“You can get married three or four times but prom is a once in a lifetime experience”- Anon
Choosing a prom dress is not unlike what I imagine choosing a wedding dress is like. It’s one day that is documented for life and one that everyone want’s to look their best. Coming from someone who went to their prom reluctantly and didn’t have a special dress or anything, here are some things I would consider if I had the chance to do it over.
Get some inspiration
Between magazines, Google image searches and social media, there is an endless supply of resources that will provide inspiration when you don’t know where to start. Not only from looking at prom dresses but anything , even red carpet events, the options are endless.
Budget
Beautiful prom dresses are available in every price range, style and colour you can imagine so even with a budget on the smaller side there are still amazing dresses to be had. There are places that rent out dresses for proms so this is always worth considering if dresses to buy are proving too expensive. The prom dress market is highly lucrative, especially in the States and there is often a lot of pressure to spend a small fortune on a dress. It needs to be remembered though, that this dress is for one occasion. Sit down with your budget well in advance and decide how much you are willing to spend on a prom dress.
Style and comfort
Websites love to tell people to look for a dress that flatters your shape when looking for a prom dress. I say pick something that you like and makes you feel confident. When looking for inspiration there may be styles of dresses that jump out at you, if these are the dresses that you love then these are the dresses you should be trying on and seeing what you think instead of being told what kind of dress is best suited to your body. At the end of the day, you will be the one wearing the dress so only you have to love it.
Most importantly you want a prom dresses that suit you and your personal style. The last thing you want is to spend the evening and look back on photos for years to come and not feel like yourself. I know comfort doesn’t often come into it when people think about a prom dress but it’s meant to be an enjoyable occasion, not just an evening of adjusting straps, pulling and tugging on a bodice or struggling to breathe. Its a right of passage that you only get once so pick and dress you love and have the best time!