Shopping
for formal dresses for juniors can be a little daunting particularly if it is one of the first opportunities she has had to really glam
up for an occasion. Lets face it, a junior high school prom or homecoming dance is no fun if you happen to be the
odd one out in the fashion stakes. But whether she is looking for a junior prom dress, pageant dress, bridesmaid outfit or simply
an evening gown for a formal function, young girls need to be careful about not only dressing to suit the occasion
but also to suit their age and body type. Below we list our tips for making the task a little easier for both
mother and daughter.
Formal Dresses for Juniors Buying Tips
Think ahead at least 2 or 3 months before the
occasion to give her more options and make the shopping experience less stressful. Many a bad decision
is made under pressure so avoid this trap by doing some homework well in advance. Looking through
magazines to see what the stars are wearing is excellent research material and may help narrow down
which styles she likes and dislikes.
Every girls worst nightmare is to find someone else
wearing the same dress so if possible, avoid the risk of purchasing an identical dress to her friends
by shopping online or out of town. If you do find a dress locally, confirm that it is a one-off and
that other local dress stores are not stocking the same line.
Establish a budget and be strict about it. Make sure
you allow extra cash for accessories such as shoes, belt, bag, hair accessories and jewellery.
Additional funds for hair and makeup should also be allowed for in calculations. Encourage her to
contribute to the expense by saving money in the months leading up to the event. She will have a
greater sense of pride and satisfaction if she knows she has contributed financially to the success of
the evening.
Dress to suit her age. Juniors will naturally look
older than they are when they put on a formal gown and wear makeup but try to avoid formal dresses
for juniors that are too revealing around the bust or leg area. A modest dress that leaves
much to the imagination will look far more classy and age-appropriate than one with too-high splits and
a plunging neckline.
Dress to suit the occasion. Find out what the dress
code is and adhere to it. Find out if her friends are wearing long formal gowns or shorter cocktail
length dresses. The last thing you want is to have to buy another dress at the last minute because none
of her friends are wearing the length of gown that she has purchased.
Dress to suit her body shape. Juniors are no
different to the rest of the female population and should look for styles that work best for their body
type. For slim figures a sheath style dress will show off her silhouette beautifully. If she is curvy,
look for an A-line dress that will minimize hips and thighs. Larger busted girls look great in halter
necklines. For short stature girls you can avoid having to alter the length of the dress if you go for
a cocktail length dress that looks full length on her. Likewise a party dress style may be the perfect
cocktail length gown on a shorter girl.
Once you have agreed on the style of formal dress,
try on as many versions as you can in different colors and finishes. Look for colors that complement
her skin tones and choose fabrics that hide figure flaws rather than highlighting them. Be mindful that
shiny fabrics may look glamorous on the rack but can also be very unforgiving when it comes to areas of
our body that we would prefer to downplay.
A couple of weeks before the event get her to go
through a full dress rehearsal with shoes, hair and makeup to make sure everything looks and feels
great. Any minor issues can then be addressed ahead of the big night.
Shopping for Formal Dresses for Juniors
Whether you are after winter or summer formal
gowns, long or short evening dresses, a semi-formal cocktail dress or a junior bridesmaid dress, shopping for
formal dresses for juniors does not need to be a nightmare. A
little preparation and research should have your daughter looking and feeling her best on the big day and also keep
your relationship intact.
