Prom Dress
Getting ready for your school PROM
Year 11 at school is an important and special time for every pupil preparing for exams and the excitement of their school prom. When looking for the perfect dress, a design that flatters every bit of you and in a colour that suits you perfectly you need to try different styles on. A dress fitting appointment is recommended where all options and possibilities are discussed with a professional, not just a shop assistant, but someone with a wealth of knowledge in fittings, including style, design, alterations, looking after your dress, how to get in your dress, stand, walk, pose and more!
As a parent what are your options?
Mums, dads and guardians will be considering what the budget is to either buy or hire the dress. There is also the possibility of alteration costs. Most dresses are made one length and may need the length shortened. Other tweaks to straps and design adjustments may be required too. Pre-worn or pre-loved prom dresses are also a great option, both financially and echo friendly. All can be discussed and alterations suggested and arranged during your fitting.
We cover the bases and discuss things you would not have thought to ensure a very happy and stress-free prom experience for all.
What happens after the school prom?
You have a delightful, very impressive prom gown that may NOT be worn again, so what can you do with it? Firstly, look after your prom dress to help keep its value if you wish to resell it and get as much of your hard earned money back. Advice on cleaning, storing and looking after your dress is important and will be discussed in your dress fitting appointment. Every dress will have a re-sale value if it’s of current season (still a sought-after fabric & style) and has been looked after beautifully.
What we can do for you
At Walk in Wardrobe we take in pre-loved & pre-worn current style prom dresses and re-sell them for you. We take in dresses bought from us or other boutiques with labels such as Tiffany, Angels Forever, Gurbani, Mora Lee, To the Nines, Red Carpet Ready, Gino Cerruti & Mascara to name a few.
Contact Katherine, proprietor, for all your prom questions and to make a dress fitting appointment.
Head turning long black glittery corset gown with feathers
The High Split dress
If you want to have a daring peep of thigh with your dress you would certainly be in good company as celebrities such as Paloma Faith, Angelina Jolie and Jenny from the block (aka J-Lo) have all been spotted recently sporting high split dresses. These thigh bearing dresses come in a variety of styles but by far my favourite is the high split long dress – it’s elegant and classy but still has that ‘a little bit sexy’ look with a slight tease of thigh. However, with all dresses which show off a lot of one part of the body, you have to be careful on how you wear this style as you don’t want to end up looking tacky. Here are some helpful tips to make sure you fall into the latter category:
1. If you are going for a split dress where the split doesn’t go up too high, feel free to go for a lower neckline. However, if you are going for a really high split, go for a higher neckline to ensure that there isn’t too much on show.
2. At least one of your legs are going to be on show in this style of dress, so make sure that you go for some really glamorous shoes. Flats are becoming more trendy with teenagers, Adults tend to opt for a fabulous pair of open block heels or better still, wedges. If you go for a fully closed shoe you will run the danger of making your feet look a bit too heavy – the trick is to keep it delicate.
3. Pictures are bound to be taken, so make sure you practise how you intend to pose in front of the mirror before you go out. Avoid just sticking your leg straight out of the split to the side, instead opt for a stance like our models below, where you peep the leg slightly through the split and place your foot delicately on the floor – this is why you need a splendid pair of heels or wedges!
This stunningly gorgeous full sequin, midnight blue fishtail high split dress (pictured right) with black lace trim is an absolute knock out and is guaranteed to get heads turning at your function. This dress is also in stock in bright red for a very Jessica Rabbit look. A fishtail dress suits many body shapes and is the perfect dress if you want to show off your curves! The lovely model pictured is our dear friend Lyndsay who is showing you the perfect way to pose in a high split dress.
If a fishtail mermaid dress is not for you, how about this floaty black one shoulder Grecian style black dress? This is a real celebrity dress and has been spotted on the likes of Lucy Mecklenburgh of TOWIE on the red carpet. This dress offers a classic style with a modern twist with a slightly daring cutout and a thigh high split. With figure flattering ruching at the stomach area, it is the perfect dress if you are concerned about your midriff.
