Please Help! Ball gown issues!

Insomnia101

Hi all,

I was hoping that some of you lovely people could offer some advice.

I am due to attend my graduation ball in two weeks which is a formal, black-tie event. I couldn't afford to buy a ball gown and one of my friends (and I am eternally gratefull for this!), has given me a gown to wear.

The gown itself is brand new, still with the tags on (I really love my friend!). It is full lenth, with a strapless, boned top half and the bottom has some netting (not too much) so goes out a wee bit at the bottom. It's a gorgeous dress but it's very plain, with no embellishments and it's black (which can make me look very pale). I thought about acessorising but due to it's length you can't see my feet (so no coloured shoes) and I can't for the life of me find even a shrug that I could put on with it to add colour.

Does anyone have any ideas? I don't have a sewing machine but I can hand sew and make lots of my own clothes. I think I'm have an artistic block at the moment so any advice is really, really appreciated!

Thank you for any help!

vivaladiva

There are lots of peachy pink (or is it nude) coloured corsages about in the acccessory shops at the moment. Could you use something like that to brighten the dress up? If you are good with fabric you could probably make your own in whatever colour you want.
My daughter's prom dress came with a wrap in the same colour and fabric as the dress. Perhaps you could find some fabric to make something like that or use a silky scarf?

THIRZAH

What about jewellry-try Accessorize, Claire's Accessories or even Primark.
You could perhaps get a coloured pashmina or silk scarf too.

Insomnia101

Thank you both for your replies.

I love the idea of corsages and this is going to sound stupid but where would I put them? I had though of putting corsages around the entire waist of the dress to add some colour and interest?

I really struggle keeping a pashmina on and am a little self-conscious in a strapless dress (I'm not used to showing that much skin, normally more modest), so was trying to come up with something with short sleeves that would stay on and give me a little modesty.

Thirzah, I'm hoping to add a lot with jewellery I just didn't want to splash out yet until I had a shrug/colour scheme.

Thank you once again.

vivaladiva

Insomnia101 wrote: »

Thank you both for your replies.

I love the idea of corsages and this is going to sound stupid but where would I put them? I had though of putting corsages around the entire waist of the dress to add some colour and interest?

I really struggle keeping a pashmina on and am a little self-conscious in a strapless dress (I'm not used to showing that much skin, normally more modest), so was trying to come up with something with short sleeves that would stay on and give me a little modesty.

Thirzah, I'm hoping to add a lot with jewellery I just didn't want to splash out yet until I had a shrug/colour scheme.

Thank you once again.

There are a lot of lace tops about at the moment in pale colours. Could you adapt one of those to fit over the bodice of the dress. It would brighten the dress and cover your shoulders too. You could attach a corsage at the join.

Insomnia101

That sounds like a definite possibility, thank you

Penelope_Penguin

Insomnia101 wrote: »

Does anyone have any ideas? I don't have a sewing machine but I can hand sew and make lots of my own clothes. I think I'm have an artistic block at the moment so any advice is really, really appreciated!

Thank you for any help!

Have you tried a cashmere and silk pashmina? I bought one each for DD and I for a wedding where she was an usher. My dress was black with white spots, so I needed some colour. They brighten up an outfit, and can keep you snug on chilly summer evenings, too

They're not cheap, but will last for years.

I'll move this to the Fashion Board, where the experts there will have more ideas.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Insomnia101

Thanks penelope,

I should have said that I had also posted on health and beauty, I did say I had posted on OS on my other thread.

This is a pickle, is there any way to get the threads merged?

Sorry to be a pain!

P.S. those pashminas are gorgeous!

sal22_2

I got a bargain dress from matalan last year which was plain black but I bought some wide ribbon from John Lewis for about £3 in cream and ties that around my waist/bust line leaving a long bow at the back.

may be you can do this with your dress? any colour of ribbon would look lovely and you can change the colour of the ribbon to give a whole new look to the dress if you wear it again.

Insomnia101

Thank you Sal, that is another great suggestion, I don't know why I didn't think of these thing before!

muffintop

If you can sew and don't like showing too much flesh, how about making a bolero - brightly coloured with sleeves (short? three quarter length?) and all sorts of embellishments? I have a black velour bolero that I bought cheap years ago in a sale that I never throught I'd use much, but I put a large gold, ruby and pearl brooch on it (costume jewellery, of course) and I've worn it with loads of dresses that either have very small sleeves or are strapless.