Prom night is something that most students look forward to as it represents the culmination of their high school years; it’s a magical moment where they get to dress up, have tons of fun, and celebrate all the wonderful memories they’ve made as they get ready to step into the next chapter of their lives. Some are so excited about attending prom that they start preparing for this highly anticipated event months in advance.
Hollywood has rolled out so many movies featuring remarkable makeovers and iconic prom scenes over the years that prom transformation can be considered a genre in its own right. It’s no wonder teens these days have such high expectations for their prom experience – and that also implies wearing a stunning outfit that’s going to make everyone’s jaws drop to the floor.
Since your own child is probably not going to settle for anything less than spectacular, you might have to step up your game as well and provide the assistance they require. After all, shopping for a prom dress or suit is not the same as searching for a pair of jeans. Also, teens are not exactly known for their patience, or being able to keep their emotions in check and make rational decisions, so your role as a parent is to provide guidance and help them find their perfect prom outfit in any way you can – beyond the obvious financial contribution.
Decide on a budget
Speaking of finances, let’s start with the least exciting part of the process, namely deciding on a budget. Prom may be a unique occasion that requires special attire, but that's no reason to spend an absurd amount of money on a dress that’s going to end up forgotten in a closet. At the same time, while you can find beautiful gowns at all price points, prom dresses are known to be quite pricey, at least the ones that are of good quality. Designs that are made of luxurious materials like natural silk and satin, or those that feature more intricate detailing, are bound to have a higher price tag.
Setting a budget from the get-go ensures you’ll be able to strike a balance between costs and wants. By deciding how much you can afford to spend on a dress, you will narrow down your options and avoid endless discussions and disagreements. This might also be a great opportunity to teach your child about financial responsibility and the value of money.
Start the search early
When it comes to searching for the dream prom gown for your child, you don’t want to leave things to the last minute. So, if your teen is not great with time management, you should be the one to step in and plan shopping sessions well in advance.
This way, you’ll avoid the rush and stress, and have enough time to explore your options calmly – and there are quite a few since prom dresses come in a wide variety of styles, fabrics, and colors, from elegant floor-length gowns to simple A-line designs, classic mermaid dresses, or modern two-piece ensembles. Your kid will probably want to try out all sorts of different outfits in order to decide which style suits them best.
An early start also allows you to hunt for deals, which makes it more likely to find great prom dresses at reasonable prices. Most importantly, you need to factor in potential alterations when planning your schedule.
Consider your child’s style
Knowing what your teen likes and dislikes will make the search process so much easier and enjoyable. If you’re not up to speed with their style preferences, you can simply ask, and they’ll surely be more than happy to clue you in and describe their vision for their perfect prom outfit. For teenagers, wearing clothes that express their individuality is extremely important, and the same goes for prom attire.
You’ll be a lot more helpful if you already know what to search for instead of looking at random dresses and constantly having to ask them if they like this or that. You can also split up and look for dresses separately if you need to speed things up.
Respect their wishes
What starts as a simple dress search can bring to the surface inter-generational conflicts. You may come to realize that you and your teen have very different standards and opinions regarding what’s appropriate to wear to a prom, and that’s perfectly understandable, but you need to be careful not to turn your differences into a source of dispute.
You might disagree with many (or all) of the dress options they choose, but you should resist the temptation to impose your own ideas and desires, or force them to do something they’re not comfortable with. Your teen is an autonomous being with their own thoughts, feelings, and personality who’s going to be an adult soon. They should have the freedom to choose for themselves, as long as their wishes are sensible, so try to be supportive and provide gentle guidance when necessary.
Follow the dress code
If the school has decided on a certain theme or dress code for the prom, you should use that as your starting point. When you and your teen go shopping, make sure you take these requirements into consideration and look for outfits that align with the specific dress code. While some might see this as restrictive, it can also serve as an opportunity for your teen to express their creativity.
Themed parties are great fun as they offer an escape from the ordinary and make the entire event more engaging, so you and your child can have a blast while exploring outfits. As a sidenote, make sure that your teen also thinks about comfort when choosing what they’re going to wear to the prom, since they’ll spend many hours in that outfit – most of them on the dance floor
