I was recently asked for advice on what to wear to a Black Tie Formal event when one doesn’t attend many of these kinds of events and doesn’t want to spend a lot of money.
When events or occasions come up that require dressing up, it can be frustrating for some people.
They might feel like spending money on something that won’t add value to their wardrobe.
For others, it’s not so much about the cost as the pressure to dress and feel a certain way that may not align with their current identity.
So, how do you deal with that dreaded invitation to a black-tie, formal event when you also don’t want to spend money on something you won’t use and get many uses out of?
Here are a couple of ways to think differently about this:
First, you can use a clothing rental company called Rent the Runway which now offers Formal Attire Gowns. Rent the Runway provides the option for a subscription program that you can rent 5-20 pieces per month depending on the tier you choose or just do a one-time rental.
The advantage of using a clothing rental company is that you can rent other pieces.
For example, if you are going to a long weekend wedding, all your pieces could be rented for less than 200.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about dry cleaning or storing these pieces in your closet.
The challenge is finding pieces you love that work well with your body type. It can be disappointing to find out that not all dresses in stores are available for rental at Rent the Runway.
The second option is to look for a simple and elegant black dress that can be dressed up or down. A black dress can be easily elevated with dressy shoes in silver, black, red, or gold.
A simple, long, elegant black dress is versatile and can be worn in various ways for non-formal events
Another option is to rent some elegant jackets to pair with your long black dress occasions.
The ideas are endless when you open your mind to creative solutions.
