Prom
Prom Dress Trends
Prom is upon us and we have been busy at the boutique helping prom girls from all across Sussex and beyond get ready for their big day. There are some amazing trends in elegant sleek dresses to sensational tulle bodice gowns. We’ve picked out some real wow factor trends so you can shimmer the night away at prom this year – which will you choose?
Illusion prom dress
Illusion prom dresses
We’ve always been big fans of illusion prom dresses, especially if the illusion panel has a bit of dazzle on it! Illusion panels are usually made out of tulle fabric and have sparkly gems attached to them. These tulle panels are usually on the neckline, on the back, or on the waist area of the dress. Great for any prom girl who wants to be elegant and classy.
Floaty chiffon prom dress
Floaty chiffon prom dresses
This style is a staple when it comes to prom dresses, and it is a firm favourite again this year. Made from floaty chiffons and flowing lightweight silky fabrics, their elegant floaty skirts are very popular with girls who want that fairy tale look for their prom. If in doubt when choosing your floaty dress, just ask yourself ‘what would Elsa from Frozen do?’
Long lace prom dress
Lace prom dresses
Lace is always on trend for prom. Lace dresses are timeless classics with their exquisite pretty details.
Mermaid prom dress
Mermaid prom dresses
Often seen on the red carpet, the mermaid dress has been another staple when it comes to prom fashion, and it shows no sign of going out of style any time soon! This type of dress is typically fitted down to the knee or the mid-thigh and comes out sharply from that point to emulate a mermaid’s shape.
Short prom dress
Short prom dresses
Cocktail dresses are perfect for fun loving prom girls who want to show off a fabulous pair of shoes! These dresses are super practical if you want to dance the night away.
Stay stylish prom girl!
Prom Trends over the years
We are delighted to show you prom dress trends over the years. Prom season is about having a fabulous time helping the prom girls pick out their prom dresses and accessories for their big night. As ever, we like to do our best to be helpful.
Red Backless Prom Dress
Backless prom dresses
Backless dresses have always been particularly popular on the red carpet, and over the years this style has trickled down to prom. The back of dresses have been dipping low, low, low at prom. If you want to keep an elegant air about you when you wear a backless dress, make sure that you have a high neckline, and you don’t over do it with the accessories; remember that the back is the key feature of this dress, so don’t make your back compete for attention. This particular style lends itself easily to the classic up-do hairstyle as it keeps the back clear and draws attention to the hair. The key issue with backless dresses is to make sure that you don’t have your bra on show. If you are not confident enough to go braless, go for a stick on bra which will give you support whilst giving you the ability to wear your backless dress with confidence.
This elegant red backless prom dress has a classically high neckline and a low, dipped back with gorgeous sparkles encrusted at the base of the back, neckline and straps. The train offers that little bit extra so you can feel like a Hollywood starlet when you go to prom.
Crystal Encrusted Gold Prom Dress
Eye-catching crystals and sequins
Whether it is all encrusted or a light scattering of crystals, bling is big for spring! Bling bling dresses have gained almost iconic status on the red carpets, and again, you can expect to see dresses twinkling and shining at Prom. Dresses with crystals and sequins look and feel glamorous and are a super way of grabbing attention for that ‘all eyes on you’ grand entrance. If you are going to be wearing a dress with fully encrusted crystals, be mindful not to go OTT with the accessories or you may run the risk of ‘over-bling’. Instead opt for subtle pieces of jewellery which compliment the dress, not compete with it. If you are going for a light scattering of sparkles, you can wear slightly heavier jewellery to bring out the shimmer and shine of the dress. As with all accessories, go for the same shade of shine as the crystals or sequins to accent the dress.
This truly enchanting, blingy fishtail gold princess dress (pictured left) is the epitome of ‘look at me’ glamour, wear this dress with simple drop earrings and a simple and elegant bracelet, let the dress to the rest of the talking!
