suck at accessorizing.

I can't find the shoes I bought, but there are in the same line. Mine are the same wine colored patent with the ring detail, but they are a thin patent heal rather than a wedge.
http://www.zappos.com/images/734/7341391/6628-466149-d.jpg

[jajacobsen]

I would shorten the dress to tea length an dtehn I think it would be just fine.

I love teh shoes especially with a thin heel. I would go simple on teh rest of teh accessories since teh pattern of the dress is so bold.

[nylons73]

villanelle - I love the dress! It would not be too dressy for all of the Marine Corps events that I attend with my DH, but I am not sure about dress code in the Navy. (they are, in fact, the Marine Corps 'taxi service' - heh heh (j/k) had to get that in there ;) )

If it were me I would hem the 8 inches, keeping it a true gown, and just go less 'blingy' on the accessories so it doesn't appear as if you are attending a truly formal event. I think a simple pendant with a wine colored stone would look great around the neck, or even no necklace with some wine colored earrings (studs) would compliment the look.

HTH

[MLA]

I agree w/jjacobsen. Shorten the dress, and it will be fine -- and more usable for other events in your life, too!

Love the shoes. I'd do gold accessories. Maybe a nice cuff bracelet and small hoop earings. No necklace.

[May27JnJ]

Keep the length, hem for your height of course. No necklace, but gold cuff bracelet and some kind of gold earings would be great!

I love that dress!!

[jajacobsen]

I would do a pendant or earrings but not both. If a pendant, something like Nylons described would look great.

[Hello Kitty]

The print for me definitely takes the formailty down - so I think you would be fine regardless of the length you choose. No help at accessorizing, though.

[villanelle75]

We actually do more formal things than cocktail things, so it's more practical if I leave it long. Plus, I prefer the look when it's long, but if it is too dressy that way, chopping it makes sense. Is mid-calf a good length? Must think on that.

I love the idea of a gold cuff bracelet. The banding under the bust is a metallic gold, so that's perfect!

[MLA]

One of the reasons I thought you should hem it is that, IIRC, you're not on the tall-side, right? If it were me (I'm just a bit over 5'3"), I'd be afraid of being engulfed by so much print on such a short frame. A long dress on a short person tends to make the person look shorter. And since you said it's not a super-formal event, you don't need a full-length gown. I think something a bit shorter will look better. JMO.

[villanelle75]

I just remembered that I have some small garnet earrings and a garnet tennis bracelet. Would that be too much? I prefer the idea of a cuff, but not spending more money also sounds good.

[Sadie]

I'm not going to be much help with your questions, but I just wanted to say that I LOVE the dress and the shoes. :)

[nylons73]

We actually do more formal things than cocktail things, so it's more practical if I leave it long. Plus, I prefer the look when it's long, but if it is too dressy that way, chopping it makes sense. Is mid-calf a good length? Must think on that.

I love the idea of a gold cuff bracelet. The banding under the bust is a metallic gold, so that's perfect!

Because of the overall look of the dress I think that a long dress could be 'dressed up' to look more formal or 'dressed down' to look more causal. I don't think length has that much to do with formality (with regards to this particular dress.) i love the idea of a gold cuff bracelet as well. if you did just that and maybe some stud earrings, I think you would be fine leaving it long. I'm short as well and don't hesitate to wear long dresses (if that helps any.)

At the last 'family night gathering' the Marines had, I wore a tea-length dress. Some wore shorter, some wore longer. I held back on the accessories b/c it wasn't a 'formal ball.' Only the woman in the white, tulle prom dress made waves. ;)

ETA - Just read your post regarding the earrings. Small garnet earrings would be perfect!

[MLA]

I just remembered that I have some small garnet earrings and a garnet tennis bracelet. Would that be too much? I prefer the idea of a cuff, but not spending more money also sounds good.

I think that would work great.

And you can ignore my post about the length since it seems that leaving it full length may be more practical for you in the long-run.

[MLA]

Only the woman in the white, tulle prom dress made waves. ;)

LOL!

[wendalah]

Do not shorten the dress. The longer length is very in style right now, especially for a summer event. In L.A, girls are even wearing long dresses in the daytime (with flat sandals). Enjoy the length now while it's hot, and you can shorten it next season when long dresses aren't as hip.

The print takes down the formality factor. If I were you, I'd play up the slightly "free-spirit" element of the print with large, thin gold hoop earrings*. A gold cuff as suggested would be good too.

*ETA: I'd wear my hair casually too, maybe in a nice but not-too-fussy low ponytail or low bun.

[jajacobsen]

I can totally picture that dress with gold hoop earrings and a gold cuff. It woudl look less formal. Since in LA they're doing things long right now, you'll be great. (In Hotlanta, not so much at a non-formal event.)

[kalogrias]

Oooh, is it a dining out of sorts? How fun :)

The dress would look fine if you kept it long. If your DH is being asked to wear dressy civilian, that is the correct thing to do. A gold cuff would work better than a garnet set, but that is just a personal opinion.

I LOVE the dress!!!

[villanelle75]

It's actually an event for the entire helo community at our base. Usually, they do an annual beach party, but for some reason, this year it's a nicer thing.

The dress is so beautiful. The picture really doesn't do it justice. My only hesitation, now that you've all made me feel okay about the dressiness level, is that I am very chesty in it, and it may be a bit much for a Navy funtion. But I guess the Navy will have to deal with my breasts, since I have to deal with all of their crap.

[kalogrias]

But I guess the Navy will have to deal with my breasts, since I have to deal with all of their crap.

:D:):p;) AMEN!!! I love it!

I don't think you will be too chesty in the dress. It looks like the band below the breast area (empire waist band?) will accentuate but not allow too much to be revealed. And even if you are a little chesty in it, you'll look great and people will be jealous of your beautiful endowment ;)

[Foley42]

Don't shorten it. Love the dress and shoes! Care to share the brand? ;)

[villanelle75]

It's Laundry. It's still available in stores and on they have it on the Nordstrom website. And the shoes are Calvin Klein, purchased at Macy's, though apparently not available on the Macy's website.

Another question for everyone. Any chance I can get away with wearing that to a Christmas party? If need be, I could find a wine-colored wrap of some kind. It's not normally what I would select for a Christmas party, but it would be nice to get double duty out of it.