# Help me choose an evening gown! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 12, 2008, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026 "2008-04-12T13:19:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e9c0ed/32.png) [@El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Perro_Fumando)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/21 "2008-04-13T16:05:36Z")
My sister actually just bought the [BCBG gown in a different color](http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2978236?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=guidednav&keyword=BCBG+in+All+Categories+%3e+%24300+and+Up&origin=searchresults). It’s a very flattering dress - model figures don’t run in our family, but she looked stunning. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/22 "2008-04-13T16:16:17Z")
[QUOTE=El Perro Fumando] My sister actually just bought the [BCBG gown in a different color](http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2978236?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=guidednav&keyword=BCBG+in+All+Categories+%3e+%24300+and+Up&origin=searchresults). It’s a very flattering dress - model figures don’t run in our family, but she looked stunning. [/QUOTE] Oh, I like it much better in that color! The contrasting colored sash draws the eye upward away from the pear problems. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/23 "2008-04-13T18:22:40Z")
[QUOTE=El Perro Fumando] My sister actually just bought the [BCBG gown in a different color](http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2978236?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=guidednav&keyword=BCBG+in+All+Categories+%3e+%24300+and+Up&origin=searchresults). It’s a very flattering dress - model figures don’t run in our family, but she looked stunning. [/QUOTE] Hmmm, I’m not digging the pattern - it looks like she’s going to a luau. I like either of the first two options if you have the arms to pull it off. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/24 "2008-04-13T18:40:41Z")
I don’t hate the pattern, but I do consider it both less formal, and soon dated. One of the things that made me choose the two dresses I chose is that they’re relatively timeless. I may not need this thing again for ages, but when I do… there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/25 "2008-04-13T18:48:50Z")
I like them both, but like the first one more. However, given your requirement for support, I suspect the second one is the better choice (though I am no expert on that at all.) ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/26 "2008-04-13T20:40:33Z")
I’m late to the party, but I overwhelmingly prefer the BCBG gown, in black, as long as you have the proper foundation garments for a strapless dress. I think it is stunning, and I don’t perceive it as drawing attention to the hip area at all. (I’m not one to think of pear-shapedness as a major figure flaw anyway, unless the person is very narrow-shouldered on top and huge on the bottom. I think a little hippiness is sexy and womanly.) ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/27 "2008-04-14T14:30:19Z")
Bcbg! ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/28 "2008-04-14T14:40:09Z")
I like the BCBG dress better although strapless can be difficult unless it’s heavily boned inside. The dress itself is more elegant though than the Calvin. The Calvin is nice too but is you have any fat blobules at all (even skinny woman can have them), it’s going to show right through that fabric. And if you wear a girdle, that’s going to show. If you wear just underwear, that’s going to show through. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/29 "2008-04-14T15:20:45Z")
If you go strapless, get yourself a long-line strapless bra. It’ll sit on your hips, so it won’t go anywhere, and will give you a very nice upper body shape. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/30 "2008-04-14T16:17:14Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] I like the second, but I tend to steer away from strapless dresses. I always feel like I’m falling out of those. [/QUOTE] …and that would be bad because? ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/31 "2008-04-14T16:43:24Z")
The **BCBG** dress is cute! **Guin** - that site is awesome. All the[BCBG](http://stylebug.com/ProductList.aspx?Designer_ID=10) dresses are lovely. If it were me, I’d be going for [this](http://stylebug.com/ProductDisplay.aspx?Product_ID=1780&Category_ID=0) number, but then I don’t mind jersey and I have big boobs and no bum, so obviously YMMV. I have to say that until today I have never heard of [Sue Wong](http://stylebug.com/ProductList.aspx?Designer_ID=121), having looked at her dresses, I can see why. Not my style at all. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/32 "2008-04-14T16:57:06Z")
They’re both gorgeous, but it sounds like the first one would like better on you. I second the recommendation to go with something other than black. Black is the safe, forgettable choice. If you can find something in silvery gray, you would look incredibly classy and stand out from the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/33 "2008-04-14T20:00:16Z")
