Fricken-fracken Masquerade Ball

We have to go to this:

http://www.cerner.com/firsthand/Firs....aspx?id=31033

I don't want to go. It's not my bag. I know next to no one at dh's place of business (most of his friends don't live here in town).

What on EARTH do I wear? I need plus size / formal. My size is coming down, slowly but surely, so I'll probably need an 18. I hate my arms (of course), and I hate my ankles (huge).

Plus I have to tie in some asinine mask ...

[rainbabies]

I have a dress I can send u. I've never worn it. It's black, formal, pretty. Want me to take some pics and email them to you?

that would be great! I'll PM you my email address.

[rainbabies]

Ok...but I think I already have it. Send it anyways, just in case I'll take pics tomorrow morning

[Meenah]

Sylvia, you never posted sizes for your girls. I have a couple of neighbors with girls.

I don't mind spending some money on it, if I can find something good (it seems these dress-up occasions will just keep coming). As I continue to lose weight, I can have a good piece altered.

I like this one (would need a shrug or wrap)

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3007760?...Product-_-Auto

this one:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3019384/...bo=2374394&P=2

this one (although don't love the color)

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3061947/...bo=2374394&P=2

this one:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3029823/...igin=quickView

this one:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3058467/...bo=2374394&P=4

not sure if this one is good or would be a disaster:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3035411/...bo=2374394&P=5

[SuzySunshine]

I like the next to last one

[Pollyanna]

How about you hire a couple to be you two...it is a masquerade ball after all.

I like the idea, but dh is much loved by the various muckety-mucks. Plus, there aren't too many Indian / chubby white girl couples floating around the KC Metro.

[Chrisada]

They are really nice! I wouldn't wear the last one out to anything but a masquerade oddly enough. It seems like a masquerade dress, with all of the different colors and such.

And I'm annoyed that they misspelled "mask."

LOL Christine. I didn't even notice. I was too busy hyperventilating about what to wear.

I'll have dh point it out to them. Makes them look pretty stupid.

[alison]

Vishenka, where are you?!

IMHO, the last Nordstrom dress seems masquerade-y, and you might not have many occasions to wear it again.

Ug. I hope you can find a way to have fun with preparing for this. This wouldn't be my thing either...

[BonBon]

UGH! I do not envy you. Hey, at least it's not a costume party! (silver lining?)

I like Tara's idea, but you're right...it won't work.

[Pollyanna]

I like the idea, but dh is much loved by the various muckety-mucks. Plus, there aren't too many Indian / chubby white girl couples floating around the KC Metro.

Oh bummer. In that case I vote for #3, #5, or whatever Sylvia has. It might be fun decorating a mask to match your dress. Keep us posted.

Vishenka, where are you?!

IMHO, the last Nordstrom dress seems masquerade-y, and you might not have many occasions to wear it again.

Ug. I hope you can find a way to have fun with preparing for this. This wouldn't be my thing either...

the funny thing is that with the color, it's one of the few dressy american outfits that i could ever wear to an indian event. i usually wear saris, but sometimes i'm just not up for it.

if this were a formal costume thing i'd just wear a sari. in fact, it's crossed my mind, b/c they do suggest wearing elizabethan, italian renaissance, old hollywood, or roaring 20's. gorgeous Indian silk isn't any of those things (and it's not as though all of those things follow one theme), but it is elaborate and flamboyant, and I could figure out one hell of a mask to go with it. i've got the jewelry and everything. plus, i'm terribly comfortable in a sari (they're quite slimming when wrapped right).

thoughts on that? if it were only a formal evening, i wouldn't dream of it -- but for a masquerade ball, could I pull it off?