{"id":518,"count":42,"description":"

You can spot a gala dress by its length, its open back and the way it moves. Backless designs, thigh-high slits and sweeping trains make up the most formal part of our collections: the dresses you save for a ball, an awards night or a black tie evening.<\/p>\n

What makes a black tie dress<\/h2>\n

Three things, and the more the better. Length first: all 42 designs are floor-length. Then the back: 27 are deeply open and 7 are built on a boned corset that holds everything in place without straps. Finally, movement: 22 dresses have a high slit and 11 sweep the floor with a train. These are long dresses designed to be seen from behind and on the move, not just from the front.<\/p>\n

Fabrics that last all night<\/h2>\n

Satin, used on 17 designs, gives skirts their structure and catches the light. Tulle and lurex add volume and shimmer without extra weight, while layered chiffon is perfect for summer balls, when satin would feel too warm. Twelve dresses go all in on sparkle, with sequins, glitter, beading or crystals.<\/p>\n

Necklines, straps and support<\/h2>\n

Eleven dresses are off-the-shoulder and 25 are sleeveless: here the bodice does the work, not the straps. If you plan to dance all night, choose a boned corset or spaghetti straps over a plain strapless bodice. A-line styles, the majority here, remain the most comfortable over a long evening.<\/p>\n

Where to try them on<\/h2>\n

Ellebeline doesn't sell direct to the public. Gala designs are stocked in smaller numbers, so find a stockist near you<\/a> and call ahead to check the colour you want is available.<\/p>\n

See also: long evening dresses<\/a>, bridesmaid dresses<\/a> and emerald green dresses<\/a>.<\/p>","link":"https:\/\/www.ellebeline.com\/en\/evening-dresses\/black-tie-gala\/","name":"Black tie & gala dresses","slug":"black-tie-gala","taxonomy":"product_cat","parent":509,"meta":[],"menu_order":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellebeline.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat\/518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellebeline.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellebeline.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taxonomies\/product_cat"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ellebeline.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat\/509"}],"wp:post_type":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ellebeline.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?product_cat=518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}