Hunt Ball Attire

[Mr. OReilly]

Hi, a few weeks ago my friend received an invitation to a hunt ball but she has no idea what to wear. She has given me the assignment to find out for her. Do people normally get really dressed up for them or is it just sort of casual? It didn't say on the card and she's new to hunting so just thought I'd ask all of you foxhunter extrordinaires:)

[Jaegermonster]

Ours is black tie (I believe most are) so yes people get verrrry dressed up. The majority of the men wear a tux, some in dark suits, those that may wear scarlet tails.
The women you see everything from very dressy cocktail to ball gowns.

[Tantivy1]

On thing to bear in mind....many gentleman members will be in scarlet and it is best not to wear a loud coloured gown that might clash with them as they preen in their tails; :) yellow, purple or pink hues immediately come to mind! You will see lots of long black gowns, that is always a safe colour to go with, but there will be jewel tones as well.

[Beverley]

It's been a while since I went to a hunt ball, but the invitation should specify the attire. Typically it says 'black tie, scarlet if convenient.' If it were to say 'informal' if times have changed, that would mean business suit for gents, cocktail dresses for ladies.

[Elghund2]

I go in a tux. My wife goes in some version of a ball gown.

[SidesaddleRider]

As Beverely said, usually the invite specifies attire.

Ours is always Black Tie, Scarlet if convienent.

Traditionally, women should never wear anything other than black or white gowns to a hunt ball.

Obviously, that has fallen by the wayside nowadays...

[J Swan]

She should wear a long dress that shows off her figure - if that means a ball gown, fine, if that means a more contemporary gown, even tea length - that's fine too.

Think of what you'd wear to an evening formal wedding - without lots of lace and flowers in the hair. She shouldn't wear red - most women I saw wore black (always safe), or dark jewel tones. She could go with a richer fabrics if she wanted - so velvets would be good, taffeta, silks, etc. Or should could go with a very simple black dress, and liven it up with jewelery - but just one big piece - not lit up like a Christmas Tree.

The women who can pull it off (young, great body) will often go with cocktail dresses.

[Snow Princess]

What about a Lady Master in a formal red gown is that proper or a henious crime punishable by death from the fashion police?

[Tantivy1]

Daring to wear that, death should be the least of her worries. :)

[eqsiu]

Traditionally, women should never wear anything other than black or white gowns to a hunt ball.

Obviously, that has fallen by the wayside nowadays...

My hunt allows only black, white, or silver for women. Men can wear black tie, white tie, or scarlets.

[SidesaddleRider]

My hunt allows only black, white, or silver for women. Men can wear black tie, white tie, or scarlets.

Lovely to see that! :)

And no, Snow Princess, that (historically) wouldn't be proper, but it's certainly not a crime that deserves death. :lol:

[SteeleRdr]

Where I hunted last year strongly suggested black, navy, and other darker colors. Black tie or scarlet for men.

I believe the hunt ball for the new hunt recommends black or white for ladies. And white tie (not black) or scarlet for men.

[Painted Wings]

Our hunt is another one that allows only black, white, silver, or gold for women. Personally I think I would stick to one of these colors regardless of what is allowed. There is usually at least one poor lady there each year with a dress of the wrong color.

Ours is white tie by the way.

[Elghund2]

Only black, white or silver I would think would be rather dull. Both hunts I've been with have had no such restrictions. It makes for a more colorfull evening.

[Cattail]

can't go wrong with the black sheath -- elegant but understated!!

[AilleXWest]

What about a Lady Master in a formal red gown is that proper or a henious crime punishable by death from the fashion police?
I wear red. I am not a Master either. I asked the Masters of the 3 balls that I was worn my red dress to before hand and all have said fine and after seeing me in it have told me to wear it or any dress like it to any of there balls from now on. I look best in Red and wear it any time I can. I did get told my members of the hunt I am with right now that if I worn a red dress I would be asked to not come back the next year that is why I do not go to that ball. As I said I like red!!!

