# Who owns evening dress and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2001, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086 "2001-09-06T19:01:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/41 "2001-09-07T22:50:09Z")
Or we could parade through the streets shouting, DEATH TO IGNORANCE!!! ---
**Author:** ![LinoleumInnocence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LinoleumInnocence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinoleumInnocence)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/42 "2001-09-08T00:19:19Z")
Weee-lll, let me pop into the wardrobe to count. Okay I have 6 formals in my wardrobe at the moment (not counting the two _shocking_ ones I wore to my high school formals - they were consigned to oblivion). There is my debut dress - we’ll ignore that one, just think wedding gown-ishy A lilac halter necked bridesmaid dress that I inhertited from someone when the wedding didn’t go on. The my black cocktail dress that is above knee length with a lace sheath over the top. Spaghetti straps. One of my fave formals - Navy blue full length, with a satin bodice and spaghetti straps My fave formal, which I designed and made. Cream full length, off the shoulder with beading on the off the shoulder bit (you cannot believe how long it took to sew on all that beading). And a formal I bought because it was on sale (like really on sale). It is silver and really difficult to describe. It needs alterations but it was such a bargin that I couldn’t pass it up. I am not sure when I will wear it but something is bound to come up. Li ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/43 "2001-09-08T02:33:48Z")
::chanting:: formal Chi-dope…formal Chi-dope…formal Chi-dope… ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/44 "2001-09-08T02:52:53Z")
We all sound so beautiful! We have to find an excuse to display our finery! ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/45 "2001-09-09T01:41:35Z")
Of course, I have my share of old bridesmaid’s dresses that will never again see the light of day. Bride: “And I just know you’ll wear it again!” Me: “Yeah, right. A Pepto-Bismal pink dress with a huge bow on my butt. I’ll wear it hundreds of times.” I also have a couple formal outfits. Can I be invited to the Formal DopeFest? I have a couple of formal dresses in navy, black, dark gray and burgundy. Most of them are very simple (yet elegant!). I also have a black velvet pantsuit; plain pants, sleeveless top with a satin collar, kinda low cut if I leave the buttons undone. MrKinsey loves it. He loves velvet. Can’t keep his hands off me! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/46 "2001-09-09T01:56:52Z")
I have around four. It is necessary for me, on occasion to go to a “do” so I need to have the right garb. I have a great black one that hides all my flaws and pumps up the positive. I have a green velvet that hides no flaws and I can only wear it when I’m feeling confident, a navy blue one and a cute little summery one. I’m always ready in case of a undercover assignment at a gala 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/47 "2001-09-09T02:12:07Z")
I rather loathe dressing up–could be related to my phobia over shopping–but have accumulated enough basic stuff for dressy occassions. Several cocktain length dresses: - dark royal blue crepe; very simple and severe–except for the wrap skirt which flashes some nice knee. - taupe silk; high neck and long sleeves, cinched with belt of the same material. It’s a lot prettier than it sounds. - cream silk; sleeveless, V-neck; a zillion tiny pleats from shoulder to hem; narrow belt. It’s very graceful but a colossal pain keep ironed. I don’t have a floor-length dress anymore. For “dressy” I wear a black silk slacks suit. The jacket is very severe, V-neck, waisted but cut long–almost knee length. (No blouse; just accessorized with a pendant.) It’s comfy and looks elegant. Sheesh, I have boring taste in clothes. Veb ---
**Author:** ![BigGiantHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b4bc9f/32.png) [@BigGiantHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigGiantHead)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/48 "2001-09-09T03:02:44Z")
Damn… I wished I still lived up North where dressing up is a viable option. A formal ChiDope sounds SOOOO kewl. [sub]Shhh… don’t tell my friends over in the HouDope thread.[/sub] I’ve got five suits of varying formality in the closet. Nothing black-tie level, but I’m still looking for a reason! ‘Course, I looked f\*\*\*in’ good at Mardi Gras this year: Wore the double-breasted zoot-daddy jacket from the purple suit, the pants from the green one, and a “gold” (yellow) tee underneath - TA-DA! color-coordinated partier! - Dave ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/49 "2001-09-09T03:09:58Z")
