Do your own thing

When I watched Pretty in Pink as a little girl, I dreamt of the perfect prom, complete with Andrew McCarthy but with a much better dress. On my big night, I wore a black bustier gown with a very, very high slit by Vic Barba. With metal-heeled stilettos, wavy curls, smoky eyes and vintage crystal accessories, I felt sexy in mafia chic with heads turning all night. A huge part of the reaction was that it wasn’t a typical look. Sometimes, to have a killer prom outfit, you need to forsake the trends and do it yourself. To escape the Molly Ringwald effect and avoid looking like a dowdy old woman, here are some tips on creating your own glamorous and stylish look:

Seek out unique dresses.

With the generic selection carried by most of the shops, it’s worth it to come up with an idea and work with a tailor or designer. You can also take an old dress and spruce it up with some accessories like flowers, brooches and other embellishments. There are also alternative retailers that sell a variety of vintage gowns and other one-of-a-kind pieces like the I Love You Store, Marni’s Room and A Store for All Seasons.

Accessorizing is one of the most fun tasks.

The possibilities are endless and sometimes a little creativity adds the right splash of color or sophistication. As much as diamonds are a girl’s best friend, if we all had the money we would drape like Ms. Monroe. However, there are several other things that don’t cost nearly that much. Have a quick glance around your room and you can find something to give your outfit a little extra ooomph. Touches of lace and satin are always a good way to give a dress a more feminine touch, like adding a lace slip or pinning satin ribbons together as a brooch. For slightly less-fitted dresses, you can highlight your shape by clasping parts of the dress at the waist or the back with pins and band badges, depending on where it’s loose. A thick belt cinched at the waist can also create an hourglass figure, and provide a color contrast to a simple dress. As far as accessories go, don’t be afraid to take risks. After all, it’s how you wear them. I believe the word overkill shouldn’t exist for the most memorable night of your young life.

Hair’s the trick.

Your hairstyle is just as make-or-break as your dress; so be specific about what you want when you go to the salon. Be insistent. I attended a friend’s prom resembling a poodle because I was scared to tell the stylist I didn’t like it. So enforce your taste – it beats wishing for a paper bag on your way out. The updo is still by far the most popular trend but sometimes having your hair down with waves can look romantic and sexy without the mess of pins and hairspray required to keep an updo in place all night.

Get your face paint on.

Doing your own makeup can save you heaps of money and make you look just as good! Check out the sidebar for some tips from the beauty experts on doing your own makeup like a pro.

So don’t feel limited by trends and by what everyone’s going to be wearing. Turn heads in a look all your own without spending too much money. Prom should be treated like the Oscars, so wear something memorable that brings out your confidence and doesn’t leave you cringing over the pictures in the future.

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Store for All Seasons is located at 605 Shaw Boulevard (ground floor of the Conservatory building) in Mandaluyong and is open from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. The I Love You Store is located at 7840 Underground, Pilar Place, Makati Ave., Makati. Contact 0927-5978816 to set an appointment for Marni’s Room.