Here's a fun question: what to wear to an holiday office party? We have six ideas below, all great whether it's for your holiday company party, your SO's office party, or some other holiday networking party.

As a general rule, pick two from the categories below and mix with regular workwear, unless you are 100% sure cocktail attire (or black tie!) is appropriate. A good clue: if the party is on a workday and all employees are invited (not just management types), take our suggestions here. 

As always, I suggest young businesswomen avoid showing cleavage, as well as what I'll call “unexpected” skin (think cutout dresses, etc). Even bare arms may not be appropriate — know your office!) You should also be wary of anything requiring a special bra.

We're shared some of our top picks for your holiday office party below…

{related: all our best tips on holiday business etiquette}

{related: here are some fancy but easy updos for the office or beyond}

Festive Blazer

Hunting for festive blazers for 2023/24? Stay tuned for a bigger roundup, but on the affordable side we like J.Crew Factory and Loft — and this Eliza J one is almost always in stock. On the more expensive side, check Reiss, Paige, and L'Agence. (Love this green iridescent houndstooth from L'Agence, also!)

I've always loved a festive blazer. Not only can you maintain a maximum of professionalism, but I often find that a layered look is the best way to dress for the holiday office party: party blazer + statement necklace, or party blazer + bright work dress, for example. You can also use your festive blazer to extend the life of your weekend clothes and wear things that wouldn't normally be appropriate to wear to work.

For example, a jumpsuit, a heavily sequined top, or even something like a leather skirt or a lace top that requires a strapless bra — all of these things look great beneath a festive blazer.

You'll be surprised how often you wear it, and how many years you'll get wear out of it — your own holiday parties, your SO's holiday parties, vague networking events, even “desk to dinner” events where you really don't feel like donning a dress or anything sparkly. Personally I've always preferred the structure of a blazer, but a sparkly cardigan can also work here.

{related: what to wear to a business cocktail party}

Polished Party Skirts

A party skirt is one of the easiest things to find and wear, but be wary of spending too much money on it — it will be memorable, and because it kind of is your outfit, it's going to be hard to wear it again year after year.

Keep the hem length appropriate for the office, and note that the fancier (and less office-appropriate) the skirt feels, the more subdued your top and shoes should be. Note that some skirts straddle the line between office and party — they're less festive, but more versatile (and you can pair them with something else sparkly on top).

Some Recent Picks for Party Skirts To Wear to Your Office Holiday Party

Below are some of our favorite polished party skirts as of Oct. 2022 – we've primarily avoided miniskirts because they show a lot of leg, which isn't appropriate for every office party — but know yourself and your office. (As someone who's only 5'4″, also, I find that a lot of “mini” skirts are almost knee-length on me.)

{related: the best semi-formal attire for business events}

Selected Sequins, Lace, and Leather

Sequins, lace, and leather aren't usually office-appropriate — we've talked specifically about lace at the office and leather skirts at the office before.

But when deciding what to wear to your office holiday party, you can break some of these rules, provided that you're not going all out.

Example: a sweater with a few sequins on it, or even a sheer sequined camisole (worn with an opaque black camisole beneath it) are fine, particularly when paired with a festive blazer or fuzzy cardigan.

But the all-sequin legging or all-sequin dress can be… well… a bit much for an office holiday party.

Some of Our Recent Favorite Office-Appropriate Sequins, Lace, Velvet and Leather

Note that regardless of how it's shown on the model, you should a) not wear a sheer top to an office party, and you probably should not wear a crop top or anything that exposes your belly. Depending on the office environment you may want to keep a cardigan, shawl, or shrug with you if your top exposes a lot of your arms, such as with a halter top.

{related: what not to wear to a black-tie affair for work}

Party Pants

Another great option: party pants. Paired with a regular work staple like a button-front or a cashmere sweater (ooh, or this DvF ballerina sweater), party pants are celebratory and happy, but not too crazy. Look for velvet, jacquard, limited sequins — and tuxedo pants or dramatically wide, flowy trousers can also be great for this kind of event.

