Ball dresses – how to wear them and with what
Have you been invited to a formal ('White Tie') or semi-formal ('Black Tie') event such as a ball or a wedding? Are you wondering what to wear, how to wear it and what to wear it with? When it comes to formal events there are many traditions and customs that need to be adhered to, if you want to avoid feeling out of place. Here is a guide to ball dresses and the accessories that go with them.
Length and form
Ball dresses are normally long dresses that reach at least down to the ankles. Ball dresses come in two lengths:
Ballerina length dresses reach to the ankles.
Full length dresses reach down to fhe floor.
Necklines are often low, leaving the neck uncovered. Bare shoulders are sometimes acceptable depending on the occasion.
Material
Appropriate materials for ball dresses are normally shiny and luxurious materials such as silk, satin, taffeta and velvet. Further glamour is often added to the beautiful materials by decorating them with embroidery, pearls, lace etc.
Accessories
Shoulders
When extra 'covering' of the shoulders or arms is needed, a shawl, stole, cape, cloak or opera coat would be appropriate.
Jewellery
Jewellery that goes with ball dresses is usually luxurious vintage or couture jewellery. Do not be afraid of becoming too shiny or flashy when frosting yourself for a 'white tie' event. Watches should only be worn if they are decorated to look like jewellery.
Decorations
At events where state decorations are worn by participants, married women are normally expected to wear Tiaras. If the ladies have state decorations themselves, these are worn on a bow pinned to the chest of the dresses.
Gloves
In previous centuries, gloves were an absolutely indispensable accessory for ball dresses. Gloves worn for a ball should be opera length (elbow length). The color can be either white or a color that suits the ball dress.
Bags
The most suitable style of ladies' bag for a ball dress is the 'clutch style'.
With this simple guide to ball dresses and their accessories you will hopefully feel much more secure when choosing what to wear for your next formal event.