[Thomas_1]

The most outrageously expensive full length ball gown her credit card will stand with an equally ridiculously costly pair of shoes and a silly handbag that is so tiny it can't possibly hold anything other than a lipstick and definitely NO money because of course THAT is why the men are there! :winkgrin:

Ours are always formal evening wear so full length ball gowns and for the men either dinner suits or full dress kilts

This is me and mine at our last ball

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a205/classic_carriages/DSCF0067.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a205/classic_carriages/DSCF0031.jpg

[Hunter's Rest]

I have 2 very very lovely (racy, too) red ball gowns. I've worn each to a hunt ball without punishment. In fact, the masters (men) nearly fainted when they saw me. Flattering, but I know all to well how much 'a little lipstick' moves up any horsey girl, from mussed to glam.

[Romany]

Kilts at a Hunt Ball....puredeadbrillyunt, Thomas!

[Rt66Kix]

Since our hunt only allows black or white, I'll be daring and drag out my sequinned zebra print bustier top...LOL!

[Snow Princess]

http://family.webshots.com/photo/2321000880057148385HrLitD

Oh my Lord... i have sinned... look at this picture.. the only properly turned out person is Sheila... I have on purple.............and bling...

I like purple...... and Jennifer looks grand in red......Deborah looks delightful in yellow ..Brooke is best in Brown...and she even traded up a dress later in the evening but i can't remember what color it was.......

What's missing is Liz in green...............
where is she....................http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2944340300057148385RMKmXw

What will the punishment be........?

SideSaddle rider you.can decide........?


The bad news is that purple is my birthstone.. and i like to wear purple..

I will continue to wear purple as i have a new purple dress...i guess black would be nice too.. but I'd need pearls............not Amythyest.....

One more question for Sidesaddler .....

Once on FOL you gave a good tip about some replacement type bottle for a sandwich case.........i don't love the sandwich case.. it rubs my legs.. i guess they are too fat...but some day i may become full trained and need to have a flask in my sandwich case. Was it a perfume bottle? Regardless it was a good tip.


My appy horse is fencing well.........http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7SJuorOIus

It's rained lot's here and the grass is green again...i hope you get some rain down south soon.


My new colt Brycie....is doing well...wormed him to-day... http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2082951420057148385kXsHDZ Little Brucie is doing well..

What a pack of ill properly dressed foxhunter's... yellow .. green.. red... Girls we must be silly but i missed the ball gown colors for women part in Wadsworth............

I now think the huntball picture is priceless photo ...

It's proof in 2007 we decided ...the white silver black rule was out.. just bring your money and ANY Dress will be fine...


So a strictly white ball gown competition is out for me but a most gorgeous fellow foxhunter from the great white north has volunteered to represent me in this phase.. when it becomes mandatory ...

When does that Mandatory period start?

So far i have been getting away with the color of my choice for a long time...........and no body has told me...

Where is this rule in print?



Bye for now:eek:

[Snow Princess]

Guilty as charged..........a darn kilt wearer is in their with all those poorly turned out bitches in the wrong color of dress's...

how many couple..of bitch's ? AND a Kiltwearer?? http://family.webshots.com/photo/2321000880057148385HrLitD

2 for sure.. one purple dress and one green dress..
one yellow dress and one red dress
The third couple was a brown and black dress...

The brown bitch... nobody knows for sure.. where she went....


It's just bad all of this non conformity......... will it continue..?

With Allie X in Red and myself in purple... hunting hard and questioning it...? WHY???

HHHHHHHmmmmmm GOLD....

Maybe i could wear Gold.....

Silver clothing... i don't think i have a big stash of gold or silver clothing has not been popular on the horse farm.. get's dirty fast..


P.S on the sinning
Is it worse with the Kilt wearer? :cool:


He's seems a popular fine huntsman In NOVA to me...


