Dress options for 'Black Tie Optional'

SaveTheWorld2014

I know some of you have such great style (Rach! Smo!) and I would love some suggestions for an inexpensive 'black tie optional' dress for a Commencement Ball in two weeks.

 

Thanks! 

SaveTheWorld2014

Second question - could I wear my MOH dress to the ball? The wedding is four days after the ball so obviously keeping the dress clean would be essential but since it's a no dinner ball, that should be easy.

The first dress is THE dress:

 

This is the color of the dress: 

Thanks again! 

Diamond_Doll

I don't know that I'd wear the pink. It's a little "bridesmaids-y" to be honest. Plus, if something happens to the dress, the bride will kill you. I'd definitley wear something long, and I'd probably stick with a darker color, black, gray, eggplant, something along those lines, or perhaps something with a print.

YouandMe912

I agree with DD. I think it's too wedding-y. I'm sure you can find something out now that isn't that expensive. Try Macy's.

SaveTheWorld2014

I think you're right about it being bridesmaid-y, thanks.

I've also decided to buck the stupid, sexist dress codes and wear a formal pants thing.

 

Thanks! 

MBMcC421

SaveTheWorld2014:

I think you're right about it being bridesmaid-y, thanks.

I've also decided to buck the stupid, sexist dress codes and wear a formal pants thing.

 

Thanks! 

Right.

Because a woman wearing a dress to a formal event is SUCH a stupid request.

SaveTheWorld2014

MBMcC421:

SaveTheWorld2014:

I think you're right about it being bridesmaid-y, thanks.

I've also decided to buck the stupid, sexist dress codes and wear a formal pants thing.

 

Thanks! 

Right.

Because a woman wearing a dress to a formal event is SUCH a stupid request.

Why can't men wear dresses?

Why can't women wear nice pants?

 

My problem isn't the formality of the event dictating the clothes requested but that

women = ONLY dresses

men = ONLY pants.

 

That's not right and it especially makes me sad that MY school is feeding into it. They did NOT specifically say that I had to wear a dress but they said 'black tie optional' and I have never seen a description of black tie optional that doesn't say

'men wear tuxedos and women wear long dresses.'

Why can't it just say:

'the clothes that are acceptable are the following: formal suits, tuxedos and long dresses' and not specify which sex wears which?

 

So, in conclusion, it may not be STUPID but it is certainly OUTDATED. Kthxbai. 

SaveTheWorld2014

Most webpages, etiquette pages/schools, most people, most institutions don't cut out the gender part.

If they do, than that's great! :-)