When I was in the service I was required to have “dress blues,” the US Army’s equivalent of evening cloths. Dark blue blouse or jacket with shoulder straps for insignia of grade, baby blue high rise trousers with a broad yellow stripe down the outside seam. Just like the John Wayne’s costume in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. Even when purchased slightly used from someone who was leaving the service, the price was pretty stiff on a junior officer’s pay. In order to make sure we got them my service school had a formal dinner party on a command performance basis for all student officers. I still have mine. Mrs. Gelding, the kind soul that she is, says that I looked quite gallant and dapper. Of course, that was 35 years and 20 pounds ago. Anybody need a set of Blues, 42R jacket and 34X34 trousers, hardly any wear? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/50 "2001-09-09T14:07:09Z")
I have the misfortune of being dragged to a hospital charitable fundraiser every January, so I have assorted formal wear. My neighborhood association also puts on a formal dinner/dance every Christmas so I at least get to wear the darn thing twice. Personally, I’d rather be in my sweats. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![slackergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@slackergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slackergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/51 "2001-09-09T18:21:16Z")
Somewhere in boxes I have 7 or 8 formal ball gowns. Leftovers from Job’s Daughters and random deb balls and Masonic things I attended as a teenager. Some of them I couldn’t wear again, but a few would still be great if I could fit into them. Next week I will be looking for a black formal gown, tea to ankle length, for my sister’s wedding. I haven’t had a reason to own anything like it for at least 10 years. I’ve always been very comfortable in the formal clothes, but I hate the shoes. I wear a women’s 11 1/2, which almost nobody carries, and heels make me too tall and hurt my feet. Yuck. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/52 "2001-09-09T18:47:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stuyguy \* > \*\* > Gentlemen, give me your attention please. > > 1. If you’ve got a cummerbund, the pleats go _up_, not down. In other words, they should look like the siding on a house if the house was turned upside down. > > \*\* Stuy - best way to remember, if you were out for a night on the town, the cummerbund should be worn so it could hold the tickets for the play. It was originally designed to hold small items. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/53 "2001-09-09T20:57:40Z")
Get ballet type slippers for formal occassions-there is no law saying you HAVE to wear heels! ---
**Author:** ![fierra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@fierra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fierra)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/54 "2001-09-09T22:07:11Z")
I have. Some is kept from a school leaving ball - it still fits, but I’d never wear it again, the style is wrong. Some is just picked up over the years & never worn (often in sales, but sometimes not :(), both summer & winter. I do have a gorgeous midnight velvet, back laced, above knee length dress that I have worn & still have & fits, that I’d like to wear again. I also have several full length silk (summer/spring) or black velvet dresses, ditto black velevet full length skirt with tops/blouses (winter definitely) to match. I need to work for a company that has christmas "do"s. I want an excuse to wear these… ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/55 "2001-09-09T22:11:36Z")
My most glamorous was a dress made specifically for me. Based on an Erte design, it’s a silver/black slip dress draped with black lace with gray fur trim cuffs, black skullcap-like hat with silver sparkles and black feather spray, 3-inch clear heels embedded with pearls inside, elbow-length black gloves with black feather trim, dripping with diamonds and pearls, topped with 20’s-era Norma Desmond makeup, deep-set black eyes and cupid lips, including a drawn-on spitcurl. I was _quite_ the hit at the drag show with Annie Lennox’s “No More I Love You’s.” 😉 Esprix ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086/56 "2001-09-10T00:13:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Turbo Dog \*\* > Careful with those Alphas, think. Some crusty ole gunner might gently and kindly remind you that Bravos are the authorized L&L wear. Not that hard to make the switch from ‘A’ to ‘B’, ya know. Quite a story, you’ve got, I’m sure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-evening-dress-and-why/80086.md?page=2)