Both of them are very classy looking but I vote for the BCBG. I agree with the other posters on the tendency of satin to show everything underneath and the BCBG also seems more forgiving of slight-to-moderate pear-shapedness. By the way, I agree on the “jersey is not an evening fabric” concept. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/34 "2008-04-14T20:17:55Z")
Guy voter here- and I definitely say the second one. The first one looks like a giant roll of corrugated iron. The second one looks like sex on a very lovely stick. ---
**Author:** ![Thinks2Much](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Thinks2Much](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thinks2Much)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/35 "2008-04-14T21:24:56Z")
I have been very happy with purchases from [onlinedresses.com](http://www.onlinedresses.com) They do have some of the creepy prom types, but they have other good ones, too, and for half the price of what you are considering. Like [this one](http://www.dressesonline.com/proddetail.cfm?CFID=15161833&CFTOKEN=3473956&ItemID=502&CategoryID=5), which is a lot like your first choice, but not strapless, and without that bow in front. (I hate bows) and it comes in lilac, too, which would be a grayish blue. There is [this one](http://www.dressesonline.com/proddetail.cfm?CFID=15161833&CFTOKEN=3473956&ItemID=779&CategoryID=3) as well, which is sort of a greyish blue. [This one](http://www.dressesonline.com/proddetail.cfm?CFID=15161833&CFTOKEN=3473956&ItemID=1077&CategoryID=3) may be satin, but I think the cut would help your figure and it comes in silver. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/36 "2008-04-14T21:58:40Z")
[QUOTE=Thinks2Much] I have been very happy with purchases from [onlinedresses.com](http://www.onlinedresses.com) They do have some of the creepy prom types, but they have other good ones, too, and for half the price of what you are considering. Like [this one](http://www.dressesonline.com/proddetail.cfm?CFID=15161833&CFTOKEN=3473956&ItemID=502&CategoryID=5), which is a lot like your first choice, but not strapless, and without that bow in front. (I hate bows) and it comes in lilac, too, which would be a grayish blue. There is [this one](http://www.dressesonline.com/proddetail.cfm?CFID=15161833&CFTOKEN=3473956&ItemID=779&CategoryID=3) as well, which is sort of a greyish blue. [This one](http://www.dressesonline.com/proddetail.cfm?CFID=15161833&CFTOKEN=3473956&ItemID=1077&CategoryID=3) may be satin, but I think the cut would help your figure and it comes in silver. [/QUOTE] You know I was also thinking a halter neckline – it’s a little sexy and dramatic, and would bring attention to your top half (which seems to be what you want). You could also wear a bra underneath with a halter-style strap around the neck, which actually is very supportive. ---
**Author:** ![Viridiana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Viridiana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viridiana)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/37 "2008-04-15T17:30:34Z")
I think the first one is prettier/more interesting, though I myself would never wear strapless, being too paranoid. Great for shielding hips and playing up great upper build, though. If you’re tall enough for it and can pull it off (maybe one of those weird undergown shaper things would help with holding it up and with the bra part) I’d go with the first one (the back on the second one does indeed look a bit troublesome)…but I’d really have to see a picture of you to choose with confidence. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/38 "2008-04-15T18:06:37Z")
Seriously. If you don’t believe me, go to [GoFugYourself.com](http://GoFugYourself.com) and see what a nightmare any shiny fabric is, because of the creases you’re going to see from sitting down in a shiny, satiny dress. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/39 "2008-04-15T18:20:01Z")
IMHO, the first one is supposed to have a bow on the front, but it just looks like a big ugly hunk-o-fabric. The second one is rather nice. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026/40 "2008-04-15T18:56:13Z")
[QUOTE=DianaG] I don’t hate the pattern, but I do consider it both less formal, and soon dated. One of the things that made me choose the two dresses I chose is that they’re relatively timeless. I may not need this thing again for ages, but when I do… there it is. [/QUOTE] To me, the second one is pseudo-timeless, but is a current version of pseudo-timeless, and will be dated. If that makes any sense. It’s what has shown up on the red carpet this season as “classic Hollywood”, but next year will be the outdated version of classic Hollywood. I think they’re both nice, but the second one just seems done, and the first one would flatter a slight pear shape. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-evening-gown/445026.md?page=3)