Never too early to choose a prom dress
The time is fast approaching. The prom may still be a few months off, but for graduating girls, it’s never too early to start thinking about their prom dresses. They may start flipping through magazines, checking fashion sites online and comparing notes and ideas on dresses.
There’s so much to consider, from the price to the colour and style. As a parent, you want your daughter to look her best, but remember that chances are she will rarely, if ever, wear the dress again after the big event.
When my daughter graduated from high school several years ago, we went all out. They style was poofy and satiny, so we went for it. A friend of mine was a seamstress so we came up with a design for a shiny blue strapless dress. I have to admit it looked gorgeous and it was fun to watch all the couples at the Research Station posing for the photo opportunities.
Afterwards, the dress was wrapped in plastic and hung in the closet and, as far as I know, it’s still there.
Dress will reflect personal look
My youngest daughter is next in line for the prom so we have already begun the search. Her style is a bit less formal, and her dress will reflect her own personal look. We’ve already learned lesson number one in our journey to find the perfect dress. We found a website with well-priced and beautiful dresses, and lo and behold, she found an exquisite dress: silvery, long, strapless and unique.
We decided it was a perfect dress, but we waited a few days, in case we found something we liked even better. Big mistake. When we went on the site a couple of days later, ready to take the plunge and send my credit card into cyberspace, the dress was gone. “Not accessible,” it said.
Okay, now we move into Plan B - go shopping.
We looked at dresses at a few stores, but didn’t fall in love with anything. So now we have a shopping trip planned for Halifax and have our fingers crossed that we’ll find the perfect dress there.
Graduation a milestone
Graduating from high school is a milestone for students, as it should be. Although the graduation ceremony is the official acknowledgement of all those years of hard work, exams, assignments and learning, it’s the prom that represents the true celebration for teens.
It’s a special night where they can look their best, strut their stuff, and go out in style. Who will they go with, what will they wear, how will they get there? These are questions teens start to think about months before the prom. Now some advice for the girls....
Find a dress that says something about who you are and what your style is. This is the time to be unique, classy, flamboyant or sophisticated, depending on who you are. Choose a colour that sets off your skin tone and hair. For some girls, bright red will make that fashion statement while others might choose a pastel colour, or maybe a flat black.
Styles come and go, but choosing a dress that best suits your body type is crucial to looking good. Long or short, smooth or ruffled, sassy or pristine, it’s your choice, but make sure it complements your shape, accentuating your strong features.
Shoes should match or complement the dress, but most importantly, they should be comfy. After all, it’s going to be a long, memorable night with plenty of dancing and you don’t want to come home with blisters. Maybe kicking off your shoes for the barefoot look is your best bet!
Hair and accessories are the final touches. You can dress up an informal outfit with the right jewelry and hairstyle. And, of course flowers add that beautiful, natural look to top it off.
Parents, take your photos, beam a little, then take a hint and move out of the way. Prom night is a night for teens. Let it be a night to remember as you dance the night away and mark the special event of moving forward from high school into the world.
Most importantly, be safe, be happy and don’t drink and drive!
Lila Hope-Simpson is the Director of the Home and Heart Child Development Centre in Wolfville
