6 Tips for Choosing a Homecoming Dress

via hayleybrauer.com

When it comes to Homecoming think of finding your perfect dress as a trial run for prom. This is where you can find what styles you like, if you want to go for a long gown, a short gown, or if you want to be bold or subtle in your color choice. The best part? You’ll have tons of photos from Homecoming night, so you’ll be able to see what your dress looks like in pictures and what you want to do differently come Prom dress shopping.

No matter what style you choose, you have to make sure the dress is uniquely you! Here are our 6 go-to tips to finding the right dress for you:

1. Go For a Dress That Fits Your Body Type:
If you’re petite: Think about a short dress, you won’t have to worry about hemming it, and you can wear it with a killer pair of heels to make your legs look longer.
If you have a hourglass figure: Go for a dress that will define your waist and accentuate your curves, like a mermaid style or an a-line style dress.
If you have a rectangle shaped body: Try an empire waist dress or a ball gown. Both will give you a defined waist and add volume to the lower half of your body.
If you have a pear shaped body: You’ll want to draw attention away from your hips, so try a dress with detailing on top or a one shoulder or off the shoulder gown.

2. Style is Everything:
If you’ve already done research on the types of dresses you that you like, narrowing it down to a few key styles before you go shopping will make it that much easier to choose one.

3. Go Unique:
Homecoming is a time to have fun with your dress choice. While a lot of girls opt for the more classic route at prom, Homecoming should be the time where you rock a fun dress. Why not try a tutu skirt or one shoulder gown?

4. Feel Comfortable:
When trying on dresses make sure you can move in it! You’re going to be dancing a lot of the night, so make sure if you go with a long dress you won’t be tripping over the hem, or if you decide to go with a corseted ensemble, make sure it’s not so tight that you won’t be able to dance around with your date.

5. Think About What’s Underneath:
If you’re planning on a strapless gown, make sure you know what bra you’re going to wear underneath. Same goes with any dresses that have cutouts or a plunging neckline. Making sure that you have the right undergarments will make dress shopping and trying on so much easier.

6. Accessories Are Your Best Friend:
Lastly, don’t forget about accessorizing. If you’re planning on a simple dress, dress it up with some statement jewels. After all, there’s never too much sparkle when it comes to Homecoming!

How to Prep for Prom 2015: Start Collecting Inspiration

Photo via fashionbrickroad.blogspot.com

With Homecoming right around the corner, prom season might seem pretty far off, but now is the perfect time to start getting inspiration for your dress. Every month we’ll be featuring a new how to prepare for prom post, so that come May, you’ll be 100% ready for the big day. To start things off, this month is all about collecting inspiration, and we’ll be sharing our 5 favorite sources for all things prom.

1. Pinterest

Pinterest is definitely our go-to for fashion must-haves, makeup trends, and of course prom dress inspiration. Whether you’re putting together boards for your favorite silhouettes, colors, and styles or you’re pinning your favorite brands, starting a Pinterest account is definitely step one in prom prep.

2. Magazines

Photo via Teen Vogue

Magazines like Seventeen and Teen Vogue both have major prom inspiration. Whether they’re showing off readers past prom looks or interviewing celebs to find out what they wore to prom, these magazines are a go-to for inspiration. Most magazines have past issues online too, so if you haven’t been collecting prom mags, make sure to check out last year’s editions to see what was treading last prom season.

3. Instagram

Instagram is everyone’s favorite photo diary and one of the best sources for inspiration. Whether you’re searching hashtags like #promdresses or #prom, you’ll be sure to get some great dress ideas. Also make sure to check out accounts like @promdressesrus for a collection of tons of beautiful gowns.

4. Runway Shows

Photo via NY Daily News

We’ve already broken down some of the top trends from NY Fashion Week, but there are tons of other designers and runways shows that can give you some great dress ideas. Whether it’s shows from top names like Monique Lhuillier or new emerging designers from FIT, checking out runway shows will give you some great ideas. If you want to switch it up from a classic gown style, check out the runways shows from Paris to Milan and see how designers are interpreting this seasons silhouettes.

5. Red Carpet Spotting

Photo via Seventeen magazine

Red Carpet premieres and award shows are great places to get prom inpsiration. Celebs like Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Lawrence have top stylists dressing them for these events, so you know their dresses are going to be amazing and perfectly on trend. Check out looks from the Oscars and Emmys to see what dress styles you could see yourself rocking at prom.

Sherri Hill Spring 2015 at New York Fashion Week

Earlier this month we had the chance to head down to New York Fashion Week to watch the show of one of our favorite dress designers, Sherri Hill. Her shows are always wonderful (Kendall and Kylie Jenner walked the runway for Sherri Hill at her first show in 2011), and this one was no different.

