USMC Brides/Girlfirends

stophammertime

This will be the first time my H will be home to go to the Birthday Ball and I'm kind of freaking out about what to wear. I've seen tons of things that say super formal so that's what I did. I bought a gorgeous black gown that has one strap and a small train.

Here is a link:  
DRESS <<click

Now, I am worried that I am over-dressed and under-dressed at the same time! I saw something that said absolutely no prom dresses but I thought this was a sleek and sophisticated dress. Not the typical prom dress that has a slit up to the panty line and a neck line that cuts to the belly button. Then, yesterday I saw some pictures on one of my H's friend's facebook that were taken at the ball. These girls were wearing sweater dresses that looked like they came from Body Central. I'm very confused at this point.

Help please!

kyrgyzstan

That's a Flirt! I know the MSRP, because I used to sell it. It's a lot to spend for a Birthday Ball, but you won't feel out of place. In the future, I'd definitely go for something less expensive though. This year will be my 8th ball/dining in. I've never spent more than $100, and I've worn the same one multiple times. I generally avoid anything made for prom, and thus poofy or revealing. And overpriced.

One of the Nesties on MN just guest blogged about this!

http://mydeploymentjournaldearmatt.blogspot.com/2010/09/ball-dresses-101.html

Your dress is fine. If he stays in and you keep buying dresses, you can definitely go cheaper. My ceiling is 200, and I'm wearing last year's dress again because he's in a brand new unit (score). 

byoung0520

Agree'd with PP.  If he definitely plans on making this a career, you'll definitely want to reuse some dresses when moving to different units as well as spending less money on them.  The ball is a formal event so traditionally you wear a ball gown to a ball.  My FI doesn't really approve of people wearing a short dress to the ball, he's very strict about how it's a formal event and that short dresses are not the dress code.  I don't know if that's just his personal taste or what.  My avatar is a pic from last year's ball and it was a red strapless with a rhinestone brooch in the center chest and it was a mermaid fit.  This year I've gone with a strapless in a royal blue chiffon...I'd consider it something I would have worn to prom.  But what girls wear to prom nowadays isn't exactly what we wore to prom....The dress you chose is fine.  Don't worry. 

mysticl

Technically Formal means floor length.  At least that's what I was always taught. 

OP, what you describe as a prom dress is not what I would call a prom dress.  But then I'm 35 so I have a different perspective.  I think the dress you picked is stunning.  Remember it is always better to be over dressed than under dressed.

ggirl2001

I had the same problem when looking. I first hit up friends for bridesmaid dresses, but nothing I liked. I ended up buying a black strapless floorlength dress from Macy's.. I have never gone to one before, and I don't have any prom dresses left (I'm 27).. I was excited because I got my dress on sale too.. here's the link..

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=357877&CategoryID=22122

I hope that's ok.. if not.. oh well.. live and learn haha

byoung0520

@ggirl: my dress is similar to this one but in royal blue chiffon.  Going black is the best because you can always reuse a black dress! 

And yes, I always known formal as long gowns...as what I thought was for homecoming and prom...but I always see super short revealing dresses these days and it looks very ummm, trashy?

calindi

I think it's lovely, and I'd totally be a little envious if you were at the ball I'm going to and were wearing that - so that's a plus! I can't afford a new dress right now, so I'm reusing one from a previous formal occasion (no 'prom dress' styles, but nothing as elegent as I'd like).

By "prom style", they suggest you don't look like this:

ggirl2001

well. there goes my plan to look like a pink big bird.. lol

byoung0520

hahahaha! 

stophammertime

Thanks everyone for the advice! I definitely feel much better. I was worried I might have to find another dress! I actually paid $99 for the dress. I didn't want to pay more than $100 for something I was only going to wear once either. Also, if I decide to wear it next year I'll probably add something to it or maybe carry a red clutch or something that will make the look a little different. I don't really see the point in loading my closet up with a bunch of formal gowns I'll never wear again.

Thanks again!

Beachy730

Yeah I'm a Navy wife not USMC, but we also have the balls.  Thats more formal than the ones I've worn, but you will see everything at these balls.  I've seen dress pants and sweaters, to big ball gown style dresses.  I've always ordered mine from Nordstrom's evening gown section.  As a PP said though, definitely save them as you can always reuse them.  I actually just realized that I left all of mine in my parents closet when we moved cross country, so hopefully I don't need one while we are here. 

Calindi- how did you get a picture of my prom dress?  Haha

calindi

Only $100?!  Where'd you find it?!  Send me the link please!!!

stophammertime

I found it on ebay! It's a Chinese knock-off. Haha. I fell in love with the dress but couldn't stomach the $400 price tag that came with it so I found a knock-off version on ebay. It actually looks just like the picture. Plus, I got to choose my own color! The original dress didn't come in black.

calindi

Oh man, that's awesome!  Yeah, I lived in China for awhile and loved having custom made clothes (I still have a few suits, but they're tight now as I lost a lot of weight while I was there from stomach issues).

I'm probably heading to Beijing next year for work, and my Mom is planning on tagging along, so we were talking about having a custom made wedding dress!

stophammertime

They are excellent quality and definitely much cheaper than the ones here. I bought my wedding dress here for a little over $1000 and found a China retailer selling the same one for $170.

DanBry12

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_usmc-bridesgirlfirends?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:364a8e87-e7bf-4ffd-9ba6-b6ac6f91e116Post:ffca1051-5110-4dd7-b42c-2b375d98eaf0">Re: USMC Brides/Girlfirends</a>:
[QUOTE]I had the same problem when looking. I first hit up friends for bridesmaid dresses, but nothing I liked.<strong>I ended up buying a black strapless floorlength dress from Macy's.. </strong>I have never gone to one before, and I don't have any prom dresses left (I'm 27).. I was excited because I got my dress on sale too.. here's the link.. <a href="http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=357877&CategoryID=22122" rel="nofollow">http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=357877&CategoryID=22122</a> I hope that's ok.. if not.. oh well.. live and learn haha
Posted by ggirl2001[/QUOTE]

Ditto. Actually the EXACT same one! hehe you have great taste <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" /> 
This is my 3rd ball. Last year I saw younger girls in both long and short dresses, two women in traditional kimonos and one older woman who looked like she belonged at a resonance fair. In my opinion as long as you don't show too much T&A and are not over the top flashy, you'll be fine. OP - the dress you got is really fabulous and beautiful, I say rock it and then wear it again! HTH

ekilzer1

I think the dress is beautiful and perfect. 

Last year we had the ball in Vegas...... and let me tell you I saw everything from trashy, slutty, and WAY too young. Sad to say I saw I 30+ year old woman wearing something very similar to the pink-big bird frock. And I also saw a girl who looked barely legal wearing a dress that made her look like she had been picked up off the street 10 minutes prior to the event.... 

I think you dress is very tasteful for any occasion.

knprice18

Hi ladies,

Our Units actually got together and had a ball gown give-a-way with over 2000 dresses!  Each person was able to take 2 dresses for free.  There were all donated, some new, some worn once. So all you have to do is pay for dry cleaning, maybe a small alteration, and you have a new dress. You can have your FI check with your FRO (Family Readiness Officer) to see if they have any such program.  Just an FYI!  *However, I know most of the dresses went to the wives, not sure if girlfriends. fiances are included b/c you had to show your miliarty ID...but definitely worth asking.
 But the black, one shoulder dress is beautiful and perfect for the event.