For something completely different and unique, we also have a beautiful and elegant satin fishtail dress with train with delicate peacock embroidery and a scattering of sparkly beading.
If you have any questions for our team of stylists why not give us a call or message us on our social media pages.
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
The latest summer fashion trend for 2013 – Monochrome
Black and white monochrome bodycon dress with frills by Forever Unique
Unfortunately there is little we can change about the horrible weather in the UK by moaning about it, but we can cheer ourselves up by looking fabulous! I can feel a bit silly wondering about in this murky grey in a summer floral dress, but I can look just as summery and stylish in one of the hottest summer fashion trends – colour blocking monochrome. Indeed, the spring and summer catwalks 2013 have been dominated by a bold glare of black and white monochrome prints incorporating stripes, zebra print, polka dots and big blocks of black and white. This is a timeless trend with roots harking back to the 1960’s mod era; the trend has now undergone a modern twist and has been endorsed by celebrities such as Beyonce Knowles, Rhianna, Kim Kardashian and Kate Middleton but to name a few.
There are so many reasons why I love monochrome, mainly because there is something very clean and simple about a black and white ensemble, giving the impression of modern, powerful self-assuredness, whilst still remaining elegant, sophisticated and not too overbearing. Monochrome is also such an easy trend to wear, so it is no problem finding it in shops in all seasons, and it will never go out of fashion (and believe me, fashion waits for no-one, so it’s brilliant to be able to have a good solid staple style in the wardrobe!). It’s also great for plus size ladies, as the black minimizes the areas you want to hide, and the white enhances the areas you wish to show off. Another big tick in the monochrome style box is that it transcends seasons, so it is a great transitional trend which will take us seamlessly from summer into autumn and beyond.
Stunning black tie monochrome summer silk floaty maxi dress
So how do I wear monochrome?
Monochrome can be a single coloured black or white dress and you can contrast the black or white with the opposing colour for your accessories. Alternatively, you get the best of both worlds and combine both colours together in one dress with a gorgeous print or with dazzling, bold blocks of colour.
How do I accessorize monochrome?
The key is that if you are going for a monochrome look, stick to monochrome only. Adding an extra colour with your accessories can lessen the whole effect. Instead, stick with black or white accessories and shoes. If you are going for a one colour, completely black or white dress, go for the opposing colour for your accessories to break it up a bit. If you go for the same colour for the accessories you can be in danger of your outfit looking too black or too white. Likewise, go for an opposing colour bag so it doesn’t blend in too much with the outfit, and it will give a nice little colour break to your ensemble. Another look I love if you are going for a plain black or white dress is to add zebra print, stripes or polka dot accessories into the mix. Again, try to make sure that these accessories are predominantly in the opposing colour.
If your dress has both black and white, match the accessory colour to the colour which is least reflected in the dress. Another piece of advice when it comes to accessories is not to mix the colours of the accessories too much (e.g. a white necklace and black earrings), particularly if you have a dress with both colours as it can be a bit too much for the eye and can look a bit messy.
Monochrome black and white disc fascinator – perfect for Ladies Day at the Races!
If you are going to the races, don’t forget to complete your monochrome look with a daring and sophisticated hat or fascinator for a real Audrey Hepburn kind of look.
How should I wear my makeup with a monochrome outfit?
I believe that as black and white gives a very clean, bold effect, bold makeup looks fabulous with it. Dash a nice, thick black line with some liquid eyeliner on the upper eyelid with a flick at the corners of the eyes and use an eye pencil for the inner rim of your lower eyelid. Being a fan of false eyelashes, I recommend a pair of these also for a dramatic look. I also love red or pink lipstick to finish off a monochrome outfit, remember, the look is bold, so don’t be shy when it comes to the lip colour!
Work Experience at Walk in Wardrobe 2013
I’ve never really known exactly what prom dress I would like for my prom until I started my work experience at Walk In Wardrobe. The choices of dresses that this unique boutique provides beats any other dress shop in Brighton and Hove. They have short dresses, long dresses, midi dresses, pencil dresses, maxi dresses and many other styles which you cannot find anywhere else apart from Walk In Wardrobe. I now know exactly what dress I would like for my prom next year; a backless, floor-length, long sleeved garment which has been inspired by the dresses at Walk In Wardrobe.
