Evening gown
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- For the song by Mick Jagger, see Wandering Spirit.
An evening gown is a long, flowing lady's dress usually worn to a formal affair. It ranges in length from tea and ballerina to full-length. Gowns are often made of a luxury fabric such as chiffon, velvet, satin, or silk.
It corresponds to men's semi-formal wear for black tie events. (For white tie equivalents, and for debutantes, see Ball gown.)
- For a brief history of the gown, see Clothing terminology.
The elements of ladies' white tie attire According to rules of etiquette and attire, ladies must wear a ball gown to events where men are required to wear white tie attire. The elements of ladies' white tie attire could include:
ball gown - ballerina (to the ankle) or full-length (to the floor) dancing shoes - formal pumps, sandals or ballet slippers jewelery - earrings and necklace; rings and bracelets are optional. A watch is not considered appropriate except for jeweled versions in which the face is covered so that it resembles a bracelet. gloves - if worn, should be opera length stole, cape or cloak, or an opera coat handbag - clutch style or small evening bag Optional:
state decorations - if specified on invitation; worn on a bow pinned to the chest tiaras - If married and the event does not take place in a hotel
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[edit] White tie occasions
According to rules of etiquette and attire, ladies must wear a ball gown to events where men are required to wear white tie attire. The elements of ladies' white tie attire could include:
- ball gown - ballerina (to the ankle) or full-length (to the floor)
- dancing shoes - formal pumps, sandals or ballet slippers
- jewelery - earrings and necklace; rings and bracelets are optional. A watch is not considered appropriate except for jeweled versions in which the face is covered so that it resembles a bracelet.
- gloves - if worn, should be opera length
- stole, cape or cloak, or an opera coat
- handbag - clutch style or small evening bag
Optional:
- state decorations - if specified on invitation; worn on a bow pinned to the chest
- tiaras - If married and the event does not take place in a hotel. [1]
[edit] Black tie occasions
A gown for a black tie event may be full length, ballet, or tea (mid-calf to ankle) length. In general, the same rules as a white-tie event apply to a black-tie event, though in some cases a cocktail dress may be acceptable.
To accompany a gentleman wearing a formal kilt, a lady wears a white gown with a tartan sash. A less formal variant is a longer kilted skirt with jacket. The sash or kilted skirt may be the tartan of the woman's own clan (if she is entitled to wear one), of her husband's clan, or any of the "district tartans" approved for general wear.
[edit] Alternatives to the gown
- In the 1940s, couturiers introduced dancing costumes, a party dress with a full skirt specifically made for semi-formal and formal dances. The dancing costume was shorter than the evening gown.
- A ball skirt is a variant fashion which resurfaced in the 1990s, consisting of a full, long skirt that can be worn with a cashmere sweater, lace camisole, or other dressy top.
[edit] See also
- Ball gown
- Cocktail dress
- Wedding gown
- Black tie
- Evening dress (white tie)
[edit] References
- ^ Caroline Davies (2002-03-17). "Single girls shouldn't let diamonds go to their head". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1388078/Single-girls-shouldnt-let-diamonds-go-to-their-head.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-13.
