Formal wear -or- Why are Prom Dresses so Slutty?
 

I figured I'd stop hijacking the other thread about Business Casual :p

So as I was saying over there, I have a Black-Tie Optional event to go to in a few weeks, and I'm trying to figure out what to wear.

The problem is this: I'm several years out of college now, but not old enough for the kind of clothes you tend to see our mothers wearing. (I'm 24, not 54!) But I'm also a size 2 - meaning if it's not in the Juniors Department, I'll be swimming in it.

Juniors clothes seem so... skanky... these days, and that extends to their formalwear. I'm going with my fiancee to a corporate dinner, not planning on losing my virginity on Prom Night. FH has suggested I wear one of my college formals, but most of those are a little on the sluttier side of what I'd wear these days as well.

SO... does anyone have suggestions as to where to find a Formal Dress, in a small Juniors size, that doesn't make me look like a streetwalker? :o

(Edited to add: This is Milwaukee, not Milan. Our high fashion stores tend to be of the JC Penney's variety)

have you looked in any of the petite sections in department stores. they are usually a part of their formalwear department. i know my sister gets a lot of her dresses in those. bloomingdales usually has a very nice sections.

Ack, you beat me to it! I should have added that I'm 5'8 and a size 2 :) Petites are a no-go.

I SO WISH we had a Bloomingdales, Nordstroms, Macy's, anything of the sort! We pretty much have JC Penney's, Sears, etc.)

damn.. and i thought i was being so smart! :p i'll let you know if i can think of anything else.

eta: do you have a banana republic near you? i saw some nice dresses in there last weekend when i was on my search for a red dress. some of them could most likely pass for your event as well as be in your size.

Well you can shop online someplace like Saks or Nordstrom's and have it altered at a tailor's.

That all depends on how much time you have of course.

Hey, this sounds like a great reason to go on a shopping spree to Chicago! :)

Hey, I didn't think of that!!! I do have a few weeks, it's not until December 6th.

*fires up her credit card*

ohhh magnificent mile shopping spree :) i want to go... :D

If you are tiny enough - and you are - go to a vintage store if there's one nearby. You can find stuff that is classic yet not old lady-like. Plus no one else will be wearing it.

I know exactly what you are trying to avoid - the sequined tops and jacket thingies - I don't blame you.

Also, try TJ Maxx or Marshall's.

Awww, you mean you don't want an uber-sequined, 2-piece, belly-baring formal dress? :p
Have you tried bridal shops? They have tasteful formal dresses, some of which are meant to be bridesmaids dresses, I guess, but some of which are meant to be dresses for formals. They seem to have a range of sizes.

Try looking at Boston Store at Brookfield or Mayfair - they're MUCH better than Southridge or Grand Ave. I actually like the one at Brookfield better when shopping for formal stuff - I've gotten most of my dresses there. However, Field's is also at Mayfair, and they usually have a nice selection of formal dresses too - on the second floor back by coats/sportwear. Some of the bridal shops in the western burbs and northern burbs (think Mequon) also have some nice formal dresses.

Ooh, I didn't think of that either! I went to the Boston Store at Grand Ave but everything was of the old-lady variety that 33girl mentioned above :) I always forget there are other malls besides G.A. and Southridge :)

Perhaps this will merit a trip to Brookfield. I've actually been out there a few times recently, but I haven't been to the mall yet.

I am a big fan of Ann Taylor, AND they have size 2 clothing.

http://fp.anntaylor.com/@v=0114@/Ima...5436_5025l.jpghttp://fp.anntaylor.com/@v=0114@/Ima...5432_6600l.jpg

Here is the closest store to Milwaukee, go try some things on :)
Mayfair Mall
2500 N. Mayfair Road
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
(414) 774-9222

*minor hijack* I hate when invitations say "Black Tie Optional". It is either black tie, or it isn't, just tell us so we KNOW what to wear.

It's a pretty decent mall - I think BS is about all you'll find for formalwear, unless Ann Taylor Loft has something. I never go to Penney's or Sears...I pretty much stick with BS and Field's when dress shopping, although I once found a great dress at Ganto's at Southridge (which I think is now out of business). If you want to do serious dress shopping I'd probably go to BS at Brookfield first and then hit up Fields. I like Mayfair better than Brookfield in general, but I'm also at Brookfield a lot more...

Anyway, if the nice malls don't work out, there's a Jessica McClintock store at Woodfield in Schaumburg, where theres also a Nordstrom's, Lord&Taylor, Carson's (which is the same as Boston Store) and I think a Macy's.

I think I'll stick to Brookfield for now... from what I've heard, Mayfair isn't, uh, the safest place to be!