Posted on Apr 27, 2015
What's a tasteful military ball gown?
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You've been to military balls. Like me, you've seen a wide variety of ball gowns. What is an appropriate ball gown? What is not? Can you give or show example?
Military Ball
Etiquette
Respect
Regulation
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 631
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This pic was taken years ago at the Cavalry Ball in Knox. Tastes differ, but class is partly defined on how you represent.
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SFC (Join to see)
I Couldn't agree with you more TSgt Logan. A woman's inner strength definitely shines on her outer strength. Sometimes her classiness is much more sexier than anything she could wear.
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SSG Roger Ayscue
Never sacrifice what is permanent for what is temporary. that woman in the example photo sacrificed her permanent reputation in the minds of everyone there, for her temporary enjoyment of "Letting Loose" Really? WOW
The Lady above, with the Cav trooper that I can assume is her husband, can look at and show that photo to her grandkids one day and will not be forced to explain how grandma drank too much and acted like a stripper giving a lap dance in front of the Commanding General of the base that was instrumental in making Grandpa get out of the Army before his time was up.
The Lady above, with the Cav trooper that I can assume is her husband, can look at and show that photo to her grandkids one day and will not be forced to explain how grandma drank too much and acted like a stripper giving a lap dance in front of the Commanding General of the base that was instrumental in making Grandpa get out of the Army before his time was up.
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A1C Bonnie Entringer
This lady looks elegant and classy and shows that her husband has good taste and common sense.
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PO2 Danny Bott
lol...... yeah until everyone is made to wear the same attire women that are not comfortable with there bodies are going to hate on other women!!
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PO2 Roger Duncan
By the majority of the responses this dress is all the rage by their standards. Face it folks, as we age out like fine milk, our ideas of acceptability get stuck in whatever bygone era we first started to find women attractive. The dress in the OP isn't my cup of tea, but that said I would never go onto a public forum and criticize another person's idea of acceptable. Makes me sad that so many feel the military idea of acceptable is stuck in WWII or the Korean war. Now go ahead and flame away about "standards". Go ahead and show me exactly how stuck in the past y'all are........
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MSgt ReganSteve Frioux
I agree with you Duncan. Tastes change and let's be honest - everyone from the Base CC to the lowest private uses these balls to "let their hair down" a bit. All of the comments I see posted are most assuredly not "classy." But then again, there are Marines that post here.
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How about choosing something that doesn't make you look like a $20 gutter whore?
I don't know the background of this picture (nor do I care to) but I'd be very disappointed with my wife if she wore something like this to a formal event. I'd hope she would have more respect for herself than to present this image.
As for the officer accompanying her... I would lose all respect for this individual as a Leader. This to me shows a PROFOUND lack of judgement and good common sense.
I don't know the background of this picture (nor do I care to) but I'd be very disappointed with my wife if she wore something like this to a formal event. I'd hope she would have more respect for herself than to present this image.
As for the officer accompanying her... I would lose all respect for this individual as a Leader. This to me shows a PROFOUND lack of judgement and good common sense.
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I don't think this dress is something I'd wear to a ball. I have seen dresses in this format at balls and they still had class and dignity. I think it's the positions of dancing that she was caught in that make the dress inappropriate. I'd also like to venture to say that this is someone's wife and I don't think it's appropriate to have her photo taken and turned into a joke. Which I don't think is the intent of your post; however, some of these comments are not in good taste either. Let's not belittle or degrade this family.
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CH (MAJ) William Beaver, what's a tasteful military ball gown? Not the one shown in your discussion thread introduction! Had it been in my power, they would have never gotten past the entrance.
COL Jean (John) F. B.
COL Jean (John) F. B.
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CH (MAJ) William Beaver
And yet, I saw a few push the envelope just recently. Sadly, the classless minority blare out the classy majority. I saw a 1LT a couple years ago sitting at the front table with his 'rent-a-date' looking hotter than ever and practically sitting in his lap and all over him throughout the program. Add booze to fan the flames and well, you understand. I confronted the 1LT on Monday and asked him if he should have left early and gotten a room.
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LTC Stephen C.
CH (MAJ) William Beaver, I just think that commanders, senior officers and senior non-commissioned officers should handle these situations prospectively. Perhaps, have a class on dress and/or protocol before the event. At the very least, tell them they just can't remain at the ball dressed in such a fashion before they get too far along in the event.
When I was an officer candidate, we were told (unofficially) that one of the reasons for a dining in, dining out or military ball was so the commander could see how his subordinates behaved in a quasi social situation, especially where alcohol was involved. Clearly, this captain missed the mark.
In this instance, I would not even have engaged the woman (a guest). I would have been counseling a captain for goodness sake, which is truly a shame, for he certainly should have known better.
As his commander, he would have known in no uncertain terms that I was displeased.
COL Jean (John) F. B.
When I was an officer candidate, we were told (unofficially) that one of the reasons for a dining in, dining out or military ball was so the commander could see how his subordinates behaved in a quasi social situation, especially where alcohol was involved. Clearly, this captain missed the mark.
In this instance, I would not even have engaged the woman (a guest). I would have been counseling a captain for goodness sake, which is truly a shame, for he certainly should have known better.
As his commander, he would have known in no uncertain terms that I was displeased.
COL Jean (John) F. B.
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MSgt Jay Soriano
Way over the top! Unacceptable! Classy not trashy, have respect for yourself! You feel sexy, got it, but there is a place, a time and a function such as time, may not be the place.
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PO2 Bonnie Fraley
My point... would she OR he let their daughter out the house in that to any type of dance? I'm shocked that higher ranking officers let that fly!!
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SGT Carolyn O'brien
I seriously think it is a transvestite or whatever it is they have the dress on wrong, it makes no rhyme or reason
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SPC (Join to see)
Look at a few of the other pictures, Sgt O'Brien. It's pretty clear, that person in the dress is female.
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