Sheer Mesh Fishtail Prom Dress
Sheer mesh
These dresses are daring, yet safe, see through, but kinda not! In short, these dresses add a touch of the risqué whilst remaining oh-so-elegant and sophisticated. The beauty of these dresses is that they tend to utilise that special illusion panel well and you will usually find that these dresses are embellished with embroidery or sparkle on the see through tulle. These embellishments give people the illusion of a decorated second skin and allows you to stay modest with a peep of skin.
This stunning taffeta mermaid sheer mesh prom dress pictured to the right has the most beautiful embroidery creeping up the back with sparkles. This is ideal for those prom queens who want to do those much sought after ‘over the shoulder’ photographs for prom.
Do contact us with any questions about your prom.
What prom dress is right for me?
I have been really impressed this year at how organised the 2014 prom girls are! We had our first one at the boutique early last month, and have had several since then. Although some mums coyly say to me when entering the boutique: ‘we’re looking at prom dresses, but we’re a bit early’, I think it’s extremely sensible, just like a bride, a prom girl KNOWS when she has found her dress and it matters not a jot that she has found it months in advance. Another reason to start early is that we never release the same dress to the same function, so make sure that your daughter gets first dibs on her dress for prom!
Nowadays there are so many different styles available, and there appears to be much less restriction on what is acceptable than before, so you could wear long or short, long and short, full on ball gown, or subtle and elegant. However, we are well aware that although the increase in styles means more variety, it can also make the decision even harder and more intimidating, especially if you are a young lady who is not used to wearing formal attire. The aim of this blog post is to give a little direction to prom girls who are starting out their research into which prom dress to wear on prom night.
The first golden question you should be asking is ‘what style of prom dress will suit me?’. It is all well and good having your heart set on a particular style, but if it does nothing for you, you won’t feel comfortable on the big night and you will spend the whole evening feeling self-conscious and doing your best to hide in the shadows. I recommend getting out a piece of paper and writing down what body shape you have, try to be as honest and objective as you can. Remember that what you see in the mirror isn’t necessarily the same as what everyone else sees, so mum, dad, sisters or any other close family members are usually very helpful and will give honest opinions on your shape. Try not to take anything they say too personally, after all, they only want you to look your best on prom night! After you have established what kind of shape you are, pick out your body features you wish to show off and write them down. Lastly, write down the body features you wish to hide.
In order to help you decide what prom dress style would suit you, I have pulled together the key prom dress styles with a general guide on what body shape would suit, so you can concentrate on the most important thing when choosing your prom dress: having fun!
nude colour prom ball gown – a perfect princess look!
Ball gown prom dresses
Ball gown prom dresses are traditional, or ‘classic’ prom dresses, and are the perfect way to achieve that fairy tale princess look. With their full, flared skirts and their fitted bodices, there are not really many body shapes which don’t suit this style. If you are a curvy girl, they are a great way of showing off a cinched in waist, or if you don’t have much of a waist, they are great at giving the illusion of a waist. If you are pear shaped or are concerned about the bottom half of your figure, this dress emphasises the waist and completely hides your bottom half. The only body shape which might slightly struggle in this style is if you are very small and petite as you can look swamped by the skirts. If you fall into this category but you still want that fairytale look, opt for an a-line dress instead as it still gives you a full skirt, and maximises the chance of you wearing the dress but minimises the risk of the dress wearing you!
Sequin fishtail prom dress – perfect for showing off an hourglass figure!
Mermaid prom dresses
These dresses are also known as fishtail prom dresses or trumpet prom dresses. The mermaid prom dress typically has a figure hugging fitted bodice that goes right the way down to the mid-thigh and then flares out to give the illusion of a mermaid’s tail. These dresses look great on prom girls who have a hourglass shape (i.e. who are well balanced at the bust and hips with a proportionately smaller waist). If you have more of a boyish figure, this style of dress will probably emphasise the straightness of your figure and will probably not show your body off in the best way. These dresses tend to fit very closely to the body and will give a true silhouette of your body shape, so if you are a bit shy about your body, it’s probably best to stay away from this style.
