I would use this as an excuse to go buy a nice cocktail dress of the little and black variety.

Eck. I don't know.

Hm, isn't it suppose to be black tie? heh. Um, well, you could wear a white tie, and nothing else. Maybe, that's too obvious, though, and perhaps a bit chilly too. So, you could add white shorts too, since it's after labor day.

Ah, well, I guess "white tie" is actually a real thing.. Google says:
http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/whitetie/def...

Apparently, Fred Astaire usually wore white tie in his films, so.. something like this:

mmmmm not sure? isn't it like it says? black suit, white tie?"

Wear a white tie.

A black tuxedo and tails with a wing collar shirt, a white vest, and a white bow tie.

Fred has got it right!

Good idea! However, you might want to leave it at home, because all the other gals will be dressed something like this:

A white tie, just a white tie like the invitation said.

No, all the other gals wouldn’t be wearing a green lawn bag. I'd be wearing something more like Enheduanna would be wearing; only mine would be a deep purple.

I would wear a white tie. Duh!

Nothing but a white tie.

They're wearing green trash bags? Odd.
I was mostly just thinking that I wouldn't be able to afford a big fancy ballgown. If I could, then I get some kind of red-carpet Oscar-worthy dress.

A ball gown:

It's more formal than black tie right? I don't know.

Little lacy socks, black paten Mary Janes and a very long white tie that stopped mid thigh.

A tux with a white tie.

A really fancy dress. Really fancy shoes. Real jewellery.

I call a friend and ask them what they are wearing or the person who invited you. It's O.K. You just want to make sure you are appropriately attired. I always keep Marilyn Monroe in her skirts & sweaters in mind when I'm not sure. She always looked appropriate.

If I had to go somewhere fancy, I'd have to take a trip to the store. I have not gone to any formal in so many years I wouldn't know how to act. I have a couple pretty dresses, no fancy shoes. I, many years ago, had beautiful clothes, nice heels...no longer....no place to go, no one to go with...

Do a Windsor knot with a white tie around your ding-dong and have a good time!

Ding dong! How old are you again?

Mentally or physically?

Enheduanna won't be there. She's invited to a different party.

If I went to a formal affair, I'd wear a black, sheer, scalloped lace bodice, form fitting dress, with black sheer stockings, and black, open toe sling heels. Very little jewelry. My hair is shoulder length, would wear just soft curls. Wear my deep red nail polish, and red lipstick.

I have to confess that I cheated. I did a wikipedia search as to what white tie dress was for a woman. I knew what it was for a man, but not a woman.

You might want to get someone else to go shopping with you. Preferably someone who can tell the difference between green trash bags and silk taffeta.

That's not cheating, that's using your noggin!

Alrighty then, I used my noggin.

I guess I'd wear a white tie. I'd wear a black tie to a black tie event IF I went. Hell I don't even own a tie! I've never heard this before either.

I would be tempted to arrive with black suit, black shirt and white tie but would probably simply show in my Choker-Whites (a white formal uniform).

Usually means a long dress right?
So I'd wear a long dress.

Ok then, but I'm still not going to wear the trash bag!

Can I have that in deep purple please?

I better go shopping.

Most likely, I wouldn't WANT to attend.

I'll probably add a top hat and tails--just like Irving Berlin (remember the song? ).

Sure, any color you want.

great! now I wonder if I can get it for under $70.00?

I wouldn't recommend it.

I doubt it. Any link that uses the term "haute coutoure" isn't going to be cheap.

> I would ... probably simply
> show in my Choker-Whites (a white formal uniform).

Formal military uniforms are a safe bet for any ultra-formal occasion.

I might have to stick with just the white tie then.

Just the white tie and nothing else? Should make for an interesting evening.

yeah jail can be real interesting when you're wearing just a white tie I'm sure.

I'd be too chicken to try it myself and find out.

Well, if you think that's a nice gown, then I definitely won't be taking you!

Most likely, I'd have no interest in going. I also have not a clue as to what "white tie" would mean for a female. For a male, I'm guessing formal with a white bow tie?

No, it was just the first ball gown to show up on google images that also included elbow length gloves.

It is a Vivienne Westwood...if that means anything...

Call the host or someone else who has attended before and whos judgement you trust to advise you. Better that than showing up not properly dressed and feeling ill at ease the whole night.

Evening gown or Ball gown depending on the event.

Black Tie = a good cocktail dress.

White Tie = a ball-gown - but don't start thinking of ridiculously poofy numbers unless it's a state dinner or similar. A standard white tie event would still require a full-length (or at least ankle length) skirt with some "poof", and a fitted top half that usually showed some flesh such as the shoulders and upper chest but without being too revealing. Gloves might be necessary depending on subtle differences in the kind of White Tie event (i.e definitely for a state dinner, probably for a aristocrat's ball, probably not for a fairly but not extremely posh wedding reception...)

Sheesh, anyone showing up to a White Tie event in a cocktail dress would probably not be allowed in...

Ok, your ballgown is definitely a state dinner kind of ballgown...

I'd dress all in black with a white tie around my ankle.

I'd wear a white tie, if I wanted to attend.

State dinners would be among the variety of events that would normally be "White Tie".

Incidentally, this couple haven't got it right:

http://www.whitetietransportation.com/index.htm

no such thing, but I would wear a cock ring to remain stimulating all night.

I guess it means I'm not partial to Vivienne Westwood! Although I think I've seen other gowns she designed that I did like.

I'll admit that the colour and the shininess does tend to make it resemble green trash bags...

Aha! Well, at least you have shown that you have some level of discernment where women's fashions are concerned!

My tuxedo.

Yupper

True, but see my post - there are varying degrees of white tie!

Yeah, I think the elbow length gloves are a slight notch up from no gloves. People just don't wear gloves these days like they used to fifty years ago or more. Then again, very very few people would ever be invited to a white tie event. The kind where gloves are de rigueur would be exceedingly rare.

It's amazing how ideas about what is beautiful change over the years - back when gloves were still routinely worn the hands were regarded in a very different way. If you had dainty hands (as a woman) it was seen as very appealing.

Hmm. My hands are tiny...they might have caused men to fall at my feet!

Now I'm thinking about that Seinfeld episode..."Man Hands"...

I used to know a woman who did some "hand modeling".

I always think it's funny when I watch adverts where there's a close up of someone's face and their hands are in the shot (perhaps shaving, or eating, etc.) I often wonder if they really are their hands or those of a hand model - which would explain why the hands sometimes seem to be moving slightly awkwardly in relation to the face

I think that's when you notice it most. If you can't see where the hands are attached to the body and it looks a wee bit awkward...

I'd wear an orange T-shirt, faded Levi's and a white bow tie---in my hair. But then I'm both crazy and a rebel!

"just a white tie" --- better answer than mine!

A tuxedo with a white bow tie.

I hate dress codes so I'd probably skip this party.

Black pants, black camisole, sky blue suede jacket.

That's the same outfit I wear when we do gigs at a more professional place, like The Triple Door in Seattle or a formal function, like a wedding.

If I really need a dress, I'd have to visit the thrift store.

I would ask what white tie meant

Evening gown.

Black

Evening gown.