Thanks to my work experience here, I now fully understand how a boutique is run and what efforts are needed to create a successful business. I have seen Katie make many different sales to many different customers, and as different events pop up, the sales are only going to increase. From what I have experienced, customers feel very comfortable whilst choosing a dress for whatever event they are going to, and if a customer needs help, there is always somebody to help them out, and I was pleased to also have the chance to help out customers whilst on my work experience. I have enjoyed this factor a lot as I love to see customers with a smile on their face and knowing that you have made them feel happy and special in their new dress. I am also always intrigued as to what the customer will look like in the dress that they have chosen.
Another factor I have loved about doing my work experience here is that I have taken part in different photo shoots, taking images of different products that need to be listed on the Walk in Wardrobe website. I loved this part as I had access to the exclusive photo studio in the basement part of the boutique which gave me the opportunity to take professional images. I have learnt a lot from taking these types of photos and I now know how to present different items of clothing to potential customers browsing on the internet. I also feel that I have been trusted with this type of equipment and that I have received a lot of respect since working at Walk In Wardrobe.
By doing my work experience at Walk in Wardrobe, I have learnt a lot about the world of work that I didn’t know before and it has made me eager to start working as soon as possible. Overall, I have loved my work experience here and am very thankful to both Katie and Leah for helping me with the whole experience and making me feel very welcome.
Written by Grace from Cardinal Newman
The most affordable prom dresses for under £50 at Walk in Wardrobe!
Extra cute pink prom dress, was £165, now just £50!
Precious Formals pink and gold tutu prom dress, was £225, now just £50!
Prom is only a matter of days away, so we are having a massive clear out! If you have only just decided to go to prom and need a cheap last minute prom dress, you may be able to find a real little bargain gem at Walk in Wardrobe. These fun and flirty designer prom dresses are still utterly gorgeous, and we have included dresses from top labels such as Forever Unique, Dynasty and Precious Formals. So, if you are working on a budget, but don’t want to compromise on looking absolutely gorgeous for your special event, our boutique is definitely the place to be! These stunning little dresses would also be fantastic as a wedding outfit or for cocktail parties, so if you have a few events coming up after prom, you will definitely get your monies worth!
At prices like these, I don’t think we will have these dresses for very long at the boutique, so be quick, and you could find your perfect prom dress for less (and just think about it, that means you have more money to spend on shoes, accessories and getting your hair done for the big night!)
Mermaid fishtail prom dresses at Walk in Wardrobe.
The silver fishtail mermaid prom dress just minutes after it arrived at the boutique!
I was in awe when I opened the delivery box the other day and found an absolutely gorgeous, shimmering silver fishtail dress. There has been a growing demand from prom girls for mermaid dresses, and it’s easy to understand why.
The mermaid gown typically has a fitted bodice, waist and hip to emphasize that gorgeous, dramatic flare at the bottom, coming out from either the lower thigh or knee. In return, the flare offers an undeniable emphasis to the nipped in waist, allowing you to show off your curves on prom night.
To me, mermaid dresses are the epitome of Hollywood glamour, are timeless classics and are exquisitely feminine. Here are just some of the reasons why I love them so much:
Head turning strapless fishtail prom dress
Mermaid dresses are suitable for all body shapes
If you are a curvy lady, the cut of these dresses emphasizes your curves and draws attention to the smallest part of your body – your waist. This is definitely one of the best dress styles for you if you have an hourglass figure.
If you are petite with a straighter figure, the bottom flare of these dresses appear to give a bit more shape and can give the illusion of a curvy-er figure and appears to elongate.
Fishtail dresses are undeniably glamorous
This style of dress has been adorned many times on the red carpet by celebrities, and they are timeless classics which will never go out of style. They give the most glamorous couture-style silhouette which is both sexy and classy.
There are so many different styles of the fishtail dress, we believe that it would be impossible not to be able to find one that you fall in love with……
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