Northern alien.. . opinion..

Jodi

[Meadowfox]

Well Purple Princess......I have an eggplant purple one that I could wear, or a midnight blue velvet one and being as the chocolate velvet one from last year couldn't even make it through the night without falling apart on my person :eek: , I won't have to worry about deciding on that one!
This year I have decided on a simple black number, hopefully it won't decide to disintegrate at a most inappropriate time!
And as far as kilts go..........LOVE 'EM!!!! (No Scotish blood in this woman! :D)

[Thomas_1]

And as far as kilts go..........LOVE 'EM!!!! (No Scotish blood in this woman! :D)


Do you know how to tell which clan a Scotsman is in??




If he has a quarter pounder, then he'll be a MacDonald :winkgrin::lol:

[Equibrit]

Kilts at a Hunt Ball....puredeadbrillyunt, Thomas!


Uh?

[stilldannyboy]

I actually remember a few years ago seeing one master wear black silk stockings, knee breeches, and dancing pumps with his scarlet tail coat.
Very debonaire indeed!

I wore a floor-length strapless black velvet dress with a multicolored sequin bodice and ostrich feathers aorund the hem. Oh, yes, and above-the-elbow black gloves with it.

[Beverley]

Girls we must be silly but i missed the ball gown colors for women part in Wadsworth............



Yeah, I missed that part, too. Have been attending hunt balls since the early 70s (including back then with a fair number of people who'd been hunting since the 30s) and never once was there any decree regarding womens' dress colors.

To be sure, it wouldn't do to clash with one's husband if he's wearing scarlet (so Jodi, no, you WOULDN'T wear the purple dress then, would you?). And to be sure, MFHs of hunts are The Last Word in attire, and one perceives that some hunts do issue edicts for hunt ball gown colors.

But the notion that 'only' black and white gowns for ladies is A Longstanding Foxhunting Tradition is, well, untrue.

[Snow Princess]

To be sure, it wouldn't do to clash with one's husband if he's wearing scarlet (so Jodi, no, you WOULDN'T wear the purple dress then, would you?).

.I suppose it wouldn't kill me to hang up the purple dresses if i have to hang out with a table of redcoats sometime. I would need advance warning about the seating arrangements. Another plus for the Kiltwearer... his attire matchs all of the dresses

Why do you see so many women wearing red and purple together..once i was in the USA and there were entire departments in Walmart and Cracker Barrel that had red and purple hats... red and purple dresses etc.. I thought it was a bit loud but then felt hey this is he USA anything goes.

[Romany]

Quote....

Quote:
Originally Posted by Romany
Kilts at a Hunt Ball....puredeadbrillyunt, Thomas!


Uh?


It's a Scottish thing (well, to be more accurate, a Glaswegian thing - sorry, Thomas).

And do you know how you tell a real Scotsman?

































Dandruff on his shoes.

[Jaegermonster]

I think you are primarily limited in gown colors if your man is wearing scarlet.
I am probably the worst sinner of you all:)

I once wore an irridescent international orange strapless Jessica McClintock taffetta ball gown (with red satin lining) to the hunt ball. And it was freakin' GORGEOUS!
To this day, people are still talking about it and that was 8 years ago.

[Jaegermonster]

To be sure, it wouldn't do to clash with one's husband if he's wearing scarlet (so Jodi, no, you WOULDN'T wear the purple dress then, would you?).

.I suppose it wouldn't kill me to hang up the purple dresses if i have to hang out with a table of redcoats sometime. I would need advance warning about the seating arrangements. Another plus for the Kiltwearer... his attire matchs all of the dresses

Why do you see so many women wearing red and purple together..once i was in the USA and there were entire departments in Walmart and Cracker Barrel that had red and purple hats... red and purple dresses etc.. I thought it was a bit loud but then felt hey this is he USA anything goes.