For my $.02, I'd avoid any pant that makes people wonder if they're actually seeing skin (such as black lace underlaid with a beige satin), and in general, be wary of leather and of too-tight leggings.

Recent Picks for Festive-but-Professional Party Pants

Stay tuned for our favorite party pants to wear to holiday office parties in 2023!

Work-acceptable velvet pants can also work here!

{related: how to do black tie on a budget}

Office-Appropriate Party Dresses and Jumpsuits

For my money, this is the hardest one to get right. Sometimes a bright dress or blouse feels festive but will feel like a snoozefest at the party itself. Sometimes a lace dress will feel ladylike and elegant, but other times it may feel like you've unwittingly gotten dressed for a wedding when you just have a step up from what you would normally wear to work.

A few notes in general: Watch your hem length, as well as cleavage. I wouldn't recommend a dress with bare shoulders (i.e., strapless) — layer it with something else like a cardigan or blazer, but if you end up taking that layer off, don't worry too much.

Sometimes a party dress can be worn to work; sometimes that's going to be harder.

Recent Picks for Jumpsuits and Party Dresses for Professional Settings

Some of our favorite jumpsuits and party dresses for professional settings include these as of Oct. 2022… depending on the event, you may also want to check out our latest favorite colorful sheath dresses (great for alumni events, or just get darker colors like navy).

{related: where do you draw the line between wedding wear and office-wear?}

Desk to Party: Cocktail Jewelry

It's true, statement necklaces aren't as popular as they once were — but I still say there's nothing better for an office holiday party, and no better way to instantly jazz up a regular work dress or the like. Add one other thing from this list and you're golden.

More Holiday Party Accessories

As of Dec. 2023, these are some of our latest favorite party shoes — also consider using shoe clips on some of your regular shoes if you're on a budget! These under $50 ones are best sellers at Amazon…

{related: here's our roundup of the best foldable flats}

How to Save on Holiday Party Attire for Office Parties

A general note: Rent the Runway is perfect for these kind of purchases, particularly if you have several parties to go to over a few days. (Or, hey, it's a perfect excuse to set up a date night or girls' night out if you don't have several parties.) Other great deals can be found at Nordstrom, Poshmark and more!

(Want $30 off your first Rent the Runway order? Here's our referral code.)

{related: what to wear to a black-tie dinner for a benefit}

Ladies, what are your favorite things to wear to office holiday parties? Have you seen any fashion gaffes with regard to office holiday party attire (or been victim to any gaffes yourself)? 

Stock photo via Pexels / cottonbro.

N.B. This post was originally written in 2015, but updated substantially in Oct. 2022.

The post What to Wear to a Holiday Office Party appeared first on Corporette.com.

On the off chance anyone's company is still having their black-tie affair this year, we thought we'd give some advice on what to wear, and what not to wear. (Although the best advice we can give you is: ask a colleague who's already been to the party at least once, or look for pictures from previous years.)

1. First of all, ways to tell dressy formal attire is required:  generally, your invitation will tell you what to wear. Secondary clues that dressy attire is necessary:

• the event is held on a Saturday, not a Friday
• significant others are invited
• the event is held in a swank place that is not necessarily well-located near the office
• your company holds two parties: one for staffers (held on a Friday night near or at the office) and one is held for the executives/lawyers (the dress code will be very different for the two events) (check out this advice on what to wear to a more low-key holiday office party)

2. Our first piece of advice:  Even if it's not black-tie, buy a black dress or another muted color — although color is acceptable to wear at some events, this can vary greatly from event to event. (Nordstrom has some amazing sales on plain long gowns — and Rent the Runway is always a great option.)

(Want $30 off your first Rent the Runway order? Here's our referral code.)

Some of Our Latest Favorite Evening Gowns for Black-Tie Work Events

Hunting for generally affordable evening gowns for black-tie work events? Some of our favorite brands include Lulus, Dress the Population, Eliza J, XScape, and Alex Evenings.

