How to wear your prom dress after the big day
MANILA, Philippines - So you have every detail set: the makeup, the hair, the date, and most especially the dress. You’re ready to dance the night away and hopefully get the chance to be the royalty of the night. But when the dust settles, a question remains: What are you going to do with that prom dress? You could just leave it in the closet and wait for that next formal event to come along. When that’s over and done with too, what then? Well, you’re in luck as YStyle, with the help of stylish girls around the metro, dishes out ways on how to get more mileage out of your prom dress.
Design it
Channel Project Runway and add a personal touch to a beautiful gown. “My gown was a combination of layers and unfinished edges done in gunmetal,” describes high school football captain Leah Cruz. “I just wanted to see how far I could go in bringing out the Betsy Johnson in me!” Fun doesn’t have to end when prom does. Pile on prints, add on fabric scraps and just have fun with it. Don’t hesitate to add color, too. The pink stockings and colorful chunky bracelets Leah donned brought the playful dress design to even greater heights.
Transform it
“My prom dress had an intricate design made of feathers, Swarovski crystals and electric pleated chiffon,” high school senior Zian Seranilla reminisces. With a dress that’s as close to Disney as you can get, what’s a girl to do? Focus on the torso and churn out a party-ready corset. Match it with a pair of high-waist trousers and you’re set to go from corporate to party; just throw on a blazer. Word of caution: use the train for party purposes only.
Hack it
Raise the hemline and make that dress cocktail (or even party) appropriate. “It was originally floor-length so I had to chop most of the skirt off,” college student Mari Mantaring shares. “And with that done, I was able to use it for family events, parties and even as a costume for an ’80s-themed party!” Yes, with just a few casual accessories, you’ve got yourself a great go-to party dress.
Layer it
Follow the lead of off-duty models and pair grunge with glam. Revel in the floor-sweeping length of your dress and be très chic without looking too dolled up. It also helps to go minimalist in your choice of attire. A simple column gown helps set you apart from the crowd and sets you up for other events as well. “It was simple but my dress turned out to be so versatile that I can layer anything over it, from shirts to blazers, and play with both the skirt and sleeve length,” says Shey Collado, a performer. With just a few tweaks, make street meet chic in the most amazing way.
Rework it
If you’re looking for a complete 180-degree makeover, turn that skirt into a pair of glamorous pants and go from femme to homme in a snap. “When you’ve got a shiny gown, it just screams prom no matter what you do,” model Niki Francisco laments. “It’s a good thing harem pants made a comeback.” Work that sheen and whip up a pair of harem pants fit for both day and night.
Rock it
Why apologize for the flounce of your dress? “Yes, my dress is ballet-inspired,” high school student Leesee Bayaborda admits. “While I wanted to reuse it, I didn’t want to alter it, so I just channeled my inner rockstar and piled on the metal.” Follow Leesee’s lead and go Black Swan casual by adding off-kilter accessories to your otherwise formal confection.
