1. Who do I bring with me to help me chose my dress ?
The first thing to remember is that nearly all stores require a parent to be present for prom girls to try on dresses, so you will need at least mum or dad with you. Most prom girls tend to favour bringing their mum with them, but some like to have dads opinion as well. If dad is going to be paying, then it’s definitely a good idea to bring him along at the outset, as otherwise you will need to come back to pay for your dress once you have chosen it.
Some families treat prom dress shopping as an afternoon trip or outing, and bringing the extended family can be an option. Grandparents can be very helpful in providing unbiased advice, and sometimes a welcome financial contribution. It is worth remembering however, that selecting your dream dress can be quite a long process, so bringing any younger members of the family along for the ride, might not be such a good idea .
Some girls like to prom dress shop in groups, or with at least one friend. It can be useful to have a second opinion from somebody of the same age, but If you do bring a friend, it is best to check that they have either secured their dress and are happy with it, or if they are looking for a dress themselves, that they are interested in a different style to you, so that you don’t end up clashing over any particular dress. Shopping in a group for your prom dress can end in disaster for one or more in the group. Too many competing opinions and interests , are likely to make the job a lot more stressful than it should be.
Whoever you bring , try to limit your number of ” helpers ” to 2 or 3 people. That should be more than enough to support you in your decision making, and any more may just confuse you.
Whoever you decide to bring with you, make sure you have the final say on your purchase. Remember that it is your prom dress, and you will be the one wearing it !
2. Keep an open mind. 👗💃
Do you have a fixed idea about what you want to wear, or are you dead set on one particular design ? if you fall in to this category , you need to know that 9 out of 10 girls who try on their dream prom dress, find that they don’t like that style at all.
Often girls will select a dress after sifting through literally thousands of images online. However, what looks good on the model won’t automatically suit you, and insisting on sticking to a shape or colour palate that isn’t working, will lead to a bad choice.
If your first choice of style isn’t working, then start a new search by taking advice from the sales assistant in store. They see hundreds of prom girls each season, and should be able to guide you to the correct look for you. Look around at what others in store are trying on. You can often be inspired by something you didn’t expect.
Ultimately, searching for your dream dress will be a matter of trying and trying some more, until you get it right. Keeping an open mind is the key to success in this process.
Equally, if your first choice is sold out or not available, don’t waste time pining for a style you can’t have. The chances are you wouldn’t have liked it anyway, and it clearly wasn’t meant to be . Start your new search quickly and with that open mind ready to find the best style for you !
Finally, make sure that you keep an open mind but within your budget, if you have one. There is no point in falling in love with a dress that is twice what you want to pay, and can mean you leave the shop empty handed and feeling unhappy.
3. When is the best time to buy my prom dress ?
The Prom collections start arriving in October, with the vast majority of stock already in stores and selling fast by early January. Many people are shocked when they visit our stores in March and are told that a style has already sold out, and no more are being made. Once you are sure you will be attending prom, the earlier you begin your search and make your decision , the better !
If you want to buy early, but payment is an issue, ask about payment plans and deposits. All of our stores offer interest free credit and securing your dream dress early, but paying for most of it later, can be a great strategy.
Perhaps most importantly, an early choice means you are no longer distracted by the question of what you will wear for your prom. This leaves you free to concentrate your efforts on your studies and exams !
4. Look and feel your best. 💄👠
It is a good idea to go out looking your best, when shopping for your dress. Although to a certain extent you will need to imagine the finished effect with hair up etc, it will help if you feel and look your best. Prom is a glamorous event, and if you look like you have just got out of bed, it may hinder your decision making process. Similarly, If you are feeling under the weather, or not feeling your best for any reason, then it may be best to put off your shopping trip for another day.
Most shops will have shoes for you to try on the dresses with, but if you have a particular pair you want to wear with your dress, then bring them with you. It’s also a good idea to bring a strapless bra and control underwear, if you are likely to want to wear these on the day. These things will help you feel good in the dresses and make your choice easier.
Make sure you allow enough time to chose your dress. Finding your prom dress is not a short process, and you need to allow time to try on enough styles to make your choice. If you are in a rush, you will feel under pressure and may leave either empty handed or with the wrong choice.
5. How will I know when I have found the dress for me ?
Do you suffer from commitment phobia in relation to your prom dress? Do you worry that something better will come along or you will change your mind ?
If the answer to the above is yes, you are not alone. Lots of girls are afraid to commit to a dress , even when they have followed all of the advice above, and have found a style that they love. The important thing to remember is that you need to go with your instinct. If you love it , others will too, and you should have the confidence to buy and wear that dress.
You will know when you have found your dress , so don’t allow yourself to be put off by others when making your decision. Try to avoid sending all of your friends pictures for their comments, and recognise that unfortunately, some of them may not have your best interests at heart.
When it comes to choosing your dress, be decisive. You will know what you feel great in, and recognise that if you leave it behind because you are afraid to commit , you may end up disappointed when you return and it’s no longer available.
Once you have made your choice and purchased , stop looking ! As tempting as it may be to continue trawling the Internet, once you have had the courage to commit then you need to move on. That way, you will be way less likely to have doubts about your choice.