prom gown

Human beings are social creatures. We require encouragement and acknowledgment from the group at every stage of our development. This is particularly true when we approach major milestones in our lives. Rites of passage are ritual events that were designed to recognize and celebrate these transitions. Often associated with religion, few secular rites of passage have survived. Probably the most popular one is the modern prom.

Short for promenade, Americans have been attending formal proms for well over a century. Modeled after debutante balls, the first proms were held at American colleges and universities in the late 19th century. The formal affair was attended by graduating seniors. The men would wear tuxedos and the women would dress in proper white gowns and white gloves.

How did the prom come to high school? Americans have always envied and emulated the rich. As the middle class grew in the States, parents wanted their children to learn how to comport themselves in public. Formal dances were an easy and effective means of instilling social skills and etiquette.

The first high school proms were prim and proper affairs. Kids would dress in their Sunday best, sip tea, and dance to a few slow songs. The war years changed all that. Young people had to grow up faster than ever. As a result, teenagers were afforded more freedom than previous generations. The high school prom soon became an annual class banquet and parents had almost no influence over it.

Where are we now? The prom has somehow retained its place as the most important secular rite of passage. In a country where children grow up way too fast, the prom is often the first formal event that young women and men willingly attend. In this article, we will discuss modern prom dress styles.

As with most formal affairs, the guys have it easy. All they have to do is rent a tuxedo and find a corsage. But the girls actually have to buy a dress, and it must be original. The boys can show up in 300 identical tuxedos and no one would bat an eye, but if two girls wear the same dress, watch out! Why is it so important?

Even though the guys may deny it, prom is an important, culminating event for all who attend. It is the closest thing we have to a secular rite of passage. As such, it lets kids know that they are entering a new phase of their lives. They are moving from adolescence to adulthood. That is why teenagers pretty much run the show when it comes to prom. They are allowed to pick out their own dresses and suits, rent limos and stay out late.

Girls spend more time, money and energy preparing for prom for one simple reason. Many of them consider it a dry run for their wedding day, mostly because to the dress. You see, formal dresses are not easy to shop for. A suit is a suit, but a formal dress fits every woman differently.

Current Styles

Because it is an annual event and most high school seniors attend, prom dresses are big business in America. Most of the top designers offer their own interpretations and styles change from year to year. One popular trend is the flirty cocktail dress. Based on the classic little black dress, the cocktail dress features a short skirt and a strapless neckline with a zipper back. Young women adore it because it is both sexy and stylish.

Every girl dreams of being the belle of the ball, which is why formal prom gowns will never go out of style. Floor-length gowns make women of any age look mature, dignified and elegant. But because they are young, many high school seniors select a formal gown with a strapless, sweetheart neckline.

The great thing about formal gowns is that they can be worn again. Millions of young women buy prom gowns they only one wear once. But formal gowns can be worn to weddings, cocktail parties and to other special occasions. Just make sure you find a gown in a lightweight material. Formal gown can get awfully hot after an hour or two on your feet, especially during prom season in the summertime. Taffeta is a relatively lightweight, inexpensive material that is commonly found in formal gowns.

As we mentioned earlier, different formal gowns flatter different figures. The Empire-waist dress goes all the way back to Greco-Roman times. It has an incredibly high waist that gathers near or just under the bust. This ancient silhouette works like a sort of optical illusion, as it helps to lengthen the body visually. The Empire-waist gown is popular with shorter girls who have ample busts. They are also a hit with tall, stately women who want to show off their curves.Whatever your shape, finding the right prom dress takes time and patience. But rest assured, the lessons you learn will pay off in the future.

You could have seen a classic prom hairdo style in TV series and at wedding receptions. You need to plan ahead and secure an appointment so that you won’t be stuck trying to style your own hair at the last minute. Be prepared what type of hairdo style you like to prevent last minute changes. Refer to your hair stylist in advance and seek opinion for various options. Be realistic with certain hairstyle you’ve seen. No one styles suits all. Keep in mind that a great hair style has to compliment your facial shape and your dress for the day. Do a matching yourself and show that to you hair stylist is a good idea.

As for prom flower to match with hairdo, there are simple flower hairpieces can be made and used. Simply you need a comb or clips attach a paper flower and place it in the hair and you also could just stick a few small prom flowers throughout the hair.

Alternatively, you can use a single flower for the prom and stick it in the hair. It looks classy especially when it matches your wrist corsage! Beware that you need to keep your hair is completely styled stay in place when the flower is placed in the hair. You can used spray to help to keep your hair in place. Keep one of two extra flower in case you need to replace it

By Dr. LM Foong

Article Source:   http://ezinearticles.com/?Prom-Style-Hairdo-and-Prom-Flower&id=3886584

Spring ~ Means Prom Season

Ready or not, here comes Prom Season for high schools all across the country. The prom signifies academic accomplishment and celebration of a special season in a young person’s life. These formal dinner and dance events are usually hosted in the nicest venues to be found in their area so formal is the tone for the event.

Because this is such a cherished tradition, many young girls look forward to their prom with great anticipation. Like any formal event, there are many plans to be made. The sooner you begin, the more smoothly everything will come together for you. Don’t stress ~ PLAN ~.

Ladies, you have just a few things to consider.. your dress, jewelry, shoes, handbag, hair, makeup, and nails. Although it sounds like a lot, you will get it all accomplished flawlessly with a timely schedule. Oh, don’t forget to get that young man involved in the timeline and planning too. He’s got some memories in the making also.

Try Window Shopping First

Before you take on your local dress shop or boutique, take time to scan through Internet sites and teen magazines that are featuring prom ideas. Be sure to check out the magazines that are equipped to help you out like Teen, Your Prom, Cosmo Girl, and Seventeen. Search the web too. Sites like promgirl.net have lots of ideas and suggestions. These resources can help you with many areas like dress designs, expected pricing, dress shops that carry certain lines of gowns, hairstyles, nail polish colors and designs, makeup, even accessories like jewelry, hair pieces, handbags and shoes. You may not find the exact item in your area, but you can always improvise with a little imagination.

Your Perfect Prom Dress Looks Like

If you can settle on a color or style that interests you before you go to the shops, you will eliminate being overwhelmed when you walk in the door. Although, keep in mind that the dress you choose may be shown in one color and available in several other colors as well. The best idea is to ask for a consultant when you arrive to assist you in your selections. Set aside plenty of time to shop. You do not want to be rushed in your selection.

Tip: Get to the dress shops two months or so before your event date. You will need time for your first as well as your final fitting.

By Sandra Chrush

Article Source:  http://ezinearticles.com/?2009-Prom-Preparation-Ideas—Start-NOW&id=2149486