Need advice/help - Christmas party

PrairieMom wrote: I need some brutal advice about my outfit for this Christmas party we are invited to. I'm not really sure what I am getting into, and I am so insecure anyway, so I need HONEST opinions. I would way rather hear it from Y-all than look like a doof in front of DH's clients.

Okay, here is what I know. The invitation came on heave printed cardstock with swirley /formal looking writing on it.

The wording is as follows:
To all whom these presents may come, Greetings.
Be it known , as bearer of this card, thou art cordially invited to the second annual BKG Black and White Ball
Friday December First, Two Thousand and Six, Anno Domini.
To transpire at the Minnehaha Country Club, prestigiously so.
To Drunk to fish Fiddle their instruments of musical mirth betwixt the hours of ine and witching, twelve midnight.
Thine shall partake in sweetly wanton indulgences.
Robe thyself in black and in white
Liberty thine motors to Valet
Doff thine coat upon entrance.
and abandon thine cares to the blackness of night.


What the heck?
Okay, so they are an add agency, so I don't know if they are just being clever, or if the invitation is setting the tone of the party or what.

There is one other lady from Dh's business going, but she has never been to one before either. She did ask someone from the agancy and they said it was deffinately dressy, but you can also so variations on the black and white theme. Apparently last year someone went as a mime.

Okay, so its dressy, OR you can wear a Halloween costume. Really, I have no idea what I am getting into. So, i don't want to be under dressed, or over.
I went shopping today and this is what I came up with.

What do you think? First of all, can i even get away with this dress? (note the tag is still on)
I am already wearing body shaping short things, what ever they are called, and I don't have a bra on in the pic. I assume my BB's will have shrunk a little by then.

OK. let me have it...





This pic is a little better one of the shoes.



To bad Ben doesn't know how to work the camera. It is tough to get a decent shot of your self like that!

cameragirl21 replied: i think that dress may not be quite formal enough for what they're planning as it's obviously meant to be some formal black tie function.
but the idea is clearly to wear black and white, and it's black, so....

TheOaf66 replied: I think it looks great Tara, you would be fine wearing that to the party.

1lilpeanut2love replied: I think you picked out the perfect dress. It's looks awesome on you. I like the purse too! I absolutely LOVE those shoes. You are brave to wear those. LOL!!!

PrairieMom replied:
I asked Dh's coworker and she said it was probably suit and tie fancy, but not tuxedo fancy. The dress is made of satin if that helps.

So, not formal enough? what kind of dress should I do?

PrairieMom replied:
I had them on for 5 minutes to take the pic and see if I could walk in them. that was 1/2 an hour ago, and my feet STILL hurt. Thank goodness I have 2 weeks to break them in. I am saving the receipt just in case.

1lilpeanut2love replied:
Good LUCK!! LOL! I love high heeled shoes, but they always hurt my feel!

cameragirl21 replied:
oh, i didn't realize the dress is satin, that makes it fancier...from the pic it looks like some kind of linen or something. so yeah, that changes things.
and if it's not tuxedo fancy then that dress will definitely work, and it looks great on you, btw!
and those shoes hurt my feet from here, i can tell...ouch.

PrairieMom replied: Its pretty sad that my 6 months -post -pregnancy Frontal-butt sticks out farther than my engorged post nursing boobs! even WITH control tops on.

cameragirl21 replied: i think you look great, Tara, time to try for number 3!

TANNER'S MOM replied: Well I love it..and I really love the shoes.. where did you get them? I like. I think with the right bra it would make a difference or at least keep people's eyes up and not down. I like it.. A little black dress is for all occasions.. I like it.

PrairieMom replied:
um... maybe no.

C&K*s Mommie replied: I like it too Tara. With strapless dresses you can dress them up quite a bit too. Little black dresses can be kept simple, or made sophisticated through wraps, and jewelry, and even your hairstyle. The shoes are fabulous too!

KingMom replied: I love it, where did you find it??? Did you get a deal?? We have a similar party, they say it's formal or come dressed for the theme, WTH, that's so confusing.

I think your dress is perfect though. Maybe a nice wrap or jewelry will make it more dressy if you think you need to??

OH and you are brave with those shoes, they look good, but I bet they do hurt!

Boo&BugsMom replied: I think it would look awesome with your hair down and a nice necklace! Oo la la!!!

coasterqueen replied: I love it, but I'd definitely dress it up a bit with accessories. Even though it's not a tuxedo event the accessories can make the dress more "classy" if you will and would look great.

Is that the purse you are going to use?

PrairieMom replied:
Target. They were $29.99. Actually the dress is Target too. $49.99. (I bit more than I like to spend..., but you know me! ) The funny thing is that I lOVE the dress becuase it is a size 8, so it is OBVIOUSLY sized big. I can wedge myself into my size 10 jeans yet.

Kaitlin'smom replied: deffinatly needs a bra, then I would add some nice sparkly jewlery that can dress it up and if it seems to dressy when you get there you can take off the jewlery. A nice white wrap would go great also.