All that red and purple stuff at Walmart and Cracker Barrell is for the ladies Red Hat Society

[Snow Princess]

Picture of the Orange dress.........?you are the ultimate sinner :cool:

I will google the red hat society and that will be my book learning for the day..

Lanky has thrown a shoe........one of the plastic slippers is off... :( so i must decide whom i am riding now ...all these last minute decisions complicate the plan... but at least i have the trailer hitched.. and i 'm half packed so i am ahead of the game.

I may have nice hunt pictures tomorrow from Batterwood.. the weather looks perfect cool mornings showers yesterday.. thankfully the ground is somewhat soft i will be taking a barefoot horse tomorrow.

Final horse selections taking place for the next few hours..which 4 yr old?:lol:

[Jaegermonster]

I don't have one scanned, only a "real" Pic but I'll have to see if I can get someone to post it. It was beautiful, it was strapless, with a big skirt with sort of a bustle in the back and a small train. People still talk about it every year.
My husband about died when I tried it on (he hated it on the rack because of the color and I tried it as a lark really), but once it was on he loved it. It is a very elegant gown, and was insanely expensive, but it did raise the bar for our subsequent balls, and that was also the year I got my colors.

[Snow Princess]

What an excellent memoir in life.......getting your colors in an elegant yet outrageous standard setting ORANGE dress.

:eek: Wow a dress with a train... for a huntball.... !

Nothing like raising the bar ..Cheers :D

[Jaegermonster]

It was just a little teensy train, only a few inches, but just enough to be annoying because people kept stepping on it :( but it was really pretty

[SidesaddleRider]

I actually remember a few years ago seeing one master wear black silk stockings, knee breeches, and dancing pumps with his scarlet tail coat.
Very debonaire indeed!

Ah, not just debonaire, but indeed fully attired in the proper scarlet dress. Gentlemen (as late as the 1960s for some hunts) would NEVER have worn pants with their scarlet evening tails. That most auspicious of hunting jackets was only to be worn with black knee britches, black silk stockings, and black men's pumps (this harking back, of course, to when men wearing knee britches and pumps was common attire at formal parties). Nowadays, of course, men would be hard pressed to find the britches and stockings, let alone pumps...and dare I say, it would take a true Corinthian (in form as well as function) to pull it off? ;) There is a great picture of a gentleman in full formal attire in a book. I'll try to remember to find it and scan it so you all can see. I tried to get my fiance to spring for the whole outfit, and I just got "the Look" from him. Somehow my trying to explain that I just wanted him to do so to show off how nice his calves are didn't cut it.


What will the punishment be........?

SideSaddle rider you.can decide........?
...
One more question for Sidesaddler .....

Once on FOL you gave a good tip about some replacement type bottle for a sandwich case.........i don't love the sandwich case.. it rubs my legs.. i guess they are too fat...but some day i may become full trained and need to have a flask in my sandwich case. Was it a perfume bottle? Regardless it was a good tip.

Alas, no punishment from me. I'm just the font of "traditionalism" (or I have a hang up on books from the 1920s-30s...feel free to take your pick). I don't expect people to follow it's lines 100%, unless their individual hunt requires them to do so. Lord knows mine doesn't! Even I could fully admire the fantastic aqua gown one member had on last year. Perhaps I might be a bit daring this year, and break out the...drumroll...champagne colored gown! (OK, so perhaps not as daring as purple, but it's pushing the line for me! :lol:)

And yes, a perfume bottle can be used as replacement glass flask. I've found vintage Chanel bottles to be the best fit. Just measure the inside of your case, then haunt eBay looking for a bottle. Be sure to email the sellers to get bottle measurements, so you'll be sure it will fit. You can usually find one for under $5. Sure beats the heck out of $175 for a replacement flask, huh? ;)

[wateryglen]

I love this thread!! Around ole Virginny; I think everyone wears colored gowns. Don't know of any local hunts that don't at their balls. So wear your colors and be proud!! :winkgrin:

I had a former MFH that had 2 ball gowns she rotated every other year and spoke laughingly about that fact! What a hoot! She'd say, well this is the red gown year or the black & white gown year. She said that takes all the pressure off having to plan/shop etc. OK everyone, fess up....how many of us have worn a gown to their hunts ball at a subsequent occasion? I tried the "every 3 year" rotation once. No comments but then I WAS amongst friends!!! :lol::lol: I mean, men can wear the same tux year to year!! And how many of us have discussed our dress plans for the ball in the huntfield just to kinda feel out the competition?!!!

I've seen coctail dresses but that's not black tie right? Had a friend that always wore a satin/sequined pants suit!! Yellow.......

But to me; we ladies need to notch it up with our hairdo's. My biggest complaint are women that wear their hair long & stringy & everyday like! Updo, updo, updo, puhlease!!! Lotsa teasing & hairspray!! A tiara!! Flowers or jewels in your hair!! Come on! Dress like a queen! Feel like a queen! Act like a queen!! (ok, well, a drunk one but still! :winkgrin:) Strapless, halter type, backless gowns are just SCREAMING for more neck & skin!! And who'd deny themselves the morning after ritual of trying to get all those hairpins & rats outa your hair/scalp with a hangover! Not me for sure! And hairspray till your stiff hair?!!?? It's what memories are made of!! Am I lying!!???? :D

[REINRIDER]

Quoting Wateryglen: "Updo, updo, updo, puhlease!!! Lotsa teasing & hairspray!! A tiara!! Flowers or jewels in your hair!! Come on! Dress like a queen! Feel like a queen! Act like a queen!! (ok, well, a drunk one but still! ) Strapless, halter type, backless gowns are just SCREAMING for more neck & skin!! And who'd deny themselves the morning after ritual of trying to get all those hairpins & rats outa your hair/scalp with a hangover! Not me for sure! And hairspray till your stiff hair?!!??"

:lol: Yep, updo's! The last huntball I attended took me most of the day at the hairdresser's. My hair is VERY long, and was down past my waist on that occasion and since ponytails are an everyday thing, I like to be a little more exotic on such occasions. It was too thick and too long for the traditional updo's so the hairdresser got creative in order to get it all up and stay up. At one point, the entire place was our audience as the girl had me sit in the chair on my knees while leaning face down over the back of the chair, so that she and another girl could experiment on doing one of those very complicated braids. I had bought jeweled pins and and butterfly clips that matched my dress perfectly. The end results were fabulous. Needless to say, I had fun the following morning (thankfully no hangover), trying to "find" all the hidden pins. There was so much hairspray and mousse in it that my hair actually hurt after I let it down and I couldn't get it washed fast enough! Oh well, for all of us to look so good for one night is worth it to me!

As for re-wearing a gown, yep, I have 4 dfferent ones. Two are my faves. I rotated them though so it wasn't too terribly obvious and I have had a couple of company X-ms parties were I was able to wear them and get my money's worth out of them. I think it's silly to buy something and only wear it once. Sorry, but I'm a little more practical and my budget won't allow it. This year will be a "new dress year" for me, but for many different personal reasons!:yes:

[Meadowfox]

Last updo I had...........I think I pulled out 125 pins!!! Forgive me, it's long, thick and curly hair and needs all the engineering and re-enforcement it can get! Poor hairdresser should have charged per pin! It was quite amusing trying to get them all out and I hadn't been drinking either! Made me wonder why I went through it all and then I had a look at the pictures afterwards and figured it out!!! Duh!!!

Tree

[AilleXWest]

The reason I do not do an up do is I hunt that morning. I would have to miss hunting to get my hair done!!!! Sorry NO WAY!!!! I did for the MHFA ball this year put it up with a hair claw and get a rose that looked good with my dress and put it in the claw. You could just see the rose top from the front. It was fun.

