How To Prepare For Prom Dress Shopping

You have been looking forward to prom and the time has finally come! You can’t wait to go start looking for the perfect 2018 prom dress for prom night. Before you head out to go shopping, here are some tips and tricks to make prom dress shopping go as smoothly and stress-free as possible.

Tip 1: Start looking for your prom gown early

There’s no such thing as starting too early. The earlier you start looking, the larger your selection will be. Even if you don’t know who your date will be yet, it does not hurt to start browsing for the perfect prom dress. Starting early allows you to set aside time for alterations, if needed. And you will avoid the last minute worrying of not being able to find a dress in time for the big night.

Before any prom shopping day, remember to get a good night’s sleep. Resting up the night before is important. Take it from us, any type of dress shopping can be very tiring. Be sure to eat something before you head out to your appointments. You don’t want to go shopping hungry. That never leads to anything good. And remember to stay hydrated throughout the day! All these little things will add up and make the whole process as carefree as possible!

Tip 2: Do your research

Before heading out to your appointments, you will want to do some research. Take a look at the latest fashion trends that the stars are wearing on the red carpets and movie premiers. You will most likely see similar styles and designs in stores. Looking through magazines, books, shows and movies can bring celebrity dress inspirations as well. The more you know about the latest trends, what may look good on you and how you want to look on your prom night, the easier your prom shopping will be. You won’t feel so fluster and overwhelmed with all the dresses if you take some time to do some research beforehand.

Also, do research on where you would be purchasing your prom dress from. Make sure they are an authorized retailer of the designer you are purchasing your gown from and have a good reputation. Be careful if you decide to purchase your gown online. You want to make sure you are purchasing from a trustworthy source who won’t stop communicating with you once you pay or even worse not deliver your dress. You don’t want to end up as a prom fail this year when you purchase your gown online.

Tip 3: Quick test drive

As you are trying on these gorgeous prom dresses, take them for a quick test drive. And we’re not talking about leaving the store with them on and into a car. You want your prom dress to be beautiful AND comfortable since you are going to be spending 4+ hours in them that night. You do not want to spend hours in a dress that you can’t breathe or move freely in. That will take away from the fun you could have that night. So walk around in the dress. Sit. Bust out a few quick dance move or two. See how it fits and moves with your body. Make sure you feel comfortable in it so you can enjoy your night.

Tip 4: Bring your heels with you

Before you leave your house for your appointments, make sure to grab a pair of heels with you, preferably, the pair that you are most likely going to wear with your prom dress. Trying on dresses with heels on will help you see how it looks. This will also help with the measurements of the gown. You don’t want the dress to be too short or too long with heels on. Bring these heels with you. You don’t have to wear them around all day. Your feet could hurt and the pain will take away from the fun of dress shopping.

Tip 5: Take your time

Like any other dress shopping, don’t rush the appointment or experience. Set enough time aside that day for your appointment. Another tip, do not book too many appointments on the same day. You will get tired and overwhelmed if you feel like you are rushing to get through one appointment to get to the next. So, do yourself the favor, don’t stress by setting a jam-packed schedule. Take your time and enjoy your prom dress shopping experience! After all, you have been waiting years for this moment!

Tip 6: Keep an open mind

One thing to keep in mind while doing your research is to not get stuck on one particular style or dress. Keep an open mind while you are doing your research and while you are shopping. Don’t obsess over one dress because they may not have your size or color choice. The more open minded and flexible you are, the higher the chances of you finding the perfect prom dress for you. Also, as you are shopping, think about what hair styles could go with the dresses. This will help you envision the final look for that special night.

Tip 7: Carry an inspiration ideas

If you do have a style or design in mind that you MUST try on while shopping, bring that inspiration picture with you. Keep in mind that the stores may not have it but this gives the store an idea of what you want to try on. But remember to not get stuck on this inspiration picture. You might fall in love with a dress you never thought you’d like.

Tip 8: Stick to your budget!

This may be one of the most important tip we can give you. Stick with your budget! Do not try on any dresses you cannot afford! Avoid being disappointed because you fell in love with a prom dress that is way over your budget. Also do some research on what the price range is for a gown you love whether it is a sparkly sequin style or lovely lace gown see what the average price is so you know when something is too good to be true. I am sure you have seen the countless Prom fails where girls purchased their “dream” gown online $50 and thought they were getting a good deal. Their bargain purchase turns into a headache when the money you spent leads to a dress disaster and you have to scramble to find an alternative.

Tip 9: Have appropriate undergarments

As you are shopping, keep this in mind. Do you already have appropriate undergarments that will work with the dress? Do you need to go shopping for some? It is not a bad idea to bring one or two different undergarments to try on with different neckline styles. This will give you a better idea of how your dress will look on prom night.

Tip 10: Take someone with you but not a huge group of people

It could be smart to have a second opinion when you are torn between two dresses. It’s also more fun going with your mom, close family or friend. Try to keep it to one or two other people and not a huge group. Going shopping in huge groups can actually overwhelm and stress you out even more. Too many people in your shopping squad will complicate things. So keep it to just one or two people that you trust and enjoy the shopping experience.

BONUS TIP – Tip 11: Find the perfect dress for YOU!

At the end of the day, it is your big night. You will be the one wearing the dress to prom. So let your personality shine bright. Pick your favorite dress, the dress that you love! Your perfect dress will contribute to a wonderful prom night!

So there you have it! Our top 10 tips in preparation to the best prom dress shopping experience. Visit any authorized Val Stefani retailer near you today! Happy prom dress shopping!!