Pinky nude chiffon empire line prom dress
Empire line prom dresses
These dresses have a high waistline with the skirt gently falling from under the bust. They tend to be made out of a light, floaty fabric such as chiffon which falls elegantly to the floor. This style of prom dress works well on most body shapes and is probably one of the most forgiving styles. It also makes a great plus size style. They are fabulous if you are concerned about showing off your mid-section, providing you with a bit of extra coverage, whilst still giving you the ability to achieve that whimsical, elegant look. At the other end of the spectrum, they also make great dresses for girls who have a less defined waist, or a ‘boyish shape’ as they don’t emphasise the waist and drape graciously to the floor.
High low hem prom dress – perfect for showing off your pins!
Mullet prom dress
These dresses are also known as high low hem dresses. These dresses come in a variety of styles, e.g. fitted down to the thigh, fitted to the waist or empire line. It’s a fantastic alternative to a full length gown and is absolutely brilliant if you (like me!) are a little vertically challenged as you won’t have to worry about having the hem shortened or tripping over a long dress at prom! If your legs are the feature that you want to show off, but you still like the idea of having a long prom dress, this could well be the option for you. Make sure that you team up this style of dress with a fabulous pair of shoes, but if you are going for a pair of peep toes, make sure that your feet are in tip top condition and that you go and get yourself a good pedicure beforehand!
Once you are aware of what shape you are, the process of prom dress shopping changes from being stressful to being exactly what it should be – fun! Remember that it’s not every day you get to wear a glamorous dress, so I recommend taking full advantage while you can and seek out a really special dress. This is definitely one of those times when high street just will not do!
If you require any further help regarding what style is best suited to your shape, feel free to leave us a comment below, facebook us at Walk in Wardrobe Brighton or tweet us @walkinwardrobe
Don’t underestimate the short prom dress!
Stunning short tutu prom dress
We usually have a 50/50 split when it comes to prom girls going for long or short prom dresses, but this year we have noticed that the majority are going for long gowns. Long prom dresses are undeniably gorgeous and stunning, but don’t underestimate the short prom dress – they can still make you look like a knockout on your special night! Don’t restrict yourself by thinking that long dresses are formal and that short are casual. Providing the dress is glamorous enough, and you feel happy and confident, a short dress would be perfect for your prom. Here are some of the reasons why I love short prom dresses:
Short prom dresses are versatile
Short prom dresses have the added benefit of being very versatile, you can dress them up for formal occasions such as prom, or you can dress them down for a more relaxed occasion such as a birthday party. With all the different events you will be able to wear your short prom dress to, you really would get value for money!
Short prom dresses are great for dancing in
Another great thing about short prom dresses is that you can dance the night away without the worry of getting your shoes caught in the hem of your dress. You also don’t have to worry about holding the front of the dress up when you walk.
You can show off your prom shoes with a short dress
Sparkly stiletto shoes for prom!
Less dress means more chance to show off your fabulous prom shoes. We recommend wearing wedges with long dresses to prevent the hem from getting torn, but with your short dress you have no restrictions! You can go for wedges, stilettos, or even little sparkly ballerina style pumps.
This blog post is not intended to deter girls from getting a long prom dress, all I’m saying is that prom girls should keep an open mind and should not restrict their choices. The key to choosing the right prom dress is that you love what you are wearing and you love the way the dress makes you feel when you are wearing it. You will have great memories of your prom, and you will keep the photographs of prom forever, so long or short, go for a dress you feel fabulous in!
Pastel shades for your perfect prom dress
There is only one way to describe the weather at the moment, and that is yucky. The weather is the most miserable shade of grey, but at Walk in Wardrobe we are optimistically counteracting this by having the most gorgeous pastel coloured dresses in stock. These pastel colours are really giving me a lift and are perfect for this season, giving ladies that whimsical, princess-like grace.
Our most popular pastel shades for prom girls are by far the nudes, champagnes and pastel pinks. It is easy to see why they are such a hot favourite amongst the girls as they are gorgeous delicate hues which can be fantastic if you want to accentuate skin tone and eyes.
