Your Guide to Masquerade Ball Dresses

There are few kinds of events that are quite as iconic as masquerade balls—they take what could have been a regular occasion into something uniquely spectacular. If you’ve been invited to a masquerade ball, your primary focus may be on what mask to wear—and for good reason, given that they’re the primary focus of the evening.

However, in order to make sure that you really stand out, knowing what kind of dress to wear is equally important. In this guide, we cover everything that you need to know about masquerade ball dresses and give some tips on how to make your dress selection.

What You Need to Know About Masquerade Balls

Masquerade balls aren’t just a new trend—they’ve existed since the 15th century. By attending a masquerade ball, you’re going to be part of keeping this long-standing tradition alive.

Whilst masquerade balls have historically been an event reserved for highly formal occasions organised by the upper classes, they are now seen more widely. For example, it’s now not uncommon to see a masquerade ball-themed party taking place between friends.

However, traditionally, these events are no-expense-spared occasions, and if you’ve been invited to a more traditional masquerade ball, you may feel a great amount of pressure to dress your best.

In our next section, we’ll cover how you can choose a masquerade ball dress that fits the extravagance of the evening.

Choosing Masquerade Ball Dresses

The first thing to consider when choosing your masquerade ball dress is that they have a big job to do. As your face will typically be covered by a mask at a masquerade ball, you can’t rely on heavy and interesting makeup to elevate your look like you may be able to at other events.

As well as this, depending on the type of masquerade ball, it’s likely that you will have some level of anonymity. This means that all of the pressure goes into your mask and your dress.

Luckily, we have some tips on how to choose this important dress below.

Match Your Mask to Your Dress

One way to make yourself really stand out at a masquerade ball is to have your mask match your dress. There are many ways to do this. For example, if you’re wearing a black and red mask, opting for a dress that is also black and red can make your whole look appear cohesive and intentional.

However, matching your mask to your dress doesn’t have to mean an exact color match—instead, you can choose to go for something that complements your dress rather than echoes it. For example, if you’ve got your heart set on wearing a plain black dress that you already own, you can wear a more colorful mask as the stand-out piece of your outfit.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Extravagant

As you’ll be somewhat anonymous at a masquerade ball, this is your chance to try something new and go all out in your outfit, especially if you’ll be attending a more formal event.

If you’re unsure of the dress code, you should ask the host directly in order to avoid any confusion. If they tell you that it’s formal or black tie, then this is a great chance for you to buy yourself something that you would never usually have the opportunity to wear.

If it’s a dress that you’re looking for, these dress codes often require long formal gowns or cocktail dresses, which are always a great way to make a statement.

If you’re new to looking for formal gowns, Sherri Hill’s collection of ball gowns is a great place to start. They have a diverse collection of ball gowns at a variety of price points, meaning that you’ll be sure to find something that both fits your budget and suits your personality.

Masquerade Ball Dresses

Masquerade balls are always an exciting occasion, and they’re a great chance to dress to impress or wear something new. We hope that this guide helps you in starting to look for a masquerade ball dress. However, the most important thing is that you find an outfit that suits you best and gives off the energy that you want to exude at the event.