To dress for a ball when it is cold outside is quite a challenge. Ironically, most of these events are in the cold season. Step up your game by choosing the right dresses for a winter ball depending on the dress code of the event without scarifying your thermal comfort. From renting a room to avoid driving home in the cold to preparing for the ride in the cold car to coverups to stay in thermal comfort in a chilly ballroom, there are many stylish way to ensure looking your best. Wear the right dresses for a winter ball with these essential tips that not only explain the various ball dress codes, but also how to style your evening gowns from footwear to outerwear. Read what to do to look sizzling at a ball in cold weather.
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Can You Wear a Short Dress to a Ball?
There is no one word answer to can you wear a short dress to a ball because there are various dress codes. What to wear to a military ball differs from what to wear to a white tie, black tie, formal or semi-formal ball. Therefore, always check for the announced dress code. Unless the ball is a High School Prom or semi-formal a short dress would be inappropriate.
Except for an Armed Forces Ball, the dress code might even differ from last time. The annual ball organized by the Fairbanks Ballroom Dancing Club, for instance, turned from a Black Tie event in the zero years to a Fairbanks Formal in 2010s, and now is Hollywood Glamour.
Why Mature Women Should Check the Fit When Shopping Their Closet for a Gown
When your significant other surprised you last minute with an invitation to a ball, there might not be enough time to browse thrift stores or order an affordable gown online. When you have to shop your closet remember that ball attire typically has a long tenure in our closets. One wears them only now and then.
While in our 20s and 30s, keeping our weight was a guarantee the dress would fit as great as the last time, it’s not in menopause. Somehow our meat/fat just shifts around, and yep, fails to resist gravity. It turns south!
Try your old gowns on as soon as you know about the event. Wear the gown that fits best.
Advice: Don’t even rely on that it still was a great fit during your seasonal closet overhaul.
What Are the Best Dresses for a Winter Ball?
The best dresses for a winter ball are those that
- Meet the announced dress code,
- Keep you in thermal comfort,
- Flatter your skin and hair color,
- High-light your best features, and
- Make you feel beautiful.
Consequently, formal or semi-formal dresses for a winter ball should have long or 3/4 sleeves. Their fabric should be breathable, moisture wicking, and provide sufficient insulation when resting between dances. When you prefer short-sleeves, shoulder straps, cold shoulder or sleeveless styles, dresses for a winter ball should be easy to pair with a caplet or evening jacket.
Examples How to Style an Evening Gown Different Ways
In 2003, I had styled it with a garnet necklace and bracelet and a satin belt with a Swarovski crystal buckle. In 2015, I opted for an edgy look with the studded belt. The next time I went with an eastern vibe regarding the accessories for a different look. Swapping the bolero jacket for a caplet yields an on-trend look.
How to Dress for a Ball in Winter
In the following, I explain the various problems of wearing festive attire in winter, and their solutions to look sizzling and stylish, while staying comfortable and protecting your health.
Which Outerwear Is Best to Wear over an Evening Dress?
What to wear over a formal dress in winter depends on the outside temperatures. After standing in the parking lot for several hours at below freezing temperatures your car will be cold. Therefore, wear a midi or longer faux fur coat when temperatures are around the freezing point. When temperatures are in the double negative digits (below -23.3oC), wear a thick down coat rated for your climate zone.
Tip: Freezing sweat can lead to catching a cold or even hypothermia. Therefore, before riding home towel yourself dry in the restroom; pull on leggings or a pair of wool pants under the gown for extra insulation. Especially, when you donned bare legs.
Tip: Bring a blanket in a tote inside and leave it with the coat clerk. On your drive home, it can help you to stay warm.
What Is the Best Footwear to Wear for a Ball in Winter?
Tall boots are best, and bring your sandals or dance shoes in a tote. Change the footwear at the location, and check the tote with boots and the coat at the coat clerk’s.
How to Stay Comfortable Inside?
Heating is very expensive. Therefore, hotels heat unused rooms only to 40F (5oC). While doing so saves money and protects the environment, their ballroom may be chilly. Consequently, how to dress for a ball in winter requires to have a shawl, evening jacket or cape to stay warm between dances.
Go for formal attire with long sleeves. Alternatively, you can wear a lace top under a short sleeve or no sleeve evening gown to stay Warm. The video shows how to style evening attire with a halftee or top underneath for insulation.
Dancer’s tip: Fishnets provide some insulation while you still have similar good contact of your feet with the dance shoes like with bare feet.
How to Accessorize Your Ball Attire?
Of course, the accessories depend on the style of the gown. 3/4 sleeve dresses or one-cold-shoulder dresses ask for a fancy evening watch, bracelet or bangle on the arms and the naked arm, respectively. Sleeveless dresses look great with satin gloves and long dangling earrings. Deep scoop necks require a bold statement necklace with studs. Boat necks look best with chandeliers and without a necklace.
In all cases, add a clutch that matches the vibe of the dress. Go for a matt clutch when your dress is shiny or sequin/crystal or pearl embellished. A black gown looks great with a patent leather, sequin or crystal embellished clutch.
Other Alternatives to Dress for a Winter Ball for Style and Thermal Comfort
Don’t miss your opportunity to dress up like Princess when the above options seem unsuitable to you. What about
- Planning to arrive an hour prior to the start of the ball. Then you can wear your normal winter gear, and change in the restroom.
- Renting a room for the night and dress up there.
What Not to Wear to a Formal Ball
A shearling is a No-No as outerwear because it would spread hair all over your attire.
Tip: Never don new dance shoes at a ball. Break them in at home first to not get blisters on your blisters.
Note that dressing for Valentine’s day bears similar challenges even when you don’t go dancing.
Photos of me: G. Kramm
Other photos: N. Mölders
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