WOODBURY  – With senior prom planning in the swing of things, girls at Nonnewaug have been on the hunt for the perfect prom dress. 

Students have been given the anticipated prom date of May 22, 2021. Although many details about this year’s prom are still unknown, more information will be revealed soon by the Senior Class Council. 

With the announcement of prom 2021 still happening, students’ excitement has been rising. Because last year’s prom was canceled due to the pandemic, this will be the Class of 2021’s first and only prom, and many are taking it very seriously. 

NHS senior Victoria Canonico experienced trouble after last year’s prom cancellation. “… It was unfortunate because I had already put a down payment on a dress, so I never finished paying it off. However this year, now that prom is happening, I am going to use that down payment on the last dress to pay for a new one for senior year.”

Some girls would probably say that the prom dress is the most important part of their prom experience. 

I have had a lot of experience with dress stores and gowns of all kinds as Miss CT. I have had to buy a multitude of gowns, jumpsuits, and cocktail dresses for various events, everything from the evening gown competition to photo shoots to local pageants. 

But we are here to find the perfect dress for YOU!

Color

You have to think about what color you want. First, ask yourself, “what are my favorite colors?” Once you shorten the list, what colors from that list compliment your skin tone and hair color? You may think these things don’t matter, but trust me they do. 

Hair color 

If you have darker hair, like brown and black shades, opt for black, white, jewel tones, and pastels. You can really do anything with darker hair, but be mindful of your skin tone. 

Blondes can get away with many colors, but the best ones are blue, pink, red, black, and green. Also, stay towards pastels and less of jewel tones. 

To my redheads – you can wear any pastel, but mostly pink, blue, and green. Some girls even look really good in yellow, depending on your skin tone. 

Skin Tone

Take a look at the inside of your wrist. If you have blue or purple veins, you are a cool tone. Greenish looking veins means you are a warm tone, and purple or light green colored veins are neutral tones.

If you can’t figure out your skin tone from veins, ask yourself whether you lean towards gold or silver jewelry more? Those who prefer gold would be warm, silver would be cool, and neutral can wear both. 

Cool tones should stay away from super light pinks and cream-colors. Unless you are tan, light colors might wash you out. 

Warm skin tones can really wear anything, especially lighter colors. Darker olives, browns, or corals are especially complimentary on warm tones. 

Neutrals are very lucky because you can truly get away with any color.

Style

There are many options for a prom dress: A-line, ball gown, mermaid, sheath, empire, or fitted. There are also different fabrics: jersey knit, chiffon, taffeta, tulle, or brocade. 

You should do some online research before you go in to try on gowns. First, take a look at many sites to find inspiration, trends, and ideas. Next, go in person and try on a wide variety of styles to really figure it out. 

Don’t follow social norms because everybody is different; wear what you want and what you feel beautiful in. In the end, you are the one that has to feel beautiful and have fun at prom. 

Accessories 

Accessories are always a fun way to accentuate your personality and style. Done well, accessories can ‘make or break’ your look! 

Necklaces are a great accessory if done right. It all depends on the neckline of your chosen dress. If you have a halter neck or higher neckline, you definitely don’t want to wear a necklace; you can switch it out for bracelets or bigger earrings. 

Shoes

Let’s talk about shoes – my favorite thing! You want to be very careful and thoughtful when picking a shoe; be careful to consider not just the way it looks, but also its comfort level. First and foremost, make sure you are comfortable; there is nothing worse than when a girl in heels can’t walk or needs to take off her shoes to dance and have fun.

Especially during the Covid-era when many proms will be held at outdoor venues, you need to be cautious when picking a shoe. You should anticipate having to walk on grass, dirt, and stone pavers, so opt for a thicker heel so you don’t sink. If you don’t plan on going outside, a stiletto is always a favorite. 

Next, you want to consider if your shoes will show based on your hemline. For example, if your dress has a slit or is a high-low style, your shoes will be more important than you think. 

You can either opt for a neutral shoe like nude or black, match your dress color and shoes perfectly, choose a pop of color to pair with a simpler dress, or opt for a sparkly shoe to add something more to your look. 

Also, if you don’t want to wear heels – don’t! Wear sandals, crocs, war boots – it is all about you, your comfort level, and what makes you feel your best! 

Shopping

With a bit of dress expertise under my belt, I have a list of stores to choose from. These stores carry a wide variety of dress styles, colors, sizes, and price ranges, from designers like the well-known Sherri Hill and Jovani to smaller brands such as Blush Prom and Clarisse. 

Atianas Boutique, 1571 Boston Post Rd, Milford, CT 06460, https://www.atianasboutique.com/ 

Dynamite Designs, 300 Church St, Wallingford, CT 06492, https://www.dynamiteboutique.com/ 

Sabrina Style, 4 Washington Ave, Sandy Hook, CT 06482, https://www.sabrinastyle.com/ 

Bangle Dress Shop, 48 N Main St, Southington, CT 06489, https://bangle.buzz/ 

New York Dress (online), https://www.newyorkdress.com/ 

Peaches Boutique (online), https://www.peachesboutique.com/ 

Prom Girl (online), https://www.promgirl.com/ 

Lulus (online), https://www.lulus.com/ 

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help! My Instagram is @lindiana.frangu and I would be happy to help you decide or give you advice. 

I am Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen 2019 and 2020. I started competing at the age of 13. The Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen competition consists of an interview, talent, fitness and evening gown, and onstage question. I won the community service award and overall talent at my state competition. My social initiative platform is “Breast Cancer Awareness- Helping Families Cope”, which focuses on helping families cope with the emotions that come with a cancer diagnosis. My favorite part about being Miss CT is giving back to others and the  community service we do, from dancing with senior citizens at a nursing home to seeing the smile on a little girl’s face when I would place my crown on her head. This job is not only an opportunity to learn and grow, but also an opportunity to advocate for what you find important and be a role model for the people around you.