The Official 2015 Black & White Ball Dress Code and Attire Questions Thread

[le_momo]

The Black and White Ball is returning this year better than ever! The dance floor will be huge, the playlist will be extensive, and the night will definitely be one to remember!

2015 Black & White Ball Dress Code

The dress code for the Black and White Ball is formal.
For more details as to what formal attire entails, please follow the guidelines in the dress code below.
Cosplay and crossplay are allowed, so long as the attire fits within the following guidelines.

Please note: The Dress Code will be strictly enforced — we will be denying entry to individuals wearing inappropriate attire.
Individuals who repeatedly disobey the dress code after entry will be asked to leave the event


Allowed Tops:

• Button-up long-sleeve shirts
• Blouses
• Dress jackets, evening jackets, suit jackets

Allowed Bottoms:

• Dress pants
• Slacks
• Khakis

Allowed Dresses/Skirts:

• Evening gowns
• Opaque (not see-through) dresses or skirts that extend to the top of the knee cap at its highest point (including slits and asymmetrical hems)

Allowed Accessories:

• Ties
• Gloves
• Jewelry
• Formal hats
• Masks

Allowed Shoes:

• Solid-colored, clean-looking shoes with no visible logos
• Dress shoes
• Dress boots (another example)
• Flats
• Ballroom-dance shoes (another example)
• Character shoes
• Formal sandals that have straps securing the heel

If your shoes have heels/platform of any kind, they must be...
Allowed Heels

• Heels that are 4" or lower (including platform)
• Heels that are more than a nickel in diameter at the tip
• Suggested: Heels with some kind of strap to support the foot

Not Allowed Tops:

• Men's button-up short-sleeve shirts
• T-shirts
• Tank tops (another example)
• Muscle shirts
• Tube tops
• Crop tops
• Ripped shirts
• Not wearing a shirt

Not Allowed Bottoms:

• Jeans (and denim of any kind)
• Shorts and cut-offs
• Ripped pants
• Leggings
• Athletic pants (another example)
• Sweatpants

Note: If you are wearing a dress/skirt that is at the approved length, but would like to wear leggings underneath it, leggings will be allowed.

Not Allowed Dresses/Skirts:

• Dresses or skirts that go higher than the top of the knee cap at its highest point (including slits and asymmetrical hems)
• Dresses or skirts that are see-through above the top of the knee cap (including asymmetrical hems and lining)

Not Allowed Accessories:

• Weapon props

Not Allowed Shoes:

• Shoes with large, visible logos (ie. Nike swoosh, Adidas logo, etc)
  
  • Sneakers/tennis shoes
  • Informal Sandals and Sandals without straps on the heel
  • Birkenstocks
  • Uggs
  • Crocs
  • Flip-flops
  • Dance sneakers
  • Bare feet
  
  If your shoes have heels/platform of any kind, they cannot be...
  Not Allowed Heels:
  
  
  
  • Heels that are higher than 4" (including platform)
  • Narrow-tipped heels that are less than a nickel in diameter at the tip
  
  
  
  This event was fantastic last year and we are expecting an amazing turn out this year as well. We hope that everyone will enjoy the ball and have a great time, so that is why this thread is being posted.
  
  If you have any questions or concerns over your outfit for the Ball, post them here. You can even post a picture of your outfit/cosplay here and we will let you know if it will be acceptable for the Black and White Ball. If you would like your outfit to be a surprise until FanimeCon, you may also send us an email at [email protected] and we will get back to you with an answer as soon as we are able to.
  
  - Rebecca

[Creatrix Tiara]

How about a dress (of the right length) with leggings?

[Wabbit98]

As long as the dress is the appropriate length you can wear leggins under it.

[reyn]

If the leggings are opaque, and the skirt was a few inches above the knee (all part of a White Rabbit cosplay), would that be okay?

[Olivine]

I'm hoping to do a Splicer inspired outfit and I have some questions to see what would be allowed. I intend on wearing a mask with a small amount of fake blood on it, is that acceptable? I also wanted to wear ripped stockings, not too heavily done but still clearly visible. My dress will be normal and of an acceptable length, so it's just the minor details I'm concerned with.

[Serenq]

Sorry, this may be a dumb question, but is the dress code strictly black and white if we're not cosplaying?
This will be my first time at Fanime and I don't want to stick out like a sore thumb >.<
Thank you in advance!