Hunting for plus-size gowns for black-tie work events? For affordable options we like like Kiyonna, City Chic, Reformation, Anthropologie, and eShakti — also check out bridesmaid brands like BHLDN and Birdy Grey. If you're open to spending more, check out Marina Rinaldi and Lafayette 148 New York (limited options).

General Tips on What NOT to Wear to Black-Tie Affairs

3. When shopping for your dress, think “classic beauty,” NOT sexy. To this end, avoid skin in unexpected places (see above — the keyhole above the empire waist is trouble). No side-boob, no under-boob, and no dresses with the low-low back (um, below).

4. Strapless can be acceptable so long as your dress is well-anchored — no chance of things heading south.

5. Cleavage can also be acceptable — a very little amount of cleavage — if it's controlled. (If you're on the busty side (same here, sister!), check out our style tips for busty women.

6. No trains or fishtail hems (see below). Seriously, you're going to be mingling, trying to balance your drink, and trying to indulge in the occasional bite of sushi or pig in a blanket. You don't want people stepping on your dress in the midst of all that…

7. In fact, a cocktail-length dress (above the knee) can be acceptable if the dress is fancy enough. You can always accessorize with a crystal or diamond brooch, sparkly shoes, a sparkly wrap, etc. If you're unsure of how fancy the event is, you may want to go with either a fancy cocktail dress or a plain floor-length black dress.

Hunting for great cocktail dresses for work functions? As of 2024, some of the best brands to check include Dress the Population, CeCe, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Calvin Klein. Some of the reader favorites from Amazon might also work! Some other recent favorites include these:

8. Don't wear anything too outré. Even if you really know your fashion stuff, anything cutting edge can just make you look like a hack. (Remember Patsy and Edina, after all.)

9. Splurge on accessories or shoes. A sequined or beaded wrap, some jeweled shoes, or a quality clutch like these will all serve you well throughout your life. The fancier your dress is the fancier your bag should be, the minaudiere and box clutch are classic pieces. If diamond earrings aren't in your future, check out this brand for highly rated cubic zirconia pieces. Also, these glitter stud earrings are always a hit.

10. If time and money allow, get your hair done, but definitely get a manicure. We always find that if you're shaking hands and talking with people while holding a glass, focus tends to be on your hands and how well manicured they are. If you're not a polish sort of girl, just get clear or pale polish. If you are a polish sort of girl, we recommend keeping it tasteful and avoiding sparkles and trendy shades. Still, it's a party — choose a color that compliments your outfit.

Psst: if you know you're going to need a reprieve from your heels at some point in the night, these are some of our favorite foldable flats…

Original Photo credit at (martini, no longer pictured) : the perfect martini, originally uploaded to Flickr by berbercarpet. Updated social media images: Deposit Photos / Deklofenak.

The post What Not to Wear To… a Black-Tie Affair appeared first on Corporette.com.

How do you dress for a work-related black tie — on a budget? Whether you have a formal holiday office party coming up, or you've been invited to a charity black tie on behalf of work, you now probably have two primary questions: a) how to dress in a formal dress and still maintain a professional demeanor, and b) how to do it without breaking the bank.

Ladies, what are your best tips for doing black tie on a budget? Any amazing scores to share?

{related: what not to wear to a black-tie affair for work}

The Dress

What you're looking for: a simple floor-length gown, preferably in a solid color. Look for one that says “classy” more than “sexy” — and for one that is missing a prom/bridesmaid vibe. If the black tie is at all associated with your work (or your SO's work) you want to avoid cleavage and unexpected skin — and make sure the dress is properly hemmed with your shoes so you're not tripping over it.

{related: the best semi-formal attire for business events}

Buy basic.  A solid-colored, floor length gown is always going to be a stylish thing to wear, and provided your accessories are different, you can wear it from year to year even to the same event. While buying, watch out for trendy elements (peplums, capes) or memorable details (sequins, cutouts, etc) because that will decrease your ability to wear it over and over.

