Sunday, February 7, 2010

Prom Dresses 2010 - Buying an Affordable Prom Gown

It is prom season - and you need to find a dress as soon as possible. Unfortunately, due to the economy - your parents have given you a budget that is less than what you initially hoped and planned for. Now you face a dilemma similar to thousands of other teens across the country, how can you find the most affordable prom gown - without looking cheap and tacky?

For starters, it is important for you to know that you are not alone in this particular situation. As I said, thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of parents are facing economic troubles. So do not be ashamed, and remember that the most important part of the event is for you to have fun! Now that we have gotten that pep talk out of the way - let me give you a few tips on finding affordable gowns for your junior or senior prom!

1. Think outside the box: Creativity and a little ingenuity can go a long way when you are under financial restrictions. Ask your older sister, cousin, or even neighbor if they have any formal gowns sitting around that they can give to you. If you do not feel comfortable with just taking something for nothing in exchange - work out a bartering deal. Perhaps you will babysit for a month as repayment, or clean out their basement or garage. Once you have the gown, be innovative with it - you can shorten in or add embellishments. If it has sleeves or straps, take it to a seamstress and have them turn it into a sleeveless or strapless gown! With the right dress, the possibilities are endless and by putting a little bit of work into it - you'll definitely have the most unique dress at the dance!

2. Try vintage stores: Vintage and retro looks are always popular options for proms and formal events. Visit your area vintage stores and consignment shops in search of your perfect formal gown. These stores are known for having hot designer dresses for super cheap. If you find a dress that you love that turns out to be a size two big, or slightly damaged - negotiate an even larger discount and take it to the seamstress for alterations and repairs. Play up the old Hollywood glam theme with perfectly coiffed curls, dramatic make-up and rhinestone accessories.

3. Shop Online: The Internet is one of the best sources to turn to when you need to find a cheap prom dress. Virtually every online merchant selling formal gowns has a section for "affordable" or "cheap" options. You can save yourself some time by narrowing your search terms with certain keywords. For example, if your budget is two hundred dollars, do a search for "prom dresses under $200". Doing this will show you all the results for websites that have dresses within your budget. Remember this - when buying discounted clothing online, they usually come with a no return and no exchange policy. This means that all sales are final. If the dress is ill-fitting, or the wrong color - you'll just be out of luck.

Fresh New Bridesmaid Dresses For 2010

The fall bridal shows are always exciting. Naturally, the highlight for most brides-to-be is seeing the latest wedding gown designs, but there are also some hot new styles debuted for bridesmaids during bridal market. Here are some of the fresh new bridesmaid dresses for 2010 weddings.

First of all, the ubiquitous strapless silhouette has finally loosened its grip on the bridesmaid collections. Bridesmaids, breathe a sigh of relief! No more tugging and pulling on ill-fitting strapless bridesmaid dresses that always seem to slip at just the wrong moment. You may actually get to wear a dress with straps if you are an attendant in a 2010 wedding!

One of the styles to take the place of all strapless, all the time is the classic bateau neck. An immensely flattering and graceful neckline that brings to mind Audrey Hepburn, there is plenty to love about a bateau neck bridesmaid dress. Shown in gorgeous colors like rich purple at Melissa Sweet, a bateau neckline gown with a full A-line skirt is an ideal accompaniment to the 1950s inspired bridal gowns that dominated the runways for 2010. Such a classic dress should be finished off with equally timeless accessories, such as pearl bridesmaid jewelry sets.

Brides who want a hip and modern bridesmaid dress will adore the one shoulder dresses that are available for 2010. Sleek and contemporary, a knee length one shoulder bridesmaid dress is a fantastic choice for a wedding with a city chic flair. Match it with one of the slinky sheath style bridal gowns which are in vogue. Killer shoes and dramatic bridesmaid earrings are a must with this hot attendants' dress.

For long bridesmaid dresses, soft chiffon is one of the most popular fabrics. Seen in a neutral charcoal gray at Amsale or a lovely periwinkle at Badgley Mischka, floor length chiffon gowns are a stunning option for a formal wedding, day or evening. The gowns feature special details such as draped bodices, flattering halter necklines, or soft ruffles which set them apart from the boring bridesmaid dresses of years past. Perhaps the best thing about these elegant new bridesmaid gowns is that they do not scream "bridesmaid". They are actually stylish enough that they could (gasp!) be worn again later.

Color is an important factor in the look of a bridal party, and there is an interesting range of options for the 2010 bridesmaid dress collections. Noticeably absent are a lot of "safe" or pastel colors. Charcoal gray has emerged as a surprisingly wearable top color choice for bridesmaids. Deep colors like purple and ink blue are popular, as are bold colors such as vivid sunset orange. A new trend is very pale and ethereal colors which are not much darker than the color of the bride's dress. When made in soft and floaty fabrics like chiffon, the pale bridesmaid dresses will create an almost otherworldly effect. Complete the look with sets of bridesmaid jewelry in clear crystal.

Whatever your style, there will be a bridesmaid dress that suits it. Remember to first select your wedding gown before falling in love with a bridesmaid style. After all, as much as you want your 'maids to look gorgeous, you want to make sure that they complement your attire as much as possible.

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