As a follow-up question to our discussion about my daughter’s search for a formal, just because I’m dying to know, what are your thoughts on short dresses for formal? I was interested to note, as I was looking for some pictures to spruce up this post, that Nordstrom doesn’t appear to have any short dresses in there evening dress category. But just look at the dresses categorized Homecoming!
Anyway, I know some people genuinely prefer a short dress. Why is that? Others don’t, and still others might prefer one or the other, but succumb to peer pressure. Does anybody really know what’s technically correct?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. 🙂
I do not know about the technical fashion stuff but I personally think the long one looks much more elegant.
For me, super formal is always the long one to the floor.
Mid-calf or knee-length is cocktail appropriate, or semi-formal..
I love the elegance of the long dress, but with my short legs, I have to wear 4″ heels to avoid looking stumpy in a floor length gown. Knee length may not be quite formal enough, but I think the mid-calf gowns are quite lovely. In high school and college, I went to formals in both floor and mid-calf styles. I was more comfortable and confident in the mid-calf dresses. For holiday parties requiring formal attire as an adult, my preference has been the mid-calf.
I think it totally depends on age, season, and preference. At my age now (27), wearing a long gown would be delicious. I wear short skirts all the time. But in school, I typically went for short (and sassy) dresses. J.Crew often (used to) have great dresses on clearance.
Mmmm, I love both of those pictures you posted. I do love a long gown but haven’t had the occasion to wear one in years.
Super-long is way more formal, and how many of us go to that many super-formal events? Even weddings rarely get that formal for the guests. So I think people end up buying the shorter dresses because they are a little more versatile and can be worn to cocktail parties or parties in general.
“Formal” is long, period. I thought it was interesting that in our times when people have chafed at or mocked or ignored rules for so long that when Erin Brody, who was a reality show winner and gf of rascally Dr. Will (these are tv references, Rebecca) was photographed attending a formal event with a SF politico she was furiously criticized on the net for wearing a short dress. When you’d think she would have been criticized for fooling someone into a proposal that she turned down flat for a million bucks.
Call me an ignorant male, but I’m with the long formal gown rather than the short formal gown. The short (especially if you’re talking about a strapless dress) ends us bordering on trashy for me.
MIn – my husband jokes around about the bolt of fabric only being long enough to cover the top or the bottom. 🙂
Even though I pictured strapless here, my daughter never considered wearing one. She says she doesn’t want to have to “scooch”. lol
I have been to formal occasions where nothing but full length would do, and also those where short was quite acceptable. I think it depends both on the person and on the “culture” if you will. (That said, I no longer have a formal gown. I have a full length black skirt that can be paired with a variety of tops.)
I don’t have a formal gown either, but I do have two bell-shaped taffeta skirts with matching sparkly metallic tops: one dark red sleeveless and the silver three-quarter sleeve.
I agree that short or long depends on the person and on the culture. And the culture varies with the times. My mom’s wedding dress is short and very similar in style to a prom dress my MIL still has hanging in her closet (I have my eye on that one, maybe someday for mother of the bride). Apparently the early 60s were a short dress era.
I tend to think short is much more versatile, although I do own a long chiffon dress (but it was a steal – a deep red Adrienne Vitadinni for only $24!)
I would say that if you are going to invest in a evening outfit, I would do a shorter dress – or maybe a skirt and top combo that could be mixed and matched. Simply because most people would get more wear out of them. Something that hits around the knee tends to be flattering on most, in my opinion, especially because it will be likely be worn with heals.
Also, for what it’s worth, the short strapless dress that’s shown with this post is lightyears away from trashy.
Jacqueline, your dress really was a steal!
In a sense I agree with you about the practicality of separates, but it’s only been the past few years I could even see myself in them without the dreaded “matronly” feeling. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for possibilities for teens. I do plan on keeping mine.
And I think you’re right about the shorter dress here. Although it’s not as strictly formal, it’s certainly lady-like with it’s full, below the knee skirt. My husband’s sarcastic comments are generally directed toward the ones that are micro-mini length or look more like nightgowns. I don’t think anybody would mistake this one for anything but a party dress. 🙂
Sorry, girls. Strapless is just TOO much skin for a teen.
I can’t think of short and formal in the same thought. I don’t know why. When I’m watching a television awards show I always notice when the dresses are short. And it’s not a ‘good notice’. Not that some aren’t super cute. It just looks odd to me.