What are your opinions on cocktail dresses to the ball? 

Definite no, it's not a cocktail party, it's a BALL. 

I dont think its appropriate... it calls for formal attire not cocktail attire. Nonetheless, there will still be women in cocktail and clubbing dresses alike. 

I think it all depends on the dress. I'd rather have someone wear a shorter dress than some god awful princess/cinderella/quinceanera ball gown.

If you have to question whether or not the dress you want is appropriate, it probably isn't. 

No. It is a formal evening event which calls for a formal evening gown (meaning floor-length, formal style, and tasteful/classy). 

I've seen ball invites that call for either cocktail or formal attire. I don't think it's a big deal. The only people who care Are the spouses and we don't matter. 

The only people who care Are the spouses and we don't matter. 

I know my husband would ask me to wear something more ball appropriate. 

"Cocktail" doesn't mean skanky.

Oddest thing though, at the ball gown give away that my husband's command did there was such a wide array of dresses. Short ones, long ones, cocktail dresses, pants suits. I would think they wouldn't want wives to take them if they didn't want them to be worn to the ball so why give those away to wear? 

I know it doesn't - but it's not appropriate for a military ball. If I picked up a knee-length dress, he would ask me to pick something different is all I am saying.

Not sure about the ball giveaway. 

I wore a shorter dress one year and it was beautiful and classy. My rule always is "your knees should never show". I also wore nylons so I wasn't showing bare skin. For a person my height it's almost impossible to find a long dress that doesn't need alterations. 

At least go for a semi-formal gown (meaning a formal-style dress that is tea to knee length) before considering a cocktail. I'm not going to pay any attention to what anyone else is wearing, but I will make sure that I follow proper etiquette by wearing a formal evening gown. If anyone asks for an opinion on what type, I will offer mine. In the grand scheme of things it is not the most important thing in the world, however, so I'm not going to worry about anyone else but me. 

t's almost impossible to find a long dress that doesn't need alterations. 

I'm of average American female height (5'4") and still need to get alterations done. I save money by doing my own nails and make-up. This year my alterations cost $30. 

No...I wouldn't 

I would rather see women in tasteful short dresses, opposed to those dresses with really low cuts in the front, back or side. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing a little bit of leg and not so much of the boobies popping out, back so low you can almost see the top of the badonkadonk. Trust me I've seen it. 

From a male Marines point of view, I think a cocktail dress is too casual for the Marine Corps Ball. There is a reason that we go in our Dress Blue Alphas vs Deltas or Service Alphas vs Charlies (or should be at least). Ultimately you are a direct reflection of your spouse so dress as you see fit. This isn't winter formal or a high school prom, this is the Marine Corps Ball. If you don't want to give it the respect it deserves, by all means, stay home. 

I got my dress at one of the giveaways and it's a "cocktail" dress but very classy. I think it all depends on the dress. 

From a male Marines point of view, I think a cocktail dress is too casual for the Marine Corps Ball. There is a reason that we go in our Dress Blue Alphas vs Deltas or Service Alphas vs Charlies (or should be at least). Ultimately you are a direct reflection of your spouse so dress as you see fit. This isn't winter formal or a high school prom, this is the Marine Corps Ball. If you don't want to give it the respect it deserves, by all means, stay home.


LOVE! 

his is the Marine Corps Ball. If you don't want to give it the respect it deserves, by all means, stay home.

Ha ha ha yes because, drinking into oblivion, hitting on your CO's wife, bringing "escorts," and dancing on tables (all done by Marines) is giving the ball the respect that it deserves. Come on now, lets not act like the Marines are classy. Please... 

I think tea length or longer is most appropriate. The ball is black tie for civilian attendees. More and more units are having dress codes now too. 

Ha ha ha yes because, drinking into oblivion, hitting on your CO's wife, bringing "escorts," and dancing on tables (all done by Marines) is giving the ball the respect that it deserves. Come on now, lets not act like the Marines are classy. Please... 

Don't classify the few idiots into an entire group, please. 

Don't classify the few idiots into an entire group, please. 

Ditto. ;)

Besides, I thought the "But, he did it..." mentality wore off in elementary school.

I would never choose to lower my standards because those around me do. We don't seem far off from the day where mandatory dress codes will be passed through every battalion. It's sad that adults needs the rules to be written, too. Common sense should be more, well, common! 

I've always worn a floor length gown. I've seen women wear cocktail style dresses before.... I personally don't think its ball appropriate, but it doesn't put a damper on my night seeing a woman wearing a short dress. 

Don't classify the few idiots into an entire group, please.

I don't but it is a good majority (at least at all the balls I have been to.) And no it's not a "but he did it" mentality. I just think people are being ridiculous about it. If you are at a golf course or country club setting, yes formal is definitely the way to go. If your ball is in Vegas on the strip... cocktail attire is perfectly suitable. Again, look at your invites if they give them out. I have seen them where it calls for women to be in cocktail or formal attire. And common sense would dictate that if the commands didn't want the wives to wear those dresses, they wouldn't give them out. 

Cocktail dresses are never formal enough. Even in Vegas we wear our dress blue alphas and then have to change out of them to go anywhere outside of the ball. I just don't see how or why anybody would think that's acceptable. 

Cocktail dresses are never formal enough. Even in Vegas we wear our dress blue alphas and then have to change out of them to go anywhere outside of the ball. I just don't see how or why anybody would think that's acceptable. 

No. I believe attire for the ball should be floor-length and classy. And spouses are not the only ones who care, my husband does, as I'm sure many others do. 

Then WHY does the command (like the TOP command) hand out these dresses for the wives to wear if they aren't appropriate?

Since when do you have to chance out of your blues to go out in public? They do it all the time! That makes no sense. It's one of the uniforms you are allowed to wear in public... 

The dresses for the give aways are donated. If it is the only thing someone has to wear sure it is better than jeans and a sweater ( which I have seen).

A cocktail dress would be perfect for a holiday party. Maybe that is the logic behind giving them away.

I just don't understand the logic behind not wanting to look appropriate. 

I guess I just think its fine to wear a nice "cocktail" dress vs the formal ones that have a ridiculous amount of skin showing. I also really think people should be more focused on the event and celebrating the reasons they are there rather than focusing on what others are wearing. Maybe it's because all the balls I've been to over the years have been grunt unit balls where it's usually a post deployment type celebration and everyone is just happy they came home alive but those are my experiences. No one cared what anyone wore, we all just had a good time. A dress ( unless skanky) is not disrespectful. 

I don't think they are appropriate for the ball either.