So.. I feel a little silly asking this question but here goes:

My boyfriend is doing a Masters at ETH and has got us tickets to the Xmas ball (hooray).

So, knowing that fashion varies from country to country, and having seen firsthand that what goes on Oxford Street would raise an eyebrow or two on the Bahnhofstrasse, I asked him what people wore to this kind of thing.

Despite having a brain the size of a planet, his response was as follows: "Dunno, something to the floor probably?"

That's it. That is the sum total of my intel on this matter. I desperately need guidance!

Under normal circumstances I would have played it safe with a cocktail dress (which is what I would wear to a work function in the UK) but the 'floor' comment has thrown me.

HELLLLLLLP.

Don't know anything specific, but also having a husband with a large brain, except for these sorts of details, i feel for you.

Anyway, there's a website. How's your German? Take a look here:

www.polyball.com


Have fun!

Oooh, thank you! That link didn't work but it took me to google, which then miraculously showed me a youtube clip of a previous polyball.

Further pottering around unearthed other polyball videos where NO-ONE was wearing floorlength gowns. Thank goodness I checked before turning up dressed like a princess. The man can't be trusted.

Thank you!!

Try www.polyball.ch instead

Polyball is black tie. There are a very few chaps in lounge suits but they look well out of place. So you'll want a proper ball dress I would think - def to the floor. Strapless optional, spaghetti straps v common. And a throw/wrap. If you're coming from London, it might come as a shock that a lot of people will be dancing properly (a big deficit in my generation's education, maybe Strictly has rectified that now lol)

How do I know? Well, I (along with at least one other EFer) play in the Swan Big Band, and on 1 December we will be playing at Polyball for the 5th year in a row

Ooops. Sorry about com for ch. And hmmmmmm.... Sounds like the videos are misleading

Ooh, insider info! Love it

Great, thanks so much for the dress tips. Re the dancing, I love dancing but I seem to have stumbled upon the only Swiss guy with two left feet in that case

Anyway, really looking forward to it now, and to hearing you guys play!

Here you go (from the Polyball website, translation mine):
*An Abendkleid can be short or long but definitely something more formal than a cocktail dress.


You can also do a Google image search for "eth polyball" to see the sort of thing most people wear: you'll see eng_ch's description is pretty much on the money.

Oh, and tell your Swiss guy he willl just have to take some dancing classes! These are offered every year in the run-up to the Polyball, see their website for details.

I mentioned the dancing lessons to him. He seems unamused.
Right, floor length dress has been purchased!
Thanks everyone! I really hope to be of some use to folk on this forum when I eventually get over to Swiss, as everyone has been so super helpful.

Many of the dancing schools in Zürich offer crash courses specifically for the Polyball.

They sometimes even have courses on the night itself.

You can of course get by without dancing, but you miss out on so much of the fun. Do try and convince him to learn at least the basics.