[Okach]

Nope, wear whatever colors you like!  Just follow the dress code posted above about what to wear and you should be fine.

[princesskitty18]

If the leggings are opaque, and the skirt was a few inches above the knee (all part of a White Rabbit cosplay), would that be okay?

the skirt itself has to be the appropriate length, which is to the top of the knee itself. leggings opaque is fine, but the skirt itself needs to be the proper length

I'm hoping to do a Splicer inspired outfit and I have some questions to see what would be allowed. I intend on wearing a mask with a small amount of fake blood on it, is that acceptable? I also wanted to wear ripped stockings, not too heavily done but still clearly visible. My dress will be normal and of an acceptable length, so it's just the minor details I'm concerned with.

i personally can't answer the question about the mask; but the ripped stockings should be okay. again we're more concerned with the dress/skirt itself than the accessories that come with it. i will let a more senior member of the ball staff answer about the mask.

[micz]

Can we wear short cardigans over our dress?

[princesskitty18]

Can we wear short cardigans over our dress?

there's no rule against cardigans/sweaters. the only thing that we are really looking for is the length of the dress. no matter how long/short your cardigan is, your dress itself must be the appropriate length.

a note about cardigans/jackets/sweaters. there is no coat check, so if you put your jacket down somewhere, its your responsibility to keep track of it.

[luluuxduplica1223]

Is costume hats ok? Like a witches hat? :)

[FrenchBreadRedWine]

I just purchased a prom type dress it's all the way down to my feet so I don't worry about length but it doesn't have straps.
It's a strapless so should I just wear a cute little over jacket or a cardigan? Or should I attach straps?
I didn't read anything in here that stayed we couldn't wear an evening gown without straps.
But I want to make sure I have a cute cover top if I do need one

[princesskitty18]

I just purchased a prom type dress it's all the way down to my feet so I don't worry about length but it doesn't have straps.
It's a strapless so should I just wear a cute little over jacket or a cardigan? Or should I attach straps?
I didn't read anything in here that stayed we couldn't wear an evening gown without straps.
But I want to make sure I have a cute cover top if I do need one

strapless dresses are fine. i've personally worn strapless dresses before. as long as the dress stays UP, then you're fine.

Is costume hats ok? Like a witches hat? :)

i believe hats are okay for the most part. it must be part of the costume and if you put it down, it's your responsibility to keep track of it.

[FrenchBreadRedWine]

Awesome thanks!! It actually has a corseted piece in the back where I can tighten the top so I will make sure it doesn't come down at all

[kit rose]

Would a three-quarter sleeve white button-up be okay? It goes a bit past my elbows.

[Okach]

@Olivine - wearing a mask is fine, though if you plan to dance and it obstructs your vision we recommend that you don't wear it so as to reduce the likelihood of running into people.  It will be a fairly crowded floor.

@simbasuga - If the sleeve length is similar to the picture here then you should be okay. 
 
http://guideimg.alibaba.com/images/shop/70/08/12/2/new-kustom-kit-ladies-3-4-sleeve-corporate-oxford-shirt-womens-formal-workwear_2584722.jpg

[reyn]

Since there isn't an official thread for the 2016 Ball, I'm posting my question here.

I'm planning on wearing a traditional saree to the Ball (Blue Diamond cosplay), but traditional sarees typically come with halter tops due to shirt fabric twisting under the pull of the skirt. I intend to solve this problem by simply wearing a leotard underneath to hide my skin, but would it be alright if the leotard was skin colored so as not to ruin the look of the saree?

[princesskitty18]

Since there isn't an official thread for the 2016 Ball, I'm posting my question here.

I'm planning on wearing a traditional saree to the Ball (Blue Diamond cosplay), but traditional sarees typically come with halter tops due to shirt fabric twisting under the pull of the skirt. I intend to solve this problem by simply wearing a leotard underneath to hide my skin, but would it be alright if the leotard was skin colored so as not to ruin the look of the saree?

hi reyn. that would be fine.

[JohnnyAR]

Do the jackets have to be buttoned up? Do the shirts have to be completely buttoned up? I'm talking about leaving the collar left unbuttoned.

[Okach]

Nope.  That's fine.