Black tie means very dressy. So a very fancy cocktail dress with fabulous shoes and done hair is ok. Plain cocktail dress that could double as part of a suit with plain jane hair and flats is not ok. Your man should be in a tux.

Anonymous wrote:"What's the venue? I'm from southern Virginia and don't know ANYONE who owns black tie. Having a hard time even imagining specifying an attire for a southern Virginia wedding. Maybe I'm just a hillbilly, though."

Obviously you are a hillbilly. I am also from southern Virginia and most of the weddings have attended at home have been black tie or cocktail. Let's please not sully the reputation of southern Virginia simply because your friends and family only have Carhart attire and no black tie.

If you're going to attempt to be witty by making fun of hillbilly attire, at least spell the shop correctly. It's CarharTT - two Ts.

I like these. They're cute and short enough so that if you walk past a mound of cow shit, your dress won't scoop it up.

Anonymous wrote:Opinions on these dresses please.

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Rickie-Freeman-for-Teri-Jon-Sleeveless-Illusion-Overlay-Flare-Cocktail-Dress/prod169670054_cat9360738__/p.prod?icid=&searchType=EndecaDrivenCat&rte=%252Fcategory.service%253FitemId%253Dcat9360738%2526pageSize%253D30%2526No%253D180%2526Ns%253DPCS_SORT%2526refinements%253D&eItemId=prod169670054&cmCat=product

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Carmen-Marc-Valvo-Sleeveless-Dot-Textured-Skirt-Cocktail-Dress-Black/prod167720009_cat9360738__/p.prod?icid=&searchType=EndecaDrivenCat&rte=%252Fcategory.service%253FitemId%253Dcat9360738%2526pageSize%253D30%2526No%253D270%2526Ns%253DPCS_SORT%2526refinements%253D&eItemId=prod167720009&cmCat=product

The beaded mesh dresses are very nice and stylish. i would not wear a ballgown or floor length but i am a petite person and it would not look flattering. I would go with the nordstrom dresses but not the ballgown.

"What's the venue? I'm from southern Virginia and don't know ANYONE who owns black tie. Having a hard time even imagining specifying an attire for a southern Virginia wedding. Maybe I'm just a hillbilly, though."

Obviously you are a hillbilly. I am also from southern Virginia and most of the weddings have attended at home have been black tie or cocktail. Let's please not sully the reputation of southern Virginia simply because your friends and family only have Carhart attire and no black tie.

Opinions on these dresses please.


http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/pisarro-nights-illusion-beaded-mesh-dress/3790230?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=2375500&fashionColor=&resultback=454&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_2_D

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/pisarro-nights-beaded-mesh-gown-regular-petite/3790030?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=282&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_1_D

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/pisarro-nights-illusion-yoke-beaded-mesh-dress-regular-petite/3763394?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=2375500&fashionColor=&resultback=445&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_2_C

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Badgley-Mischka-Collection-One-Shoulder-Ruffle-Cocktail-Dress-Cocktail/prod169830228_cat9360738__/p.prod?icid=&searchType=EndecaDrivenCat&rte=%252Fcategory.jsp%253FitemId%253Dcat9360738%2526pageSize%253D30%2526No%253D0%2526refinements%253D&eItemId=prod169830228&cmCat=product

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Rickie-Freeman-for-Teri-Jon-Sleeveless-Illusion-Overlay-Flare-Cocktail-Dress/prod169670054_cat9360738__/p.prod?icid=&searchType=EndecaDrivenCat&rte=%252Fcategory.service%253FitemId%253Dcat9360738%2526pageSize%253D30%2526No%253D180%2526Ns%253DPCS_SORT%2526refinements%253D&eItemId=prod169670054&cmCat=product

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Carmen-Marc-Valvo-Sleeveless-Dot-Textured-Skirt-Cocktail-Dress-Black/prod167720009_cat9360738__/p.prod?icid=&searchType=EndecaDrivenCat&rte=%252Fcategory.service%253FitemId%253Dcat9360738%2526pageSize%253D30%2526No%253D270%2526Ns%253DPCS_SORT%2526refinements%253D&eItemId=prod167720009&cmCat=product

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/ML-Monique-Lhuillier-Strapless-Box-Pleated-High-Low-Gown/prod169060437_cat35350732__/p.prod?icid=&searchType=EndecaDrivenCat&rte=%252Fcategory.service%253FitemId%253Dcat35350732%2526pageSize%253D30%2526No%253D30%2526Ns%253DPCS_SORT%2526refinements%253D&eItemId=prod169060437&cmCat=product

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Aidan-Mattox-Short-Sleeve-Lace-Overlay-Sequin-Gown-Twilight/prod168600084_cat35350732__/p.prod?icid=&searchType=EndecaDrivenCat&rte=%252Fcategory.service%253FitemId%253Dcat35350732%2526pageSize%253D30%2526No%253D30%2526Ns%253DPCS_SORT%2526refinements%253D&eItemId=prod168600084&cmCat=product

I've been in DC a long time and go to at least 5 black tie events a month. Cocktail is more than appropriate here. I swear I might wear cocktail with some cowboy boots. You absolutely cannot wear heels. I hear about horror stories of people killing their Jimmy Choos in the mud. Don't do it.

Blak-tie or not I would be in a knee-length or tea-length dress... No way am would I try for a floor length gown if you're going to be outside (mud anyone?).

Just did a search on the internet of black tie farm and ranch weddings. Half the bridesmaids are wearing cocktail dresses even if they are labeled as black tie events. Most of the female guests are wearing short, dressy dresses. I think black tie means fancier or black cocktail and not actually black tie here. The dress above is lovely but I think you'll look more upscale than most of the guests if you wear it. But you know what the guest list will be. Perhaps older DC types are more likely to wear ball gowns than the 20-something sorority girl types?

Anonymous wrote:One of these things is not like the other...

lol!

Anonymous wrote:I have been invited to an outdoor black tie wedding next week being held on a hillside in southern va with the reception being held at a barn on said property. This is location is noted for weddings, but black tie? Really? Do you think gowns are actually expected in this venue even though it is designated as black tie?

black tie
farm

not my idea of two things going together unless you're in the South of France

What's the venue? I'm from southern Virginia and don't know ANYONE who owns black tie. Having a hard time even imagining specifying an attire for a southern Virginia wedding. Maybe I'm just a hillbilly, though.

You can't wear a floor length gown to an outdoor wedding. I don't care how fancy the damn barn is. You will be walking on grass and possibly mud. Look for something tea length or flouncy like I suggested above.

^^ That's adorable. Traditionally black-tie meant long dresses for women. And traditionally, anything after six o'clock in D.C. was black tie. But those days are gone. I like 15:48's suggestion.

http://www.weddinggownyes.com/high-end-black-flat-strapless-with-ribbon-tea-length-aline-cocktail-dress-p-3304.html

Try something like this.