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Prom Tips | Leah Bloom
Prom Tips
by Leah Bloom
The weekend is quickly approaching, and there’s one thing that’s on every upperclassman’s mind: Prom. It’s probably the most highly anticipated event a high schooler has to look forward to–well, besides that whole “graduating” thing. A lot of preparation and not to mention money, goes into this sacred night. Girls start planning sometimes an entire month in advance, making a checklist of all that needs to be purchased or taken care of: hair, makeup, nails, jewelry, shoes, and of course the dress. Meanwhile, most guys are attempting to conjure up an original way to ask their crush to the dance, while simultaneously trying to figure out what the heck a corsage is/where to get one. Prom is somewhat of a right of passage, and whether it’s your first one on Saturday, or you’re a freshman who wants to know what to expect in a few years, I have some tips and tricks to help make this night as great as possible.
Prep:
Plan ahead. Prom shopping can be stressful, especially if you wait till the week of to look for a dress. Start scoping online for ideas a month or two in advance, because keep in mind, most schools in the area have prom on the same weekend and so stores can sell out of nice dresses fairly quickly.
If your parents will be paying for your dress, discuss a budget with them so that you don’t end up falling in love with a dress that costs $500 and then nothing else looks good in comparison.
If you’re a Junior, consider getting a less expensive dress this year, so you can really treat yourself when your Senior Prom rolls around next year.
Of course you want to look your best at prom, but let’s be honest, you’ll probably only wear that dress once, and then never again. If you’re looking to save money, there are many websites such as Promagain.com where people sell their lightly used dresses for marked down prices. If you’re a senior and want to make some money back, consider selling your old prom dresses instead of leaving them to collect dust in your closet.
Wear shoes that you could hypothetically bear to keep on the whole night, because being barefoot can be risky when you’re on a crowded dance floor surrounded by hundreds of other girls with spikey heels. Nothing ruins a fun night like a broken toe.
If you’re buying new shoes, get them a week or two in advance, so you can break them in before the dance. If your first time wearing the shoes is the night of prom, you are bound to get blisters. Tip: to loosen up new shoes, use a blowdryer on low heat and point it at the areas that rub. This makes the material less stiff so that it can better adapt to the shape of your foot.
Guys– if you’re going with a date, be sure to ask them what color their dress is, so you can get a tie to match. If you don’t know how to tie a tie, ask your mom or opt for a clip-on bow tie instead!