formal awards dinner in NY

[Anonymous]

I have been invited to judge a competition that has a formal awards dinner in NY. The men in the pictures are wearing tuxedos.

I am in my late 50s, a size 12. My fashion goal is to blend in. I could pay a few hundred for a dress, maybe even 600? Any ideas where to start to look? (it is in May, so hopefully it will actually happen)

[Anonymous]

I’m a little bit younger, but about the same size. I’d do Rent the Runway honestly for something like this.

[Anonymous]

Is this happening in the far off future? Or are we doing t in person awards dinners again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this happening in the far off future? Or are we doing t in person awards dinners again?

I guess I was hoping that in May there could be an in-person dinner? Am I just dreaming?

[Anonymous]

+1 Definitely Rent the Runway

Please tell us what areas of your body you would like to accentuate, minimize, your coloring, and your preferred colors, and we can try to help you find something! I went with black because you said you wanted to fade into the background.

Here's just an initial guess:

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/hah/reversible_take_a_bow_dress

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/solace_london/soraya_jumpsuit

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/cmeo_collective/on_the_level_gown

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/nicole_miller/structured_heavy_jersey_cape_gown

[Anonymous]

Please don't go unless you are fully vaccinated. There are two shots, 2 or 3 weeks apart depending on vaccine, and you're fully immunized 2 weeks after the second shot. That's 5 weeks between 1st shot and full immunization.

In brief, don't invest in a dress until you get your first dose at least 5 weeks before the event. Plenty of time to buy or rent in 5 weeks...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please don't go unless you are fully vaccinated. There are two shots, 2 or 3 weeks apart depending on vaccine, and you're fully immunized 2 weeks after the second shot. That's 5 weeks between 1st shot and full immunization.

In brief, don't invest in a dress until you get your first dose at least 5 weeks before the event. Plenty of time to buy or rent in 5 weeks...

I think by May many will be vaccinated and immune otherwise the event won't be held especially in New York. Cuomo isn't playing around.

[Anonymous]

I would not count on a dinner going forward in May -- unless it is a really small number of people.
That being said, there are crazy sales going on, and they will get even better in January/February, particularly for fancy dresses.
You might be able to snag a classic black dress at the Lord & Taylor going out of business sale (only in-person). If men are in tuxedos I would go for a long dress, but you'll get lots of other opinions about that here.

Rent the Runway sold off a bunch of its inventory to Thredup -- lots of choices available.
do you want little sleeves? to be able to wear a real bra?

Here are a couple to consider:
https://www.thredup.com/product/women-rayon-lauren-by-ralph-lauren-black-cocktail-dress/88315491

https://www.thredup.com/product/women-silk-bieff-basix-black-cocktail-dress/84961153

https://www.thredup.com/product/women-polyester-lauren-by-ralph-lauren-black-cocktail-dress/81908352

https://www.thredup.com/product/women-polyester-badgley-mischka-brown-louisa-gown/82376065

https://www.thredup.com/product/women-adrianna-papell-blue-cocktail-dress/87189719

https://www.thredup.com/product/women-polyester-bcbgmaxazria-black-casual-dress/85976146

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 Definitely Rent the Runway

Please tell us what areas of your body you would like to accentuate, minimize, your coloring, and your preferred colors, and we can try to help you find something! I went with black because you said you wanted to fade into the background.

Here's just an initial guess:

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/hah/reversible_take_a_bow_dress

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/solace_london/soraya_jumpsuit

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/cmeo_collective/on_the_level_gown

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/nicole_miller/structured_heavy_jersey_cape_gown

Thanks! I am Irish, with short arms and legs, long torso, kind of straight up and down non-curvy figure. size 12 (so need to lose weight). . My thick thighs means I cannot sit gracefully in any dress that is above the knees when standing. Many of these look great! I just hope it actually happens. Going to NY, seeing old friends, going to a fancy dinner... it would be such heaven if it could actually happen...

[Anonymous]

Do not do rent the runway. Guaranteed there will be someone else in your gown and everyone will know it’s rent the runway because a lot of women check it. You will definitely lower your credentials.
I’d look at Pamela Rowland on the Real Real.

[Anonymous]

I attended something like that in NY. I rented from Rent the Runway.

I rented in DC and was able to return the dress in NYC near Union Square.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 Definitely Rent the Runway

Please tell us what areas of your body you would like to accentuate, minimize, your coloring, and your preferred colors, and we can try to help you find something! I went with black because you said you wanted to fade into the background.

Here's just an initial guess:

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/hah/reversible_take_a_bow_dress

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/solace_london/soraya_jumpsuit

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/cmeo_collective/on_the_level_gown

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/nicole_miller/structured_heavy_jersey_cape_gown

Thanks! I am Irish, with short arms and legs, long torso, kind of straight up and down non-curvy figure. size 12 (so need to lose weight). . My thick thighs means I cannot sit gracefully in any dress that is above the knees when standing. Many of these look great! I just hope it actually happens. Going to NY, seeing old friends, going to a fancy dinner... it would be such heaven if it could actually happen...

Fingers crossed OP! I think both PPs provided nice options too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 Definitely Rent the Runway

Please tell us what areas of your body you would like to accentuate, minimize, your coloring, and your preferred colors, and we can try to help you find something! I went with black because you said you wanted to fade into the background.

Here's just an initial guess:

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/hah/reversible_take_a_bow_dress

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/solace_london/soraya_jumpsuit

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/cmeo_collective/on_the_level_gown

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/nicole_miller/structured_heavy_jersey_cape_gown

These are so nice but the one customer who said she got really sweaty in the jumpsuit reminds me why I am a little skeeved out by renting clothes!

I buy secondhand dresses so I have no idea why a rental feels different but yick

Really love these two, that said: https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/nicole_miller/structured_heavy_jersey_cape_gown

https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/cmeo_collective/on_the_level_gown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't go unless you are fully vaccinated. There are two shots, 2 or 3 weeks apart depending on vaccine, and you're fully immunized 2 weeks after the second shot. That's 5 weeks between 1st shot and full immunization.

In brief, don't invest in a dress until you get your first dose at least 5 weeks before the event. Plenty of time to buy or rent in 5 weeks...

I think by May many will be vaccinated and immune otherwise the event won't be held especially in New York. Cuomo isn't playing around.

I doubt this will go forward, unless under 25 people and outside. The vast majority of the gen pop will still not be vaccinated in May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not do rent the runway. Guaranteed there will be someone else in your gown and everyone will know it’s rent the runway because a lot of women check it. You will definitely lower your credentials.
I’d look at Pamela Rowland on the Real Real.

This. Some of the dresses are indeed nice, but you can always pick out the RtR dresses and I have been to weddings where multiple women show up in the same dress. Invest in something classic you can wear again.