Hill is known for creating dresses that are adored by prom-goers, pageant queens (she’s dressed a number of Miss America winners), and celebrities (Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood are fans) alike, and it’s not hard to see why. Her Spring 2015 collection was truly unique, and had something for everyone: from modern, crop-top ballgowns, to sleek mermaid styles, and even a leopard-print prom dress!

Take a look at a few of our favorites, below.

We loved this modern take on a ball gown. The crop top shows just a sliver of skin, making it prom appropriate, too.

Tulle coming out from the bottom of a knee-length sheath silhouette: Unexpected and amazing.

One word to describe this dress: Showstopper. It’s definitely not for the girl who wants to blend in with the crowd.

This is a fun, flirty take on the dress above, and would be great for a Sweet 16 party.

Not all the great dresses were on the runway, either. Bella Thorne wore this adorable Sherri Hill two-piece to sit front-row at the show.

Photo via Just Jared Jr.

*All images via Sherri Hill unless otherwise noted.

 

5 Prom Trends From New York Fashion Week

Earlier this week, we posted a few of our favorite looks from the Miss America Pageant, ones that were sure to inspire major prom dress trends for 2015. But, the pageant wasn’t the only big style event that took place recently: New York Fashion Week also just came to a close, and we couldn’t help but scour the runways for some prom dress inspiration — after all it’s never too soon to start getting prom dress ideas!

With designers pulling out all the stops from plunging v-necks to intricate floral patterns, here are our favorite dress trends from NYFW:

1. V-Neck
This season’s dresses were all about the plunging neckline. From Marchesa to Oscar De La Renta, v-neck dresses were all over the runway. While prom dress shopping this season, be sure to be on the lookout for lacy numbers with a delicate v-shaped neckline.

Dresses from the runways of Marchesa and Oscar de la Renta

2. Full Silhouettes
Bring on the poof! Monique Lhuillier and Jenny Packham both showed full skirted looks fit for a princess (or a prom queen).

Looks from Monique Lhullier and Jenny Packham

3.  Gold
Gold was the color of choice for NYFW this season with Altuzarra and Marchesa both opting for the royal treatment with their gold accented looks.

Dresses from Altuzarra and Marchesa

4. Florals
One of our favorite trends for Spring is floral accented dresses.  Both of these looks from Alberta Ferretti and Marchesa are great for prom because they aren’t too overwhelming. Simple floral detailing can add a playful tone to your dress that will make it feel uniquely yours.

Looks from Alberta Ferretti and Marchesa

5. Sequins and Cutouts
While beading and sequin are nothing new for prom, this season’s designers combined playful cutouts and beautiful beading to the dresses to make for an all over glam look. We love the second look from Reem Acra with the peekaboo side cutouts combined with the cascading sequins and beads.

Models in Oscar de la Renta and Reem Acra

Prom 2015 Trends From The Miss America Pageant

The Miss America pageant took place this past Sunday, and we can’t think of a better group of women to look to for prom dress inspiration. Every contestant was head-to-toe stunning, and it was easy to tell that a lot of time and thought that went into choosing their wardrobes –especially their evening gowns.

From necklines to colors, we’re recapping a few of our favorite looks, and the gowns that are sure to inspire a few 2015 prom trends.

1. The white dress. White gowns were easily the hottest trend at the pageant, with girl after girl taking the stage in ivory. The dresses proved once and for all that white gowns don’t have to be reserved for weddings, too: The dresses had cuts (fitted, v-neck, or sheath-styles) and embellishments (like oversized rhinestones) that made them feel pageant (or prom!) appropriate.

 

2. The V-neck. After years of strapless dresses being the go-to style, if the Miss America pageant has anything to say about it, straps are back for 2015, and especially V-neck styles.

3. Metallics. Metallic dresses can be tough to pull off, but the ladies of Miss America showed us how to do it right. The key to looking as good in a metallic dress: choose one that is two to three shades lighter or darker than your skin tone to prevent looking washed out. Dark skin tones typically look best in silver and shimmering champagne colored dresses, while pale skin tones can go for golds.

4. Simplicity. Though the tendency for pageant constants is to go over-the-top with the embellishments, we saw a number of dresses that were simple, and simply stunning. Take Miss Iowa, Aly Olson, whose elegantly cut dress allowed the emerald color to shine.

5. Long Sleeves. Miss America herself, Kira Kazantsev, rocked the trend, and other contestants wore long-sleeved gowns throughout the night.

Which of these trends is your favorite? Would you wear any of them to prom 2015?