However, although the pinks and nudes are undeniably spectacular, do not overlook mint green and lemon. Some of the prom girls have commented that the nude champagne colours can make them look washed out. However, I have regularly found that mint greens suit girls who can look washed out in the champagne shades, probably because of the bluey undertone this colour has as opposed to the yellow undertone of a champagne dress.
To top off this prom look, you can couple the pastel dresses with sparkly accessories to give them a regal, elegant feel. After all, it’s not often you get to be a princess!
What are your feelings on the new pastel shades which are donning every catwalk? Make sure you leave a comment below to let us know!
Beware of scam companies if buying your prom dress online!
We are gearing up for prom season at the boutique, and what a gorgeous array of dresses we have! We have top brands such as Forever Unique to ensure that all eyes are on you for prom (and for the right reasons!). However, once again we are getting prom girls into the boutique who mention that they are also considering buying made to order dresses online. I know that I did a blog entry on this issue last year, but with the surge of problems some of our customers had prior to shopping at Walk in Wardrobe with these online scammers I would like to try to help prevent the same situation happening to you.
In the latter part of our busy prom season we had so many prom girls at the boutique desperately asking us to ‘save the day’ as they had tried to purchase dresses from scam websites. Many of those companies were advertised as being based in the USA, but in reality they were based in China and were using illegal pictures of designer dresses to advertise their wares. Could you really part with your hard earned money and place your trust in a company who cannot even be honest about their location? Could they really be the company who will deliver you your perfect dress?
One customer complained that after they purchased a dress online which failed to turn up she unsuccessfully tried to repeatedly contact the company and she ended up losing £500! The company was completely uncontactable and untraceable. Others complained that they have gone through stressful situations where they have ordered a dress online and have found that the dress which arrived to their door looked completely different to the one which was advertised on the website where they have purchased it from. We cannot stress the importance of trying on prom dresses and it is important to remember that the dresses photographed on these websites could be hoax photos, or at least will be of models who have been pinned into the dress in order to fit their body shape. Just because the dress looks amazing on the model does not mean that the dress will look amazing on you!
Fortunately all staff at our boutique have clocked up many years of experience specifically in the prom industry and will be able to find you your perfect prom dress. We also offer a hiring service, so if costs are driving you to a cheap website, do consider this as an option as you can get that fabulous designer look for a fraction of the cost! Lastly, if you risk getting a dress from one of these websites it could leave you with little choice at the last minute. We never release the same dress to the same prom, so dresses are going to be getting booked up quickly!
If you are considering purchasing or hiring your dress online, make sure that you go with a reputable company such as ours. I promise that it will take out the stress of online shopping! Do not allow yourself to be scammed and to have your big day ruined. Remember, if the price is too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
The Crowning of the Walk in Wardrobe Prom Queen Winner 2012!
Each year we hold the exciting Walk in Wardrobe Prom Queen Competition, and 2012 was no exception! The competition this year was bigger and better than ever before with nearly 100 entrants and a prize of a beautiful glittering tiara, a stunning crystal dress ring and a £70 dress hire voucher. Every single entrant looked dazzling so we knew it was going to be tough enough to narrow it down to the 14 finalists let alone choose the winner. This year we were lucky enough to have the beautiful former Miss Brighton, Louise Eaton as our deciding judge.
When Louise came to the boutique and settled herself down in front of the finalists photos, one of the first things 
she said was ‘I’m looking for something really different and unique’. After taking time to look at the photos and agreeing that every girl looked stunning she decided on our winner, Sydnie, who went to her prom in our gorgeous leopard print tutu dress that was also seen on celebrity Kerry Katona on Celebrity Big Brother. When asked why she chose Sydnie, Louise said: ‘she is gorgeous with a genuine smile’. So without further ado, our Prom Queen 2012 was selected! Pictured right is the photo which won Sydnie the Prom Queen Crown 2012.
It was actually Sydnie’s lovely mum Sally who first spotted the dress at the boutique as she was passing one day. She thought that the dress would be perfect for her daughter’s prom, and how right she was! Both Sydnie and her mum were thrilled when she was announced the winner and we invited her to the boutique to collect her prizes and have a photo shoot with photographer Stuart Butcher.
