If youv never danced ballroom befor were flat shoes.
You can buy a new dress from debanems I got my bridsmaids dress from ther.you could payfrom around 90-200 pounds.

Is this a joke? You are worried about a dress and have never danced Viennese Waltz. It is one of the hardest ballroom dances to learn and is very fast. I would be worried about taking lessons or learning the dance rather than a dress unless you just plan on sitting and watching.

Are you a joke?

Balls are generally society events, not dance events. What you wear matters far more than if you can dance very well

In Vienna, Austria they have Viennese Waltz balls, but you have to qualify with your Viennese Waltz abilities first and then you worry about a gown or tux. It is a huge beautiful event with dancers looking great all dressed up and they can dance since they have worked many months or years on technique and their dancing. I wish Austria was closer--I would try to qualify. I'm sure there is a website somewhere with photos of the gala event.

It seems like the USA could come up with a similar event.

What sort of dress would one wear to the Stanford Viennese Ball? Where could I get that kind of dress, and how much should I expect it to cost? Also, can anyone tell me what kind of shoes I should get? I've never danced ballroom in my life, and now I have to attend the Viennese Ball in a month!

The best thing to do would be to ask the organizers.

As for dresses, you want something with a very full skirt rather than a narrow one. And ankle length or just a hair higher. There are things like this on Ebay from time to time, also look at the costume classifieds on this site.

Pump-style "standard" ballroom shoes would be ideal, but other nice shoes with a very stable, not too high heel should work.

You'll need a few lessons, too.

Hi Novice maybe its late but this is my advice (I own a web site about deb balls, debutanteball.com) - The dress is a full length ball gown, formal: sleeveless, wide skirted, ankle length or floor length, allowing dance and waltz. You have one or more slips as underwear, to give fullnes to the skirt. You have to train how to lift the side of the gown while walking, dancing, sitting ... If you are not in the Opening comittee, the gown must not be white.
You should cover your arms with over the elbow gloves.
Pumps or sandals, matching the gown ,with medium high heels, typically dance pumps.
Please ask me more if yoy need something ! alt200@wanadoo.fr
Anne !