{related: what to wear to a black-tie dinner for a benefit}

Do consider haunting consignment and thrift stores (particularly in the ritziest area of town) — these can be great places to pick up dresses for a fraction of the cost. Lisa at Amid Privilege has some great ideas for alternatives to a dress; Ms. JD has a good breakdown of what the differences are between “white tie,” “black tie,” and “semiformal.”

Note that Nordstrom has affordable dresses; if you need one at the last minute check Zappos or Amazon first.

{related: what to wear to a business cocktail party}

Borrow from a friend.  Find a friend with a similar body shape and size to yours and ask her to borrow something from her closet. If you both have separate events coming up in a short time frame you could even go shopping together, choose one dress, and split the cost of it.

Rent one from Rent the Runway — they offer regular and plus sizes, and will send you two sizes of each dress you rent, and often have deals where you can pick out a second dress entirely for just a bit more.

They've expanded their inventory to include coats, clutches, jewelry and more — even jumpsuits. I love the feature where customers upload pictures of themselves in the dresses to review them, and include details such as their bra size, their weight, their “normal” dress size, and more.

(Want $30 off your first Rent the Runway order? Here's our referral code.)

{related: here's our roundup of the best foldable flats}

{related: here are some fancy but easy updos for the office or beyond}

Some Of Our Latest Favorite Affordable Black-Tie Evening Gowns

Hunting for generally affordable evening gowns for black-tie work events? Some of our favorite brands include Lulus, Dress the Population, Eliza J, XScape, and Alex Evenings.

Hunting for plus-size gowns for black-tie work events? For affordable options we like like Kiyonna, City Chic, Reformation, Anthropologie, and eShakti — also check out bridesmaid brands like BHLDN and Birdy Grey. If you're open to spending more, check out Marina Rinaldi and Lafayette 148 New York (limited options).

{related: what to wear to the wedding of a colleague}

Formal Accessories

I would suggest you spend the most money here if you plan to be going to a lot of these events. Look for chandelier earrings, a wrap that is appropriate for the occasion but also provides some warmth, and a clutch. Bonus points if your clutch is big enough for your back-up shoes (see below).

Regarding the earrings, I love my diamond earrings, but you can also go for an inexpensive pair. Statement necklaces are also a great place to spend the money.

The Shoes

Satin shoes are usually considered appropriate for black tie, and these can usually be found pretty inexpensively.

Check 6pm, and when you buy a pair, plan to wear it for all of your formal events — so go as neutral as possible. Note also that if the shoe is embellished with beads or sequins it may be a poor match for a long hemline (it may catch, rip, or tear the dress, or trip you!) — so keep that in mind as well.

If you want to wear the shoes with a shorter dress, you can always accessorize your shoes with brooches, pins, and shoe clips, of course.

In the past I've had silver satin as well as black satin, and felt they were versatile.

In terms of comfort — there may be some sacrifice here.

If you plan to be doing a lot of walking on the way home, or plan to be going to an afterparty with significant dancing, you may want to look into foldable flats (but watch out if your dress is hemmed for heels!), or in true budget circumstances, thin flip flops.

Some Of Our Latest Favorite Polished Party Shoes

As of Dec. 2023, these are some of our latest favorite party shoes — also consider using shoe clips on some of your regular shoes if you're on a budget! These under $50 ones are best sellers at Amazon…

{related: here's our roundup of the best foldable flats}

The Undergarments

Shapewear, of course, can be hugely helpful for whittling your waist, slimming your thighs, or even just smoothing/tightening everything.

For the absolute smoothest look you probably want something like Spanx– it can be an expensive purchase, though, so don't buy something just for that one event.

Instead, ponder whether a bodysuit, camisole, or waist shaper might be best. (This may be a reason in and of itself to avoid a strapless dress!)

Psst: As of 2022, some of our favorite foundational garments include this line of waist-shapers, these comfy shorts to prevent chafing while wearing skirts without hose, this full slip for wrap dresses and shirt dresses, this half-slip to prevent clinging, these pantyhose, and this bra.

