Prom Daze

stayathomestylist
Feb 27, 2017
5 min read

There are two very important life lessons I learned today. 1. I am getting old 2. Tight, bright and lots of sequins make teenagers very happy!!! Let me explain. I decided it was time to broaden my audience and delve into the world of teenagers (gasp) and get a clearer picture of what fashion trends appeal to them. Since prom season is right around the corner, I would tackle this area first. Sadly, I haven't shopped for a prom dress in about 18 years. I have officially outed myself. Like I said, I feel old! In my day, midriff wasn't an option, and a slight slit or cutout was about as risque as it got. Jessica McClintock was all the rage and colossal curly hairdos flooded our pictures. Thankfully, my prom pictures are in scrapbooks and not on Instagram!

Fast Forward to 2017 and I feel like I have entered the twilight zone. The dresses are much flashier, tighter, brighter, expensive, and barely there!! I am speaking like a true mom now. I never thought this day would come. Nonetheless, after much deliberation, I knew I had to gather a few teens together and enter their world!!!! I started with Gianna Hoch. Gianna and her family are lifelong family friends and neighbors. I have had the pleasure of watching Gianna grow up. It's hard to believe that the little girl I babysat so many years ago, has transformed into a beautiful, bright, talented, and very assertive 17 year old! The notion of Gianna and her friends relating to my mom style was daunting. I was walking onto their turf with an overwhelmingly amount of trepidation and apprehension but I had to conquer my fears. Surprisingly, Gianna was very receptive to the idea and even sounded somewhat excited (she was probably just trying to make an old gal feel good). Nevertheless, Operation: Prom Dresses went down today!

Thankfully, Gianna's mom Cora came along for the ride. Having an older daughter too, Cora has become an expert in prom dress shopping and knows the best spots to explore. Gianna brought along her two friends, Anna and Jane, and we piled in the car. Next Stop: Group USA in Secaucus, New Jersey. In the car, I took the time to get to know the girls. I asked them some questions about their style and if they had a particular dress or color in mind. Anna and Jane seemed very open-minded, while Gianna was determined to find a two-piece dress. My ultimate goal wasn't to find what I thought was the "perfect dress," but to find their idea of the perfect dress. The only way to attain this goal was to get a feel for their body types and guide them in finding dresses that flatter their shapes the best. All three girls have incredibly envious figures, but completely different. Anna, a size zero, has more of a straight body type, Jane a bit bustier and curvaceous, while Gianna has an athletic build on the bottom but extremely tiny up top.

When we entered the store, the girls ran wild. They gravitated towards dresses with lots of bling and colors. I felt like I was being held hostage at the Miss America Pageant! I was getting dizzy. I asked them their sizes and if I had permission to pick some dresses for each of them to try on. I am a firm believer that you can never judge a book (or a dress) by its cover! Some of the most magnificent pieces have initially looked dull and pitiful on the hanger. I was pleasantly surprised and elated when some of "my" picks ranked high on their lists! I also quickly realized that Cora and I had very similar taste. Together we were an unstoppable team! It became immediately evident and much to Jane's surprise, that cut-out dresses looked absolutely stunning on her and created the perfect hourglass shape. Two- piece, or straighter style dresses with some color flattered Anna's tiny frame brilliantly. Lastly, two piece styled dresses with some flair and uniqueness were the perfect match for Gianna. I encouraged her to try on a two piece style that was less form fitting and more flowy. I knew on it would be stunning. It was more than stunning, it was breathtaking. It would definitely be a memorable dress. Most importantly it had pockets! Every teenager needs pockets for their Iphones of course!

After the girls established a few of their favorites, we decided it was time to try another store. On the way over to Coco's Chateau, in Woodland Park, New Jersey, Cora and the girls prepared me on what to expect. Coco's Chateau prides themselves on being the Ultimate Gown Shoppe, and boy do they live up! Hundreds and hundreds of gowns adorn the racks, covered in protective plastic. Judging by the price tags, I can see why they are so protected!! This is Gianna's second round here. On her first visit she found the dress of her dreams but wasn't happy with the price. She decided to try on a few new dresses and then resort back to her dream dress last. In the meantime, Anna and Jane found some more dresses similar in style to the ones from the previous store. Anna would be coming back with her mom to try on her favorites. We worked closely with the stylists at the shop to find Jane the perfect cut-out style dress. After trying on a few beaded dresses, it was evident to Jane that beads and gaudiness don't mesh with her taste. We found some very beautiful, yet simplistic styles that suited her perfectly. She too, would be sharing some of her top picks with her mother. Gianna, on the other hand, left more confused than ever. She fell in love with her two piece lace dress all over again and was obsessed with the way it hugged her body. She also liked a solid pink one (similar in style) and went back to my all time favorite as well. We left with all 3 choices frantically running through her mind. Boy it's tough being a teenager!!

I have no idea what dresses will ultimately make the cut, but I do know that all three girls will look stunning regardless. This experiment has served its purpose. I now feel more confident and a bit more versed in the world of prom. I am ready to spend the next few weeks engrossed in endless beads and jewels. Book your prom consult today!