6 Things To Look For In Your Prom Couture Evening Dress
"I don't do fashion; I am fashion." - Coco Chanel
Gone are the days of the "standard" prom dress, thank The Fashion Gods. You know, the ones that all look the same, and all look like the 80s and not in a cute way? Old tragic photos, be gone! To find the best fabulosity for you, here are a few of our favorite things to consider for your prom couture evening dress.
Approaching prom or your next gala event like you would approach a red carpet is a good rule of thumb. No boring. No trite. No blending in. Think about what others are likely to wear, and then go in the opposite direction. If it's a Christmas event, you can count on lots of evening dresses in reds and greens. Translation: wear anything but red or green. This is your chance to rock a sophisticated winter white. A wintry pale icy blue for a prom couture evening dress. A festive gold. If it's a New Year's Eve party, expect lots of sparkly mini cocktail dresses. Translation: Think strapless jumpsuits. Spangled rompers. Go against the grain and you will be sure to make an entrance and make The Best Dressed List.
The porcelain beauties should stay away from any pale shades or nudes that too closely match their skin tone to avoid The Dreaded Washout. While a strong red lip can go a long way to avoiding the washout, a dress that is the same color as your complexion is generally not going to pop in photographs. Black and brights provide a stark contrast against fair skin for a prom couture evening dress. You bronzed goddesses out there are lucky in that just about any color works on this skin tone. Black may read a tad flat, but not if it's well-cut and detail-laden. Brights and especially metallics are your friend. Gold, bronze, silver, gunmetal, rose gold, and pewter will all reflect beautifully off of bronzey medium to rich skin tones. And a little body oil with a touch of sheen never hurt anyone to up the glow factor.
Not all looks are for everyone. This is not a bad thing. It means you get to play to your individual beauty. Petite ladies can pull of minis without reading quite as Look At Me as others. Taller ladies can pull off more volume, like feathers, strong shoulders and structural elements.
Yes, we said message. What statement are you looking to make? If it's a work holiday party, are you going for Chic With a Bit of Spice? Or, depending on where you work, are you going for Directional Fashionista? Who will be at your event? What aspects of your personality do you want to highlight for that audience? Edgy? Prim? Glamorous? Classic? Clothes communicate a story. Pick yours and then choose your look to tell it.
Purchasing dresses online is the way to go because you will find far more options for your prom couture evening dress, and more fabulous, than going to a mall. To wit: As of August 2017, women's apparel was the number one top-selling item on the internet. In 2018, fashion e-commerce accounted for roughly 20.4% of the total fashion retail sales in the United States. The fit should be about right when you receive the dress, but all formal wear requires some tailoring to ensure you look like you just stepped out of the atelier. Tailors are magicians and will make your look read as a true couture dress.
Accessories can make or break your look. Choose your sides wisely. The jewelry. The bag, The shoes. Hair and makeup. Mani pedi. A parasol perhaps for a garden party? Gloves. A fur stole. Fascinators for the Brits. It's all part of designing The Look. Think big, think fabulous, be you, and have fun!