ball attire

[Alexandra]

I have been reading alot about balls...there seems to be dozens...however i am not quite sure if by "ball" you mean an actual ball with tuxedos and ballgowns, or if you mean a formal dance with nice dresses. I am coming from overseas and I dont know whether to pack my ball gowns, my long formal gowns, or short nice dresses. I know it sounds trivial, but ball gowns take up a lot of packing space...actually they take up suitcases worth of space. anyhow I would very much appreciate some insight.

[physicist]

For balls, most people here would wear dinner jackets or ball gowns.

[The Penguin Of Death!]

This year I found there were at least 2 occasions where a full ball gown was needed (when I say needed I don't mean compulsory, just similar to what everyone else was wearing!) however maybe a couple of the long formal dresses and short nice dresses would be useful too, there really are sooo many events which need formal dress here!

[Scully]

Guys usually wear black tie for most balls. You can usually judge what sort of dress is required by who is hosting the ball- whether its a hall ball/society ball (little less formal) or May Ball, KK Ball etc (little more formal). But there is no set dress- People wear alsorts. I wouldn't worry about it just yet.

[nighteyes]

i was actually shocked at the length of some of the dresses at the may ball this year - i was expecting full length and fabulous. but alot of girls were wearing dressed above the knee. i was horrified.

[hr]

i didnt say i was consistant, just right!

[munchingfoo]

Short dresses at the May Ball are more to do with the tactics of not getting dirty and using overcrowded toilets rather than look.

[hr]

Tired Freudian references aside - your mother played my mighty skin flute like a surf crowned sea nymph trying to rouse Poseidon from his watery slumber!

[Sophia]

I am in the same boat, well not that I have an abundance of fancy ball gowns lying around, but I need to know what kind of dresses they mean for us to bring.

[Thalia]

Yeah, i'm so glad my dress didn't trail on the ground at the may ball - it would have been filthy afterwards.

And i don't think that a proper ball gown is really essential - a nice dress will get you through most balls anyway

[hr]

The shadow proves the sunshine...

[Guest]

I'm now starting to get worried. I'm going to St Andrews this year but i only own one ball gown which i wore to my prom and i don't really own anything else that is useful for balls and the like. Do most people who go to St Andrews have and abundance of clothes?

[balls]

According to ettiquette, the correct attire for formal events with dinner served are full-length gowns. on the other hand, for balls which do not serve dinner, and involve dancing, etc. (which means the majority of balls in St Andrews), the slightly less formal cocktail dress (above the knee) is appropriate.
my suggestion is to bring along a couple of simple dresses which can be jazzed up with jewellery to create different looks. there really is no need for the really extravagent gowns.

[Thalia]

I only have two dresses - one a ball dress type thing and the other just a plain green dress - and in my first year i only had the one dress. So no, not everyone has an abundance of fancy clothes, and, anyway, in my first year i only ever went to one ball, it's not like they force you to go to these things. Nor are you really going to lose out by not going.

[hr]

The shadow proves the sunshine...

[eagle]

There are also plenty of charity shops which will provide for you should you get stuck. With the abundance of posh frocks in St Andrews throughout the year, by May the charity shops have loads of posh frock stock.

[K]

I've done 2 years here, haven't been to loads of balls, just a few. My advice, if packing is an issue, would be to leave out the ball gowns - they're not essential. In fact, as far as I could see, long dresses arw more commonly worn. Of course, if you want to wear a ball gown (like me, as I own one) go ahead. I think that if you own cocktail dresses, there are occasions that suit those too, so pack one (I say one, this is because I am poor so only own two dresses in total). For the May Ball, I think a really nice just-below-the-knee dress would be ideal as a compromise between formal and getting wrecked in the mud, but of course adapt as you wish. None of the things I went to had really specific hard-and-fast rules.

For the worried person, here as everywhere there are people who think outfits - and lots of them - are really important, but there are also many who don't care much, so you can take your pick. I have minimum clothes and I've been just fine. If you don't have money (or inclination to shop), I don't think your friends will mind you wearing the same dress to several balls! And many people go to only one or two a year, or none at all. Just depends what you want.

[Nymphomanic]

Three simple classy dresses - any length are key. Then accesorize - a lot.

[hr]

I read most of the night and go south in winter - wasteland

[Guest]

So do guys need tuxedos? Do most guys wear tuxedos or suits?

[Bizarre Atheist]

Guys usually wear DINNER JACKETS (which is English for tuxedo), usually with a bow tie. A 'Dinner Jacket' actually means the whole suit, so don't forget trousers too.

Alternatively those of Scottish origin or who like to pretend they're Scottish wear kilts in a variety of styles, from extremely formal suit-like outfits to a very simple white (Ghillie) shirt.

However, if you don't own either of the above, it's entirely acceptable to wear an ordinary business suit and tie. Jeans, however, are never appropriate at a ball.

Hope that helps.

[hr]

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[Guest]

Just how much are the balls?? Are they expensive?

[Bizarre Atheist]

Some are cheap, say around £15-£20, right up to £85 for a VIP ticket to the May Ball. You do have to take into account how much is included in the price, eg transport, drinks, food, ents etc. Tickets to Hall balls are usually free to residents (paid for out of your hall subs) and quite cheap to everyone else.

[hr]

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