If it's cold out, you may wonder: bare legs? Tights? (Fleece tights?!?) It all depends on the weather, how much you plan to be outside, and more.

If you're going straight from the town car to the front door of the event, don't worry about it too much. In the past I've stalked TJ Maxx and flash sale sites for major discounts on tights from Wolford; a sheer pantyhose will also work, of course, and provide some modicum of warmth.

The Hair

I've seen a huge spectrum — some women wear their hair the normal way; some women wear their hair a slightly more polished way (e.g., a blow out), and some people go all out for a fancy up-do.

If you're on a budget, I'd suggest practicing some of these work-appropriate updos, but perhaps adding a sparkly pin or brooch in your hair.

Further Reading:

• How to Dress for Black Tie Affairs on a Budget [The Budget Fashionista]
• What Makes Budget Black Tie Work [Amid Privilege]
• Savvy Shopper-At-Law: Black Tie on a Budget [Ms-JD.org]

Stock photos via Stencil. Note that this post was originally written in 2015, but significantly updated in 2022, except where otherwise noted.

The post Tales from the Wallet: Black Tie on a Budget appeared first on Corporette.com.

I was looking at a major department store's “Wear to Work” dresses and found myself negging rejecting half of the dresses because they looked like wedding wear to me instead of workwear. And it occurs to me: this topic comes up a TON — what is cocktail attire, what is office attire, what is wedding attire — and do any pieces straddle the line so successfully that you can honestly wear them to multiple situations?

I'm not going to pretend to be innocent, either, as I'm sure many readers will note — sometimes we've made some workwear recommendations a little too closer to the “wedding wear” line.

Still: what are your thoughts? Where do YOU draw the line between wedding wear and office wear?

For my $.02, from my own personal experience and everything I've learned in doing the blog, this is my sense of the line between wedding wear and office wear:

Wedding Wear that is NOT Office Wear:

• stiff crepe / polyester fabric that has a sound to it
• too short, too tight, too low-cut
• Anything shiny (I'd make a slight exception for shimmery thread details in a tweed jacket, but that's me)
• Anything involving tulle

QUESTIONABLE Office Wear (Probably Closer to Wedding Wear):

All of these things come down to “know your office,” but if a specific dress or outfit ticks off two or more of these categories below (or above) the default answer is a no…

• mesh or lace details, particularly in “flirty” spots on the dress, like a slit, cutout, neck detail, or overlay
• super girly colors like hot pink (for this one in particular I think the “two factors or more” consideration is important — there are lots of pink dresses that are just fine for the office and are probably NOT festive enough for a wedding)
• Jacquard or other unusual fabrics for work
• Cutouts (I like them sometimes but I know many readers do not — I think the question comes down to whether you can wear a regular bra with the dress or if you need a “special bra”)
• Jumpsuits – know your office

How to Turn Office Wear Into Wedding Wear (Desk to Dinner Style!)

I've said it before and I'll say it again — sometimes it's better to just get different outfits for different purposes. Still, if you're trying to get more costs per wear out of an item, you're traveling and trying to make a limited wardrobe work, or you're gaining or losing weight and don't want to buy or borrow something your current size…

• Add sandals in summer — particularly metallic or shiny patent leather sandals
• Add sheer black hose / fancy shoes (think sparkly or a fun texture you wouldn't wear to work)
• Add blingy jewelry (see below)
• Add a sheer, shimmery, or festive wrap
• Remove any office trappings – for me this would be my Apple Watch; you might also be sure to switch your bag from a big tote or shoulder bag to a smaller clutch or going-out bag
• Switch to party makeup (even if you're just doing desk to dinner makeup)

Fun Statement Necklaces to Add for Desk to Dinner

Festive Work Outfits (They're Great for an Office Holiday Party)

Some of our favorite jumpsuits and party dresses for professional settings include these as of Oct. 2022… depending on the event, you may also want to check out our latest favorite colorful sheath dresses (great for alumni events, or just get darker colors like navy).

