Wondering what to wear to the Navy Ball? You’ve come to the right place!
While there’s a wide range of special occasions you can join as service members and their spouses throughout the year, the navy ball has to be the classic one that evokes feelings of grandeur and dance your night away.
When it comes to its nature, a navy ball is a blend of a fun celebration and a formal work event for a service member.
So yes, people, expect to have fun but not in the – getting all drunk in a mini bodycon dress – type of wild fun.
To make sure you fully enjoy the day, below I’ve gathered 13 real-life navy ball outfits from Instagram to get you inspired! ♥
Enjoy and please support the navy community by pinning or sharing this blog post <3! Thanks love!
1. What to wear to the navy ball guys
For the service members, you are required to wear a uniform while for male guests, a dark suit or tuxedo would be ideal.
As for the smart casual look like a blazer, collared shirt, and khakis, that can appear to be underdressed so I’d say stay away from it.
❤️Girl’s fashion hack #1:
Use nail polish clear coat on fraying thread ends to stop further unraveling until you can properly repair the item!
2. What dress to wear to a navy ball
These days, I do see some ladies wearing dresses slightly above the knee or cocktail dresses.
But if you want to play it safe, go with the knee-to-floor-length one, depending on your preference.
As a rule of thumb, you want to dress classy and elegant.
Most of the navy ball is formal or white-tie attire, showing too much skin in this formal setting is not appropriate.
Of course, that’s all about finding the happy medium.
It’s totally fine to wear a slightly low V-neck dress, but make sure it’s not so low that it it shows too much of your cleavage.
If you are reading this blog post till now, there’s one thing for sure…
You have good taste! <3 If you approve of some of these looks, please kindly pin or share some of these outfits so many tasteful fashion babes can come across this outfit inspo, thanks pretty! ❤️
And…it would truly mean the world to me if you stay until the very end. ❤️
3. What to wear to navy ball
If you want to freshen up the “Oh-so-fancy” navy ball look with your own style, consider a one-shoulder dress that looks effortlessly sleek with minimal effort.
❤️Girl’s fashion hack #2:
Prevent button-down shirts from gapping between buttons by using double-sided fashion tape <3
4. Navy ball dress ideas
In case you don’t know, dresses with an asymmetrical design, like one-shoulder, can draw eyes vertically and elongate your figure as a whole.
If you want to double the slimming effect, this dress below is such a godsend.
Featuring both the one-shoulder design and asymmetrical hemline, it is bound to fake an hourglass body for you.
❤️Girl’s fashion hack #3:Rub clear deodorant on the inside hem of pants/skirts to prevent thigh chafing. ❤️
5. What NOT to wear to a navy ball
Some of the ladies may wonder, Can I wear a dress with a side slit to the navy ball?
It DEPENDS.
If you are wearing a floor-length dress with a low side slit, that’s totally doable and considered classy.
However, anything too dramatic, like high slits on both sides or a short dress with mid-thigh slits, is the big No-no.
❤️Girl’s fashion hack #4:Use rolled-up magazine pages to maintain boot shape when storing – truly work wonders imo lol
6. What to wear to an navy ball
Of course, champagne gold with sequins is another fabulous combo of all time.
You know, a little glitter never hurt nobody!
❤️Girl’s fashion hack #5:
Stretch tight shoes by wearing them with thick socks and blowing them with a hairdryer!
7. What to wear to a Marine ball
While the all-over sequin dress can be tricky to wear, this beaded sequin dress is such a lowkey yet high-quality piece that screams the Great Gatsby vibes.
Such a statement piece to WOW everybody. ♥
Random Sis’s Talk 💅
First thing first, for the ones who are on a budget, scroll past this pink box please. 💗
For the rest of you who are staying, have you girls tried out the Clé de Peau concealer?! ✨
Not gonna lie, this is quite pricey but lemme tell you, it’s worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY. 💸
It’s definitely moisturizing enough for me as a dry skin girlie and my skin now has been appearing FLAWLESS thanks to this concealer. 👑
I also love the fact that they’re quite inclusive in terms of skin tone! 💕
So for the girlies who are interested in pampering yourselves, check this out on Amazon and save it as a gift list for later this year! 🛍️ Your future self will thank you!