PrairieMom replied:
Yeah, I thought it was nice, yet fun and whimsical. its satin too.
My mom has a white fur wrap I was thinking about borrowing, and maybe some white pearls? or some "diamonds" I do have these...

moped replied: I think it is a perfect dress.....looks great on you.

So I love the dress and I love the shoes, but I don't like the shoes with the dress. Perhaps a less chunky high heel with the dress.....but I love the shoes....dont' get me wrong.

PrairieMom replied:
no doubt. a Padded one.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Tara I have the SAME shoes.

I'm not sure about the dress though... not because you don't look good in it, because you do, just personally i'm not a fan of strapless.

Cute purse too. It would definitely tie in the white fur wrap and the black dress.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: I like that dress alot! I am a big fan of diamonds but I love pearls and black. It always looks classy to me!

Kaitlin'smom replied: for the jewlery I woudl go with the black and diamonds....but thats mainly cause I dont like pearls at all.

coasterqueen replied: Definitely pearls - it always makes a black dress very classy. Although if the pearls are more ivory and the dots on the purse are more white, I'd go with a different purse. If the pearls are more white in nature it will all look good together. Sorry, I'm anal about colors matching. ETA: Pearls fit every occassion, IMO really dress up the dress.

I have to agree with Jen on the shoes, I'm not sure they go with that dress. I LOVE the shoes, but not quite sure they fit the dress.

PrairieMom replied: I'm kinda relieved to hear that about the shoes, they are PAINFUL! I don't know if I would be able to do it.

What kind of shoes do I need?
Keep in mind I have HUGE old lady bunions so those super pointy toe things are not possible.

luvbug00 replied: I think my only issue with the shoes is the fact that they are shiner then the dress (texture contrast) . can you post pics of other black shoes that you have?

the rest of it though... you look marvilous! ( pearls )

PrairieMom replied: The shoes are patent leather (plastic) and the dress is satin, so there is a little shine to it, but not much. The dress is definitely not Matte tho. I'll go on a hunt for my other shoes.

PrairieMom replied: Okay. Here are my other shoes. The strappy ones are fabric, I don't know what kind, there is a little sheen to them, but they are more matte than the dress.
Good thing they gave me so much notice on this. I have a whole week and a half or so to get this straightened out.


Eta: I forgot to add the picture.

luvbug00 replied: Middle ones for sure!

PrairieMom replied: They are definitely more comfortable. I'll try them with the dress and see how it looks.

Calimama replied: WHERE did you get those shoes? I'm in love. You look awesome in that dress. I think dressing it up with pearls and nice hairstyle will make it formal enough.

PrairieMom replied: Target, 19.99. What size are you, those exact ones may be for sale... they are a 9 1/2. I wear a 8 1/2 tho, so I think they are sized small.

My3LilMonkeys replied: I love the dress...I would go with the diamonds (I like sparkle) and the middle shoes.

You will look great!!

MyBabeMaddie replied: You look great Tara!! Love the dress and shoes!! I am torn with the jewelry though I guess if I had to choose I'd go with the black and diamonds...

Is that your bathroom? I love the colors with that mirror!!

PrairieMom replied:
yeah, its the guest bath. It is all purple with all white accessories. I like it, but it is dark in there.

quinnandjacob'smom replied: I think you look great in that dress I like the middle shoes, the strappy sandals. But I'm also loving the original ones too. And I think the pearls would add a touch of "white" for the black and white theme. It sounds like a fun party!

MyLuvBugs replied: Ok...First....you said be brutal so just remember that!

Great dress, but wear a really awesome pushup bra to accentuate those bb's.

Those shoes look really uncomfortable too sweetie. Are you sure you'll be able to wear those all night? And I'm not really sure they match the style of the dress??

As far as the jewelry you posted....LOVE LOVE LOVE the simple pearls in the middle. That would be PERFECT for a strapless black dress. And I like the idea of a fur wrap.

Definately take a pic when you have it all picked out. I'm excited to see how awesome you'll look that night!

MyLuvBugs replied:
The middle pair of shoes looks better than the other shoes IMO.

PrairieMom replied: I tried the dress on again later this evening, with the strappy sandles and the simple pearls and I think that is definitely the way to go. I FINALLY found a padded push up bra that fits around my chest, ( I still have a ton of baby weight to loose)
anyway, the whole thing comes together really well! I showed Dh, and lets just say that he likes it.
It is definitely better with the big ole bra. and those patent leather torture shoes are going back to target. There is no way I could wear those all night.

You guys are such a big help. This is the stuff I really need my sister for. I miss her so much at times like these!

coasterqueen replied: Tara,

Definitely the middle strappy shoes. You are going to look HOT when you get it all together and I agree with Erika, I want to see a pic of the final "product".

You got me thinking about the little (well not so little in my case ) black dress I need to find for an event I'm going to next month.

holley79 replied: I love the dress and it looks great on you. Maybe just to "dress" it up a little grab a wrap or something since it will be cooler and this way you won't have to worry about the "under dressed" part.