What to wear for a formal ball in New York?

woman in black dress; formal wear; formal dress

Dear Polite One,

I am a female attending a formal ball at an upscale New York venue and don't have a clue what to wear. The invitation states that it is "Black Tie".

Dressing for the Ball

Dear Dressing for the Ball,

This calls for a formal evening dress, which could be a short, or tea-length cocktail dress. If the formality of the outfit is formal, you'll be fine. I would suggest no train. Typically, black dresses are not worn to balls, but they are worn for black tie. And this is New York; women wear a lot of black there.

Sincerely,

The Polite One

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