[Snow Princess]

I don't know how to do an updo :cry:

So now it's an updo in a pure white gown...the bar is rising very quickly:eek:

Nobody has ever told me my hair left down looked stringy before.

Sometimes we also have the hunt and then the ball that same night and it's a very rushed day with only time for a quick dunk of your hair in the watertank and then off to the ball. This year we have the huntball then hunt the next morning so more time could be put into the coiffure......now that i know the strict standards from the promised land now include an updo!

[wateryglen]

I love that dunking your hair in the watertank vision in my mind.....yewwww! But doesn't the slime smell? Here in the "promised land" our trough slime smells!!! :winkgrin: Can't wear trough slime to a hunt ball now can we!!???

I have some quickie ideas for updo's for long hair. Put a ponytail up high or almost on top of your head. Take the hair and do stuff with it! Braid it like a hunter braid! :yes: Roll it under & pin it from the sides. Divide the ponytail in half - top & bottom. Roll the top piece upwards and bottom downwards and pin from the sides. (looks like 2 rolls) Take pieces & curl loosely in several directions, pin/spray. My fav is to buy some artificial flowers, cut off stems and pin them in the ponytail. They should of course, match your dress! ;) Flowers like fake roses, hibiscus, gardenia or something big. One on each side on any pony tail looks good! Use a satin or ribbon to cover the rubber band alone dresses up a ponytail!

Ha! Can't BELIEVE I"M passing out fashionista advice here.....Me!??!! Ha!:lol::lol::lol::lol: But updo's? DEFINITELY!!

[Rt66Kix]

But to me; we ladies need to notch it up with our hairdo's. My biggest complaint are women that wear their hair long & stringy & everyday like! Updo, updo, updo, puhlease!!! Lotsa teasing & hairspray!! A tiara!! Flowers or jewels in your hair!! Come on!

As a professional hairdresser for close to 30 years, I HIGHLY support this opinion! There is nothing like "party hair." Just be sure to wear a shirt that buttons down the front to your salon, and take your shower before you go. Day-old "dirty" hair also helps. There is nothing worse than a trying to do an updo on squeaky-clean, freshly shampooed hair!

[AilleXWest]

As a professional hairdresser for close to 30 years, I HIGHLY support this opinion! There is nothing like "party hair." Just be sure to wear a shirt that buttons down the front to your salon, and take your shower before you go. Day-old "dirty" hair also helps. There is nothing worse than a trying to do an updo on squeaky-clean, freshly shampooed hair!
Yes I know it is better to have dirty hair but after hunting all day and doing horses before and after there is no way anyone would dance with me if I had not clean hair and me. I smell too bad to stand near myself after hunting!!!!!

[Elghund2]

OK. These last few posts explain why there is an inordinate amount of perfume in the air at formal events.

[wateryglen]

Sheeeesh....no way can I hunt the day of a ball!! No Way!! I have to sleep the rest of a hunting day! Ain't good for squat!! Just the limping & groaning alone would prevent partying! Or at least go in early if I do hunt! Make a showing and scoot out early! Besides, I have to get my head in a good party place! You know, get psyched up for ACTUALLY dancing in public! And the updo takes most of the afternoon!:winkgrin: And I might paint my nails! Or have my annual mani/pedi!!! It's a day of pampering to get ready for THE BIG NIGHT!! :D
And I think the reason there's the air of strong perfume at a hunt ball is because most horsewomen only have a few bottles of stale, old perfume to use that night of nights!! ;)
I think the REAL fun is hunting the morning after....done only by sadistic hunts IMHO!! :lol: Hangover Hunting!! Those who show up are bleary eyed, horses dirty, arriving late and of course; you'll find immediately and run like hell for the next 3 hours! A definite day you don't wanna miss!! I most admire those who come after staying up all night!!
Wateryglen bows low in deep reverence to the "up-all-nighters"; she is not worthy!!!