Day to Night Dresses

These elegant dresses could do double duty and go from day to night — which are your favorites?

Readers, what are your thoughts? Where do you draw the line between office wear and wedding wear? Do you regularly buy dresses or outfits hoping to be able to wear them to work and for dates, cocktail parties, weddings and more? 

Stock image: Deposit Photos / ArturVerkhovetskiy.

The post Where Do You Draw the Line Between Wedding Wear and Office Wear? appeared first on Corporette.com.

Reader C wrote in with an interesting question about what to wear to a business cocktail party, and it has definitely been ages since we talked about business cocktail party attire! (Here's our last discussion what to wear to summer cocktail parties from many, MANY moons ago.) Here's her question:

I am due to start on a graduate programme for a large energy multinational. I have a 3 day induction in London, and I am informed that on two of the evenings there will be dinner and cocktails.

What should I wear? Scared of going over the top, but also don't want to play it safe with jeans and a ‘nice top'.

Interesting! We sort of talked about this years ago when we answered a reader question about what to wear to an interview dinner, but that was a bit different because she was meeting them for dinner, not working all day and then going to dinner.

Similarly, we've discussed the best networking dinner attire, as well as what to wear to a dinner reception and interview — but it's been a while.

{related: all our advice on summer work events!}

{related: here are some fancy but easy updos for the office or beyond}

The Best Business Cocktail Attire for a Workday

Here's my thing: if you're going straight from the induction activities to dinner, then you should wear basically the same thing you wore all day, unless you're told specifically to wear something else.

Take some time to freshen up your makeup to go from desk to dinner, and perhaps reconsider a portion of your outfit (remove the blazer, switch to different shoes for standing-around purposes, add a cocktail ring so it's an easy conversation starter while holding your drink, etc).

Ultimately I think people will remember your energy and attitude at these things far more than your outfit — so do what you have to do to look awake and alive and feel fresh enough to meet a zillion new people and express excitement for working on their projects.

As far as makeup for desk to dinner, I always like to put on Touche Éclat and a highlighter like Haloscope or High Beam while listening to a crazy upbeat, silly song like Rock Me Amadeus — but for you this may look different. I also feel like refreshing my brow and cheek makeup is important! Some of my favorite makeup products for faking a good night's sleep may also be helpful here.

{related: the line between wedding wear and office wear}

Small changes to your work attire can be great for this purpose, like adding a statement necklace:

Recent Favorite Statement Necklaces for Business Cocktail Parties

What to Wear to a Business Cocktail Party on a Weekend

If the cocktail party is on a weekend (or it's been made explicit that you should dress differently), it can be tricky to know what to wear. These are some of our best tips for subdued but stylish cocktail dresses:

• avoid anything that could be boudoir-inspired — no corsets, slip dresses, lace bustiers, and so forth
• avoid anything too fussy — long dresses that you or others could trip over, a down-to-there neckline that needs constant monitoring
• avoid unexpected skin — if they wouldn't see it at work, don't show it at the cocktail party — this might include a low low back, cutouts on the dress
• try to stay in the same personality vein as your workwear, or at least not too far apart — if you tend to be the minimalist, polished dresser, don't suddenly opt for the poufy floral minidress

Hunting for great cocktail dresses for work functions? As of 2024, some of the best brands to check include Dress the Population, CeCe, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Calvin Klein. Some of the reader favorites from Amazon might also work! Some other recent favorites include these:

{related: the best semi-formal attire for business events}

Readers, what's your advice — what would you wear to a business cocktail party under these circumstances? In general, do you ever think the kinds of things stylists in movies come up with (such as bustiers under blazers or other outlandish ideas) have a place in the real world?

Picture via Stencil.

The post What to Wear to a Business Cocktail Party appeared first on Corporette.com.

How do you do black tie on the cheap? Reader J wonders what to wear to her firm's black tie event without breaking the bank.

