Every girl dreams of making a splash at her Senior Prom but a red mini cocktail dress? Is that really appropriate? Of course it is! It’s prom. It’s supposed to be fun – not stuffy. And if you feel comfortable and carefree in a red mini cocktail dress, then by all means, that’s what you should wear.
Of course, your mother may disagree and your dad will probably try to lock you in your room. A red dress does have a certain reputation, after all. And your parents are already worried about what’s going to happen while you’re out tonight. So parading around in a red mini cocktail dress might give them reason to panic, that’s for sure.
Your parents would probably prefer you’d chosen one of those pretty white prom dresses but, hey, it’s not every girl who can pull of wearing a red dress. So lucky you! Go for it!
As for being appropriate, there are certain things you can do to make a red dress look a little more classy, instead of just being in-you-face bold.
Choose a non-shiny fabric. A red satin dress will leave you looking like a big, shiny Christmas ornament and if you don’t have a perfect figure to begin with, all that shininess just highlights your curves in all the wrong places. You want to look dramatic and glamorous in red – not like you just stepped out of the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
A mini-dress for prom is one thing, but a micro-mini is pushing it. This may be the 21st Century but there are still a few etiquette rules in place. A prom is supposed to be an introduction to adulthood, your first formal party. If you can’t take a breath without everything you own sticking out under your dress then it’s entirely too short for prom.
Go easy on the razzle dazzle, too. Trust me, a red mini-cocktail dress is going to attract plenty of attention at prom. You don’t need to add to it by adding in big, sparkly earrings and an armful of bangles. A cocktail dress, no matter the color, is generally a tasteful, classic design that works well all by itself.
Now, what to do when the parents put the collective feet down and insist you go with one of those white prom dresses? Well, you could dye it red but it would probably end up looking pretty tacky. Instead, if red’s your color and you absolutely must have it for prom, go with tons of red accessories. Red, opera length gloves are classic and would make a bold statement against a white prom dress. Add some red earrings and maybe a red tiara and you’re set. Oh, and tell the boyfriend you want red roses and a white one shoulder dress!
Is A Red Mini Cocktail Dress Appropriate For The Prom?
Whether it’s an off shoulder black dress or a turtleneck, every girl needs at least one white one shoulder dress and one red mini dress. In fact, it’s the most important dress you have in your closet and you’ll never go wrong when you wear it to a party. Dress it up, dress it down, add a necklace or a belt. Wear it with a jacket or without, dangling earrings or a necklace – one little black dress can get you through all of your holiday parties. All you have to do is use your imagination.
Why black? Oh, there are so many reasons black is the perfect color! The number one reason of course is because black is slimming. Everyone looks thinner in black. But it’s also an elegant color, it looks classy and sophisticated.
Black is also easy to accessorize because every other color looks dramatic when displayed against a black background. Which makes it easy to hide the fact that you’re wearing the same little black dress to every party you go to. Wear a shiny, gold jacket one night and a bright red silk scarf the next and nobody realizes you’re wearing the same dress.
Choosing a style you can easily accessorize is important. The dress has to look good no matter what you’re wearing with it. One option is an off shoulder little black dress. When you wear a jacket no one realizes you’re wearing a shoulder-baring dress so it looks completely different the next night when you wear your hair up and accessorize with a sparkly pair of earrings.
Black long sleeve dresses are another good option. Long sleeves are always elegant anyway and you can dress them up even more with gold and silver bangle bracelets. Or for a little more casual look you can push the sleeves up a little on your arms and completely change the look of the dress. In fact, a long sleeve black dress can take you from the office, to dinner, to a holiday party without ever having to stop at home and change.
You really can get through all your holidays with one good quality dress. The key is to buy one that looks good without any additional adornment. You know if it looks great without accessories it will look even better when you add a jacket or a scarf or a big chunky necklace.
Since a little black dress is always appropriate, no matter the length or cut, choose a style and length in which you feel comfortable in an elegant, easy-care fabric. But make sure it’s good quality fabric that will hold it’s shape and color. Nothing looks worse than a faded black dress that droops where it should be clinging!