I've been to more than my fair share of MC Balls, but I always had to wear my blues. Now that I'm on the spouse side of things, is it more appropriate to wear a floor length gown, or is a cocktail length acceptable as well? I've seen both and the invite says either is okay, but I don't want to be the oddball out. Opinions? 

I personally would never wear a cocktail length dress. It is a formal event so I wear long gowns =0) 

Lots of people say floor length, but I have seen some very classy cocktail and tea length dresses. 

To each their own...I'm a long gown kinda girl :) 

You can do either. But long is what is actually appropriate. 

Last year I wore a long dress...this year I have one that goes just below my knees. 

I wore a gorgeous tea length gown one year. Got a lot of compliments! But I would never go shorter. 

Long.
IMO, shorter are not appropriate for the Birthday Ball. 

Definitely long. Of course people are going to say you can wear either... because technically you can wear anything whenever you want. 

I am long gown gal myself. I hear the word ball and automatically think Cinderella. Cinderella wouldnt have worn a short dress lol 

Cinderella wore a HUGE ball gown, it's technically not even a ball. It's a celebration of the Marine Corps birthday, more so of a dinner, because tons of people get trashed. I say wear whatever compliments your guy, because it's all about him, if he doesn't mind a short dress, than go for it! :) 

IMO, long. At the balls you see everything tho, from long to so short you get cooter shots. I know there is a dress code for it, just not sure what it exactly states, google it and you can probably find it. Way to many people think of the ball as a time to dress way to revealing. They look like they should be on a corner instead of at a Marine Corp ball. 

it's technically not even a ball.
It is a ball, its a ball to celebrate the Marine Corp birthday. 

I have seen some pretty gorgeous and tasteful shorter dresses. In fact a really good friend of mine wore a champagne colored tea length dress last year with matching shoes and it complimented her husbands blues so nicely and she got ton's of compliments. Wear whatever you are most comfortable in and whatever represents your husband in a tastful mannor. (ie we don't want to see under your dress or see your goods on top falling out.) 

Floor length. It's a formal event 

Way to many people think of the ball as a time to dress way to revealing. They look like they should be on a corner instead of at a Marine Corp ball.

So true. Although it does provide entertainment for the rest of us. 

As long as you look like a respectable adult and your comfortable in it you'll be fine. 

Cinderella wore a HUGE ball gown, it's technically not even a ball. It's a celebration of the Marine Corps birthday,

I said that is what I think of when I hear Marine Corps Ball and I am pretty sure everyone know why we have this huge celebration. When the invite or tickets are handed out, the word ball is on there. SOME people get stupid and wear ridicules outfits, but still a formal event. This is a topic like others out there that we all are not going to agree on and people will wear what they want. 

I say long. Be classy not trashy! ;0) 

Thank you for all the input :o) I know I said 'cocktail length', but I was thinking of tea length. I'll probably go with a long dress. 

I typically wear long. Last year my husband had a formal mess night in leu of a ball sinc they would be deployed. I choose to wear a knee length dress. My boobies were covered but it looked really nice. And I choose that specific dress because my husband loved it. 

I usually wear long, but this year, at Ross, I found the most gorgeous shorter dress, just barely above the knee, and it looks like an elegant strapless long gown, it's just short. I am considering wearing it, with silver heels and a silver clutch. (there is some silver beading on the front of the dress. The dress is purple.) It's just really cute, and doesn't look like a prom dress, and doesn't look skanky at all. It's very tasteful, and I am so excited! It was 16 bucks! I was thinking of making a little masquerade mask to match it too, just to be different and cute. We shall see!

But I do agree, it is very difficult to find a short formal dress that still looks elegant and formal enough, and not too revealing. I happened upon this dress, and was very lucky! 

The first time I went, I wore a knee length cocktail type dress. We were just starting out as a couple and I didn't have enough money for a gown and I didn't want him to buy me one so I went to Kohl's and got a really cute black dress. I wore a dressy type jacket that matched the dress perfectly so I didn't have too much cleavage out and it was long enough to not be inappropriate.

It all depends on you. Knee lengths are usually cheaper by... a lot unless you get a used gown. As long as your dress is longer than mid thigh, you should be fine.
Long is more appropriate since it's a formal dinner but no one is going to look at you sideways for wearing a knee length dress. 

It's a formal event which equals a formal gown which means full length. Tea length or cocktail length is not formal. 

I bought a long one. :) Looks really pretty with the one shoulder cut. I can't wait to lose 10 more pounds and wear it! 

I bought a long one too! I'm so excited, I had to order online b/c the store didn't have my size, so I'm hoping it fits. I bought a 4 (I'm a 2 in jeans and small shirts), but I'm hoping it runs small or can be tailored down. If not, I still have time to exchange. 

I bought a long one too! I'm so excited, I had to order online b/c the store didn't have my size, so I'm hoping it fits. I bought a 4 (I'm a 2 in jeans and small shirts), but I'm hoping it runs small or can be tailored down. If not, I still have time to exchange. 
I did the same! Amazon! 

I was thisclose to getting a short dress this year (the first and only time my husband has had an opinion about my ball gown and he wanted short lol), but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. LOL I do long for the ball, tea-length for Dining In/Out. 

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