I am a law student who will be working at a firm over the summer. I am expected to attend a black tie event, but I don't know what to wear nor how to find the dress without breaking the bank. I am also hoping to find a dress that is multi-purpose, so that it won't gather dust in the closet until the next black tie affair comes along.

Congratulations — black tie events can be a lot of fun, and I don't think we've covered them in quite a while (see my advice for what not to wear to a black-tie, as well as how to dress for a black-tie affair at the last minute).

How to Do Black-Tie On the Cheap

Here are my tips:

If you're going to splurge on anything, splurge on shoes and accessories.

You can wear these pieces to a multitude of different events, so your cost per wear is much less than it is for one-time-only items like dresses.

Comfortable shoes are particularly important — although most business black-tie functions do not have dancing (at least in my experience), you can be on your feet for hours enjoying cocktails. You can borrow a clutch or wrap if you're really on a budget, but I would urge you to keep an eye out for these pieces, and when you find one you love at a decent price, consider snapping it up.

If you have a wrap, a clutch, and fancyish shoes, you can make almost any black dress look appropriate for a black-tie event. (On the converse, if you have a full-length black gown or other great black cocktail dress and then wear it with regular accessories, nothing looks worse to me.)

Local places like DSW and TJ Maxx will have great deals on shoes; you can also look to 6pm and other online deal places. If you already have a favorite brand of comfortable heels, see if they make evening shoes as well. I would stick with black, gold, or silver shoes for the most versatility, but that's just me.

Do your hair yourself.

If you can do your hair in a fancy-ish way by yourself (put it in curlers, or have a friend help you put it up in a fancy up-do), this is a big place to save on money.

{related: here are some of our favorite easy office updos!}

The dress.  The dress is probably the thing you're freaking out about, right? I remember for my first black-tie event. The joke around the office was that it was my law firm's Prom, and for weeks the first-year associates wondered what the heck we were supposed to wear. (Apparently “ask a more senior associate” didn't occur to us.)  Were we really supposed to show up in a long dress? Wasn't that a bit crazy for a work event?

So I bought a black knee-length velvet cocktail dress, wore it with plain black heels, and, I think a fancyish clutch . . . and I never felt so underdressed in my life! I honestly think if my shoes had been fancier I would have felt better about it, but for every subsequent Prom I got a floor-length dress.

I will say that if it's a black-tie event after work (such as when it's for a charity and a client has bought a table there, for example) that I saw more women wearing shorter, cocktail-length dresses (if not pants) for the event… whereas if it was a Saturday night type affair, longer gowns were far more common.

Here are few tips for you to save money on the dress:

• Befriend a slightly more senior coworker who has your body type — and then ask her if you can borrow something.
• Rent a dress, such as through Rent the Runway. Your cost-per-wear for black-tie dresses can be quite high, so renting them often does make more sense.
• Check out consignment stores. You may want to do some legwork before you start heading out — ask around in your town, and perhaps call ahead to the the store to see if you can get an idea of their inventory.
• If you have old bridesmaids dresses, take a second look at them. If they're otherwise acceptable to wear to the event, you might be able to dye them black.
• Stalk the sales! I remember getting a full-length skirt and a matching top from an Ann Taylor outlet store for $9.99 for each piece — but that was truly a “right time, right place” kind of sale. (And it was January, if I remember correctly, which is around the time you see a lot of good sales on this stuff.)

(Want $30 off your first Rent the Runway order? Here's our referral code.)

Some Of Our Latest Favorite Affordable Evening Gowns to Do Black-Tie on the Cheap

Hunting for generally affordable evening gowns for black-tie work events? Some of our favorite brands include Lulus, Dress the Population, Eliza J, XScape, and Alex Evenings.

Hunting for plus-size gowns for black-tie work events? For affordable options we like like Kiyonna, City Chic, Reformation, Anthropologie, and eShakti — also check out bridesmaid brands like BHLDN and Birdy Grey. If you're open to spending more, check out Marina Rinaldi and Lafayette 148 New York (limited options).

Readers, what are your tips for doing black-tie on the cheap? What have you worn to different black-tie, work-related events?

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