Dress || Heels || Clutch || Bracelet || Earrings
Over the weekend, my work hosted their annual auction gala. It’s a fun event to mingle with parents and raise money for our school. I was really looking forward to it, but was even more excited when I read that the dress code was ‘creative black tie.’ At the time, I had no idea what that meant, but it sounded like it was right up my alley.
Upon some investigation, I learned that ‘creative black tie’ is simply a twist on the traditional. You still have the opportunity to wear a stunning gown, but you can also add unique accents and statement pieces to really help you stand out. Think about bright colors, intersting fabrics, and non-traditional silhouettes. Of course, black and navy area always acceptable too.
Since I’m still on my shopping freeze for Lent, I looked to Rent the Runway to find a gown that would stand out, but also stick with my preppy and lady-like style. As soon as my eyes landed on this red lace gown from Monique Lhuillier, I knew I had found the dress. The color was nothing short of stunning and the perfect kind of vibrant for a night out. Dainty, Dotted Swiss fabric was a perfect compliment to the full floral lace. Everything about this dress really spoke to me and I was ready to make my purchase.
Since this dress is such a show-stopper all on its own, I let everything else about the ensemble stay neutral. I could have opted for other statement pieces, but didn’t want to have too much of a fashion risk. Tall black heels from Steve Madden gave me the height I needed to pull off a floor length dress and exposed just a touch of my fresh pedicure. My tortoise clutch from Tuckernuck already matched just about everything in my closet already and seemed like a perfect choice for the night.
I honestly hope that you get an invite to a Creative Black Tie event. Better yet, why not throw one yourself?! After having shopped for one, I can say that it is now one of my favorite dress codes. Feel free to make a trendy statement, take some risks, and just have fun with what you wear. I’ve linked up the other dresses I was considering down below and let me know what you would wear.
Love from NYC,
Katie
