Do you want the perfect dress, perfect shoes, perfect hair and makeup? Well, when planning the perfect school formal look it can all seem so complicated and confusing. But why should it be? Take a step back, two deep breaths and relax. From this point on it’s all going to be a lot easier as we’re here to help find the right dress for you! We’ll take you through our helpful tips guaranteed to make you feel like a winner at your upcoming formal event. To help you achieve a top finish look we’ll show how easy it can be to style yourself timeless with our top 5 Prom Inspired Movie Looks ready to try at your school formal!
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Our Top 5 Tips to consider when dressing for your School Formal
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1. Pick a classic silhouette style.
When picking a formal style it’s important to consider your body shape, height and complexion. These three key factors will help you in deciphering the best look for you. If, for instance, you have a pear shaped figure try to show off your upper body with an off-the-shoulder dress or perhaps a belted dress that helps define and accentuate your waist.
Height is also an important factor to consider, for example a longer floor length dress might be better suited for someone who is slightly taller. Now that’s not to say that all you short gals out there can’t wear a longer dress if they wish, but what you might want to consider is selecting a slightly more cropped floor length dress to help elongate your figure and not shorten it.
Considering your complexion and skin tone can help in selecting the right coloured frock for you. A pastel palette might be better suited to someone with an olive skin tone, whereas deeper darker colours can really work well on a fair skinned beauty.
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2. Be sure to wear comfy shoes.
The importance of selecting comfortable shoes cannot be stressed enough so please do yourself a favour and get this one right. We often make the mistake of thinking we have to grace the scene channeling a 6 foot swan in a bid of feeling like a luminous Victoria Supermodel. Truth of the matter is that the key to having an enjoyable night is wearing shoes you can effortlessly move around in while dancing the night away.
Pick a style that complements your foot shape. For example, if your foot is broad, steer clear of stilettoes with a narrow fit as they are bound to be a recipe for disaster. Don’t be afraid to wear a pair of jewelled encrusted flats if heels are not your thing. If, on the hand, heels are your thing a great tip to remember is to pack a pair of foldable flats in your bag for later on in the night.
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3. Keep makeup fresh-faced & youthful.
Realistically the majority of us are not blessed with flawless skin, especially during our turbulent teen years when our hormones are all over the place and working tirelessly on overdrive. Over time one thing experience teaches us, especially after looking back at old school photos is that the worst thing you can do to your coming-of-age skin is going overboard with your makeup and cake it on.
It is understandable that you want to cover up those sore red blemishes but, chances are, if you are not using the right products you are not doing yourself any favours. There’s something about teenage skin that can scream oil grove especially around the T-Zone section, so choosing shining foundations and dodgy concealers can make your spots appear worse.
With age comes wisdom and experience teaches us to let your natural features speak for themselves and to adopt ‘a less is more’ approach. To achieve a natural look keep your foundation minimal and draw focus to other areas of your face. For instance, try accentuating your lips with a bold hit of colour (preferably one that matches your dress) or make your eyes sing by adding a wild winged eyeliner and lusciously full lashes. Don’t match your eye shadow with the colour of your dress, lime green eye shadow is something you will probably end up regreting for the rest of your life.
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4. Opt for a simple hairstyle.
Finding the right hairstyle can sometimes feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Ask your future self “when I look back at this hair style in 10 years’ time what will I think?”. No one can accurately forecast what the future trends will be, but an obvious choice would be to steer clear of brightly coloured hair. (Yes, I’m talking to you Kyile Jenner circa 2014 Kim Kardashian wedding).
Sure, it might seem like a great idea and demonstrate the independent stature of your coming of adulthood but seriously now, you don’t want to look back and say “Oh my … what was I thinking?”. Sometimes a simple blow dry featuring a nice voluminous kick could be the safest bet. It might sound a bit boring tre chic, but it’s guaranteed to look elegant and never look dated when you look back in years to come.
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5. Don’t go overboard on the fake tan.
I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I see girls with over applied fake tan. Firstly let’s get one thing straight, there is no such thing as a natural looking fake tan if you can be picked out in a crowd for the wrong reason.
If you do turn to a little golden assistance from a bottle (my fair self included) let’s make sure we limit the intensity of our colour choice. If you are fair keep it subtle as you don’t need to look like you just came back from the Bahamas, especially if your formal is held in the cooler months. On the other hand, if you’ve naturally blessed with glowing sun kissed skin stay away from the fake tan altogether as you probably don’t even need it to begin with.
Read Also Our Top 5 Favourite Trends from the 2019 Met Gala Ball
The key to a natural look is to think about exposing your skin to sunlight gradually by sitting in the sun for 10 minutes a day. Not only will you build up a healthy glow, but you’ll also get your daily dose of Vitamin D. If you use this method be sure to protect your face by using a sunscreen cream. If you want to be extra careful or are spending more than 10 minutes in the sun always consider using sunscreen on all of your body.
Bonus tips*
- Don’t break the budget. Be realistic! You’re a student, not a millionaire.
- Keep away from crazy trends. Trust me….. you’ll live to regret them.
- Wear your dress with confidence don’t let the dress wear you ????
Want more? Browse our Ready-to-wear Top 5 Prom Inspired Movie Looks!
1. The Eclectic Fashionista – (film) Pretty in Pink,1986.
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Are you fun, boldly confident, yet still crave that classic feminine elegance? Rest ashore you can make a statement in one of our pretty in soft pink numbers featuring delicate lace paneling and intricate of the shoulder detailing.
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2. The classic beauty – (film) She’s All that,1999.
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Do you consider yourself a bit of an old school glamour girl? Well then, a chic sequin number is the pick for you. Choose from one of our glitz encrusted midi gowns featuring a 90’s inspired spaghetti strap neckline and figure hugging silhouette.
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3. The Rebel at heart – Romy & Michele’s Reunion,1997.
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Love making a fashion mark? Bare some skin with one of our sheer laced dresses designed to thrill the crowd and draw all eyes on you. This look is definitely one for the girl who’s not afraid of being the center of attention.
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4. The Preppy Teen – Grease, 1978.
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Are you considered the fun-loving girl next door type? Style yourself cocktail sleek with a simple structured silhouette featuring a universally flattering fit-and-flare silhouette or a free-flowing A-line skirt.
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5. The Peachy Keen – Jawbreaker, 1999.
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Are you the high-achieving type? Well, we’ve got the look for you! Try a look where ladylike styling meets edgy rule the school energy. Feel like a winner in one of our fierce feminine dresses featuring bare shoulder with a sheer long length peek-a-boo floor length skirt.
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For more helpful school formal styling tips read our School Formal Dresses – Your Ultimate Prom Style Guide blog post.
