Ladies - What do you wear on formal nights?

[Cruisechic470]

I always wear cocktail dresses on formal nights, but I have seen a wide variation. What do you wear on formal nights?

[ondeckatsea]

It's become a lot less formal since we first started cruising 20 years ago. Back then it wasn't unusual to see ladies in ball gowns. I have a closet full of nice, long, summery, very light weight, mostly floral dresses. I'm sick of seeing us all in black. It's pretty, but a sea of black doesn't make much of a fashion statement. I use to wear the sequins and all that but I think that's rather passe. Now I can pack a lot of April Cornell dresses which don't weight much and are color and very feminine.

[ChefPeg]

I am so short, a cocktail dress sometimes look like a long gown on me:o . Hence, I usually opt for the cocktail dress.

[GreytRacer]

I will usually wear a floor length dress the first night and a cocktail dress the second.

[BlueHerons]

I wear a formal dress for a formal occaision.

 

I would only wear a cocktail dress for black tie optional or if the invitation states cocktail attire.

[Lois R]

.......because I have worn all of the above;)

I have worn gowns, cocktail dresses, dressy pants suits......what

else?:D oh, long dressy skirts (yes with tops:) )

So I could not vote for only 1.

[cruiser82]

I also voted other. Since I primarily cruise NCL and their formal nights are optional I usually wear anything from black pants and a cute top to a cocktail dress. I've never worn a floor length dress but I would like to one day.

[Jane110]

I wear formal attire on formal night, which means a full length gown. For cruises, I tend to bring ones that pack flat, so I leave the "Ball gowns" at home.

[Wiseone24]

I wear fancy cocktail dresses. This past time they were to my knee.

[SantaAna,CA]

I have a copper colored floor length gown, taffeta, with off the shoulder neckline, a ruched bodice and a lovely tapering skirt in the back. One of my favorites.

 

I just got a new ice blue satin Jessica McClintock gown, with a fitted bodice with silvery/ice blue lace, strapless, and matching bolero of the same lace. It's exquisite, makes me feel like Cinderella, and was on sale!

 

The dressier the better, I love it!

 

Jane :rolleyes:

[luckycruzer]

blk, brn, off wht, w/lovely to verry fancy tops..a mix of CW pants, skirts, slinky pants...I love all the various choices I have on my "rolly cruise clothes rack"..makes planning for all the next ones, summer, fall winter n spring easy, as I tend to go the seasonal for myself. The shoes and bags are sometimes repeats on the same cruise

[suezyq50]

I love wearing the floor length dresses. I don't dress up a lot, but really enjoy formal nights.

[Nebr.cruiser]

I usually wear a floor-length dress or skirt and have worn a ball gown. Once in a while I wear a short cocktail dress also.

[GORDONCHICK]

I usually wear floor-length, but will be packing cocktail dresses for the upcoming cruise. And I very rarely wear black on formal nights - talk about a needle in a haystack!

[Hoyaheel]

I've always worn floor length gowns, but just got a new St John evening jacket and a knee-length skirt so I'll wear that on one night of the Alaska cruise. Not sure what I'll wear the other night.....

[luvjftffc]

I love dressing up for formal nights as those are my favorite nights. I always wear a long formal dress and I get at least 1 new one every cruise. I love to shop.

[CruiseDreaming]

On first formal night I wear the gown, on the second formal night I'll do either another gown or ankle length or a cocktail dress. On shorter cruises I wear a cocktail dress. I love dressing up on formal nights! My husband does too so he bought his own tux. We leave this weekend for a little cruise and it will be our 5 yr old son's first cruise and he insists on a tux! He wants to look like Daddy.

 

Kerrie:)

[JanineM]

I always wear full-length dresses, and LOVE it! I wear cocktail dresses other nights, especially if we go to the specialty restaurants.

 

For me it is a really great excuse to dress up, and to get DH in a tux!

[Happy ks]

I had to vote "other", because I've done several of the choices.

 

I have a few long dresses (I wouldn't call them gowns, just long sparkly evening dresses in easy to pack knits) Gowns I consider to be skirted in a heavier fabric, floor length...I won't pack one of those ever again for a cruise. I have some seperates (black skirt, evening jacket or top) I have a dressy pants suit, I have a few cocktail dresses.

 

I think it depends on the cruise line and the itinerary. I cruise local once or twice a year, just short cruises, for those I'll not bother with a long dress at all. I think the nicer the ship, the nicer I will try to dress for formal nights.

 

I also think it depends completely on the dress you find. If you absolutely fall in love with a full skirted ball gown, wear it and feel beautiful, I always appreciate seeing women looking gorgeous on formal night :)