There aren’t many girls who can look glam in wellies, but Sydnie entered the boutique after a rainy walk looking every inch the glamorous Walk in Wardrobe Prom Queen. Sydnie said that she was delighted to win the competition and that it was something she never expected. We had a so much fun at the boutique and we are so pleased that she had such a lovely time at her prom and that she received so many compliments on the night about the dress. She said that she was looking forward to wearing the dress again over the New Year celebrations and even said that her sister loved the dress so much that she was going to rent it from her!
Congratulations Sydnie, we are so pleased that you found your perfect prom dress with us and had a night to remember!
Sydnie being crowned as the Walk in Wardrobe Prom Queen 2012
A Cautionary Tale
We have had a gloriously busy time at the boutique over prom season and have had such a wonderful, fun time helping all the young ladies choose their dresses for their special night. However, I would like to share a cautionary tale with you that I have heard a couple of times this year, which is to be very wary of exclusively online prom dress sites.
We are regularly being called upon to ‘save the day’ for young ladies who have purchased dresses from scam websites. Many of these companies are advertised at being based in the USA, but in reality they are based in China and are using illegal pictures of designer dresses to advertise their ‘knock off’ dresses. If they can’t be honest about their location surely the whole integrity of the company is called into question. Could you really trust a company of this nature to deliver you your perfect dress?
One customer complained that after they purchased a dress online which failed to turn up she repeatedly tried to contact the company unsuccessfully and she lost £500! The company was completely uncontactable and untraceable. Others have complained that they have gone through stressful situations where they have ordered a dress online and have found that the dress they have ordered looks completely different to what was advertised on the website where they have purchased it from. We cannot stress the absolute importance of trying on prom dresses and it is important to remember that the dresses photographed on these websites could be hoax photos, or at least will be of models who have been pinned into the dress in order to fit their body shape. Just because the dress looks amazing on the model does not mean that the dress will look amazing on you! Fortunately all staff at our boutique have clocked up many years of experience specifically in the prom industry and will be able to find your perfect prom dress. We also offer a hiring service, so if costs are driving you to a cheap website, do consider this as an option as you can get that fabulous designer look for a fraction of the cost! Lastly, if you risk getting a dress from one of these websites it could leave you with little choice at the last minute. We never release the same dress to the same prom, so dresses are getting booked up quickly!
Do not allow yourself to be scammed and to have your big day ruined and do remember that if the price is too good to be true, it is probably not true.
The Great Prom Explosion
School proms have become one of the most exciting and important events in the school calendar, and are becoming bigger and more glitzy and glamorous each year.
They are a fantastic opportunity for the young to develop their social skills in a formal setting and are highly significant in celebrating the end of a young schooling life before entry into the adult world. A girl’s prom is an event that they will remember for the rest of their lives, and Walk in Wardrobe is happy to be part of a prom girl’s special night.
As she arrives at her prom every girl wants all eyes on her as she enters the room, and the dress is the most important part. In a specialist boutique, like Walk in Wardrobe, you will find and impressive selection of dresses along with specialist styling advice. What’s even more important is that you get peace of mind in knowing that your chosen dress is going to be individual and not one you would find in the high street chain stores but more likely to be seen on TV soaps such as The Only Way is Essex!
With the vibrant celebrity culture we have in Britain we have seen a move away from the more traditional style of prom dress and many girls now opt for a more sophisticated, glamorous style. Walk in Wardrobe strive to source only the most sought-after, new dress designs that are beautifully made in the UK as well as around the world, and will fit in with today’s ever-changing fashion trends.
There has been a rise in girls opting to hire dresses, which offer that red carpet glamour which will wow their classmates at a fraction of the cost! The consultants at Walk in Wardrobe will be able to give you hints and tips on how to look after your hire dress. Not only do they offer this specialised service, they also promise that they will not release two of the same dresses from the shop to the same function!
Walk in Wardrobe offer a fun and relaxed service, where all girls can explore their options form prom dresses and the friendly consultants can offer advice and guidance on which style is flattering on which shape to ensure that every girl feels confident and looks stunning for her prom.