8. ALWAYS bring outerwear with you
While the dress code is more relaxed these days, some formal navy balls still require ladies to cover their shoulders.
If you would love to wear a strapless dress, it’s best to wear a classy bolero jacket with you.
But seriously, regardless of what you wear, bringing outerwear or a scarf with you is always a safe bet.
The ballroom can be chilly with the A/C on and you certainly don’t want to rub your shoulder the whole night!
❤️Girl’s fashion hack #6:
Quick fix – Brighten yellowed white clothing by soaking in a solution of lemon juice and hot water!
9. What to wear to a navy ball?
I love this lace bolero jacket – just as feminine as it’s forgiving.
The cropped design just elongates your figure visually and adds a dash of elegance to your overall style.
❤️Girl’s fashion hack #7:
Whenever I feel bloated, I’ll always use a rubber band to loop through a button hole and around the button for a temporary fix to pants that are too tight!
10. Inappropriate navy ball dresses
We all know a mini dress isn’t appropriate for the navy ball, but what about a dress with a long train?
It seems all glamorous but on the practical side, you don’t want to be the reason for someone to trip over.
Plus, the navy ball can be pretty crowded, and wearing a long train dress can be hard to handle.
I’d say this lady is rocking the evening gown in the perfect length.
Enough to make a statement but not too over the top.
❤️ Girl’s fashion hack#8: Keep Jewelry Organized While Traveling hackThread necklaces through drinking straws to prevent tangling – simply clasp the necklace and thread the chain through a straw.
11. Go matchy for a picture-perfect look
When in doubt, going matchy with your partner is always the right way to go.
Go for the chic and timeless combo like red x black to look picture perfect!
❤️Girl’s Beauty hack #9:Go for the budget-friendly retinol body cream for a mild but still noticable skin tightening effect!
❤️Affordable pick❤️Advanced Clinical Retinol Cream for firming skin$17.99It really works... Ladies you don't really need the high end skincare - don't fall for marketing <3!
10/25/2025 12:24 am GMT
I’ve been using this jar for 2 years and it works. That being said, if your skin is sensitive so I’m not too sure can you use it.
12. What color to wear to a navy ball
While there’s no best or worst color to wear to a navy ball, jewel tones will always work wonders if you want to match your partner’s uniform.
Shades like sapphire, ruby, and emerald are all fabulous choices to glam yourself up and look polished.
❤️Girl’s fashion hack #10: Make your lipstick stay longer!
Apply lipstick, then lightly press lips against a coffee filter which absorbs oil without removing pigment like tissues do! Try it out girlies<3
13. What shoes to wear to the navy ball
Last but not least, what shoes to wear to the navy ball?
To finish your look on a dressy end, heels are the essentials.
However, picking the right type of heels is key here.
The navy ball requires you to stay active, from mingling with others during the social hours to the dancing session.
Instead of the high stiletto heels, pick the low chunky heels with exquisite embellishment that are equally flattering!
Of course, wearing sneakers, sandals, or flats is a big No-no.
That said, feel free to bring the foldable ballet flats (My best pick on Amazon) with you so you can wear them after the navy if your feet are hurt.
For a girl who doesn’t wear high heels often, that’s such a great hack!
Christmas is coming (in 2 months)!! and in case you want to spoil yourself…
Pretties, may I present you the two bags that you will never regret buying AND won’t break your bank so you won’t feel guilty afterwards …
The oh-so-classics – COACH Tabby 19 Quilted Leather Shoulder Bag on Nordstorm<3! (The reason I pick Nordstorm is because it seems slightly cheaper than other sites)
And I totally understand – Fashion comes and goes but this bag is here to stay for real…
Another one – YSL shoulder bag that looks effortlessly chic with a budget friendly pricing <3 I bought one last winter and now I am thinking should I buy another one <3
From my backend data, almost every 3 days someone from my email list will buy these two bags lol (Different sizes – some prefer mini some prefer the normal).
FINAL THOUGHTS:
So there you go – the 13 real-life navy ball outfits along with some pro tips.
What do you think about these looks? I hope this article does cover most of your questions!
And now it’s time for you to glam yourself up for a perfect night and feel the best!
For more navy service events, check out my specific articles below! See you there loves ♥♥♥
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