help my hubby and i are going to a military ball?

Question

its the 1st one with his new unit and there wont be many enlisted personel mostly officers, he is an E-7 and i want to make sure i look approprate, every place around here only carries prom dresses and as i try to explain to them i'm not 18 nor am i going to a prom. my question is what type of dress should i be looking for i want to be elegant and make ny hubby proud to have me on his arm. suggestions please

Answer 1

Not a prom! This is a time honored tradition called The Ball. You and your husband are lucky to have been invited. This is a gathering of your husband's TOP brass and everyone who makes things happen in his unit.
You're going to need a gown, not a dress. My wife spent $475 on a gown from somewhere in Los Angeles. Plan on spending about $400 - $600 for this. The Sarge will need to re-fit his Mess Dress uniform for about $50 (re-size) to $200 (replace pants, resize coat). Remind him the cumberbund isn't a crumb catcher (pleats down please), and look online for "Military Ball". ALSO: Get ready for it, you and your husband are EXPECTED to dance so be easy on the bar (just in case). Bring a camera, this is a rare event.

Answer 2

Nordstrom online has their evening wear on sale now making it more affordable. I believe Talbots does too.

You'll want an ankle length dress (a cocktail length dress is not appropriate for a ball).. tasteful, no sequins, etc. I recommend staying away from bridal shops, etc. Their dresses tend to be make from poor material and look cheap. It sounds like other posters lucked out, but they're the exception!

You can also try e-Bay! Most people only wear dresses like these once, so they're in new condition. You can get a $250 dress for $30. If you do that, run a search on high end brand names. You don't want to buy a dress from there that someone bought at a discount store because it will look it.

These are all marked down to under $100... a good deal!

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2872098?refsid=99382&refcat=0%7e2376788%7e6002242%7e6007533%7e6007554&SourceID=&SlotID=1&origin=related

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2911244/0~2376788~6002242~6007533~6007554?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007554&P=1

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2932347/0~2376788~6002242~6007533~6007554?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007554&P=1

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2906567/0~2376788~6002242~6007533~6007554?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007554&P=2

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2900322/0~2376788~6002242~6007533~6007554?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007554&P=1



Not under a $100, but pretty!
http://www1.talbots.com/talbotsonline/product/itempage.aspx?item=E217787&PFID=1562&BID=&h=M


If it's mostly officers, it won't be a "drunk fest" like another poster said unless they're younger, like LTs or young CPTs.

Keep your dress or sell it... but you'll be going to a ball at least once a year... it's definitely NOT a rare event. (LOL, unfortunately.) Also, you're not expected to dance. No one cares. These things are so huge, no one knows who is there and who isn't.

Oh, and eat before you go! LOL, the service at these things is so bad that a lot of people don't get their food. (It's happened at every ball we've been to in the past eight years.)

Have fun!

Answer 3

You want something elegant and classy, but I wouldn't get all ball gowny and fancy. Something tea length or longer.

Most department stores have a dress section that isn't devoted to prom dresses. Don't shop in the Juniors section as that is where the prom dresses are. Lord and Taylors, Macy's, even Penny's will have good dress in their dress department. You could even try something like Limited.

My personal favorite places for dresses that work on 20 somethings, but are still very classy are Ann Taylor Loft and Ann Taylor as well as J.Crew and Banana Republic. Very simple and beautiful dresses. Check out J.Crew's wedding section online.

Answer 4

a formal gown would be appropriate for the occassion. he should be in dress uniform. he should have it, but if he doesn't hye should aquire one as soon as possible. since you didn't mention which service is involved, i'll just give the following example. for a marine dressa ball, dress uniform is the marine blue dress uniform, unless it involves an officer who is informed he should wear a dress white uniform, usually reserved for naval ship dinners.
for other services, the dress uniform is the formal uniform, not the daily uniform of the service when on or off base. the dress uniform is for special occassions only and is not normally worn at any other time.
wives should have a formal gown, long, and elegant. a formal may be fotten at most gown shops and may be what is usually used as brid3esmaids gowns or even prom dresses as long as they are not gaudy, but elegant. treying to tell someone just what a gown is can be confusing if you are not going to a specialty shop which has all occasion gowns, as well as formal gowns. many younger sales ladies don't understand that there is a difference, not in name, but in specific occassion uses.
a long formal will suffice, but to really set yourself off, try going to a specialty dress shop for ideas.

Answer 5

You should wear a formal evening dress or gown, it should be knee to floor length and tasteful. A dress suited to the theatre would be appropriate. I found a guide for Military families that has basic protocol information about military balls and dinners, though it doesn't have specific dress information it has many other helpful tips about what to expect. The basic idea is something tasteful that you feel comfortable in, so that you appear confident. Have fun!

http://www.az.ngb.army.mil/Families/DEMA_600-12/APPENDIX%20P+.doc

Answer 6

Simple, elegant, and as you will be with one of the few enlisted, nothing too flashy. There is this site called http://www.etsy.com that people make actual custom homemade clothing and such. Check it out and search for some dresses. You'll probably find a nice one for a resonable price. Best wishes!

Answer 7

Try a bridal shop - look at the bridesmaids' dresses. Any place you look is going to be stuffed with prom dresses at this time of year though.

You could also try looking online, although you may have to be prepared to have it tailored since you obviously won't be able to try it on first.

Good luck - I was actually relieved hubby's unit didn't have a ball this year, as it got me out of trying to find a dress!

Answer 8

i wore a brides maid dress i got a really cheap one that was like 80 , mine was long but alot of the girls at the ball had short dresses that let everything hang out;. Have fun, i did but the ball was not what i expected it was mainly a drunk fest.
srry forgot to tell u do not wear black try like red with a white or pink and white

Answer 9

I've only ever been to one military ball... but, I would say you can never go wrong with the old faithful black dress/gown. Try a bridal shop. Mothers' gowns are often simple yet elegant (without looking matronly).

Answer 10

elegant cocktail dress works fine. Mother of the bride type dress is another idea. It is a great honor to go-my daughters first was a night to remember......she said much better then a high school dance!!