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Most
school proms have a dress code that is quite wide in it’s interpretation. This gives students the opportunity to arrive dressed smartly
but in various derivatives of the “Black Tie” suit. Why not? It’s
your Prom, you’re young, you’re stylish and there should be some room
for individuality. Always check
what your own school is recommending before you start to make plans for what
to wear to the prom.
The Formal
Look
Many guys will
choose the formal look, black dinner jacket and trousers, white shirt (full
collar or wing collar) and black tie (bow tie).
This is quite right and certainly if you find yourself attending
formal dinners later in life, will probably be the standard that becomes
‘expected’. Formal dinner
suits (tuxedo’s), shirts and even the black patent shoes to accompany it
can be hired from one of numerous hire companies local to you, and it’s
the easiest way to go! This
choice can be accompanied by various accessories according to personal
choice; cufflinks, waistcoat (vest), cummerbund, etc.
Often these can be hired also, or maybe borrowed from a friend or
relative for the occasion.
Hiring
Your Suit
If
you’re going to hire a formal dinner suit for your prom night, then start
making the arrangements early – remember that there are dozens of other
guys who want to hire a suit on the same evening for your school prom, and
then consider that there may be several other schools holding their own prom
nights on the same date. You
don’t want to find that you’re left with no alternatives should you
leave it too late.
Hiring
your dinner suit is a very straight-forward process.
Contact your chosen supplier, go along to the outlet, get fitted (if
you’re not sure of your measurements they will help you find the right
sizes), pay your deposit and it’s booked!
Before your prom night, go along to the store to collect your suit
(try to arrange this at least a couple of days ahead of the date to allow
for any changes), try on the suit before you leave the store
–
corrections can be made while you’re there, but may be too late
afterwards, pay the balance of your hire fee, take your suit home, wear it
to your prom and return it in the time scale that the store has requested.
Alternatives
to the Formal Suit
If
you already own, or wish to buy, a formal dress suit, then this should fit
the bill for your prom night – and you have a suit that you can wear for
other occasions in the future. Simply
add the accessories (shirt, your choice of tie, cufflinks, shoes, etc.) and
you’re ready to go.
Of
course, providing your prom organisers are happy to allow the derivatives,
there is always room for variances on the theme.
We have seen guys who look smart but individual in a formal Goth
style wear, American cowboy theme with lace tie instead of bow tie, custom
made suits, co-ordinating with their prom date’s dress, 60’s style
clothes and even 50’s gangster style clothes with pin-striped suits, spats
and trilby hats. Whatever your
choice, make sure it’s practical (you will be wearing this for several
hours, travelling, sitting down to dinner and dancing in it) and make sure
you’re comfortable and confident enough to enjoy yourself at the prom.
Still
struggling a little for ideas? Use
the search engines to find pictures on the Internet of other schools proms and then
decide what works for you.
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Fashion trends, style, comfort,
individuality, cost, co-coordinating accessories, peer group and a whole myriad
of other thoughts and emotions go into the prom dress!
It’s a tough one – but stop and think practically before you start
making your plans and decisions, and understand that the majority of other
girls attending your prom are going through exactly the same thought process
and emotions!
Current
Fashions and Your Prom Dress
The fashion style of evening gowns and
dresses varies greatly from year to year.
Some years long and flowing is in, others knee length sets the theme or
even short cocktail dresses. Have
a look through the fashion mags, see what the stars are wearing to the
premiers and The Oscars, check out a few internet sites and, best of all, chat with your friends who will be
attending the same prom – you’ll soon get a feel for what’s going to set
the trend for the evening.
When you have an idea of the style you wish
to wear, decide on your choice of colour – the whole spectrum is available
to you from a formal black dress through pastels and metallic, and any colour
to white. Are you comfortable in
a flowing dress, a tight dress, fancy and fussy or plain and simple, high cut
or low cut – evolve a picture in your mind before you go our searching for
that special dress, you’ll find it makes life a little easier when you’re
faced with a huge selection to have to chose from.
Lots of Choice
for Dress Suppliers
If budget is a consideration
(and when
isn’t it?) know the limits! Your
options are wide for the dress suppliers, from instructing a dressmaker to
measure, design and create your very own fashion statement, high street
stores, bridal shops (bridesmaid’s dresses are often suitable as evening
gowns), catalogues, the internet, hiring a dress from a specialist outlet,
second-time-around shops and charity outlets (don’t discount these, often
people donate a dress they have worn only once to a special event), to
borrowing a dress from a friend or relative.
If you (or a friend or relative) have the skill, you may consider
making your own unique creation for the evening or making your own
‘adjustments’ to a dress that you have bought or borrowed.
Try on any dress that you think may be the
one for you. Often, dresses look
totally different when you are wearing them than they do when displayed in a
shop window or on the hanger. If
you don’t try it on, you may risk discounting a dress that would be perfect
for you, also you may buy a dress you think is perfect only to find that it
doesn’t fit or do you justice when you get it home.
Take your time deciding and choosing your dress, start as early as you
can and be a smart shopper – your dress will influence all of the other
accessories you will wear on the evening.
Make sure that you feel comfortable, you will be wearing the dress all evening,
to travel, to dinner, to dance, to sit and chat and to travel home - your prom
is about enjoying yourself so be comfortable!
Plain is
Good
If you have any doubts, then go for the
simpler style choices. Monochrome
colour choices are slimming and dresses that are all one colour look
slenderizing and not too busy, it will compliment your youth and you will look
your best. Black will look great
in any fashion year – it’s chic, slenderizing and formal, no matter what
the dress design.
Accessories
Simple choices go for the other accessories
as well. Whether it’s your
hair, jewelry, make up, nails, or shoes – go simple.
That way your personality with your overall look will be the centre of
the focus and not any single item that overpowers the rest of your outfit.
Keep jewelry to a minimum, better to wear a single knock-out piece
(necklace, earrings, ring) with minor accessories than to dress yourself up
like a Christmas tree and lose the overall effect.
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