16 year old Daughter and prom outfit - Help or advice please!!

[crazypippa]

My daughter's prom is coming up soon. Now I have a daughter who is not your conventional "loves dressing up girl". She is very individual and does not like wearing dresses or make up at all. However her prom is coming up and I know, deep down she would like to go but the idea of dressing up etc is turning her off going. Can anyone advise me of any good places where, perhaphs she might be able to get something different yet (still feminine) for the prom such as a nice trouser suit All suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

[chocoluvva]

"a nice trouser suit" would probably make her stand out a mile.

Sorry, if this is off the mark, but I was thinking there are lots of lacy tops in the shops at the moment. Worn with black trousers and very fancy shoes. Shops like Schuh have some amazing shoes - some of them are downright theatrical.

[crazypippa]

Thanks chocoluvva for suggestion appreciated. I know what you mean when you she will stand out that's what I'm worried about. But she really does not like getting dressed up, high heels etc. she is extremely conservative.

[Tortington]

the one and only time my daughter wore a dress was to her prom

she doesn't regret it - I would urge her to re-think the idea.

she will stand out a mile in a trouser suit

however - for some ideas - ebay

for actual suit - try wedding shops - she could maybe hire a smart 3 piece - they might do fitting, she will get the whole fitting / shopping experience.

maybe think about accessories - a nice cane? a trilby, the waistcoat pattern - the colour
careful not to veer into fancy dress though

my eldest son went in a 3 piece with trilby and cane - he looked excellent

[chocoluvva]

Would she wear a long dress with sleeves maybe - if it was long enough her shoes would be hidden.

[titchy]

Think we need an idea of her normal style - she needs to feel comfortable in what she wears!

When you say she's extremely conservative what do you mean? Jeans and jumper? Skirt and blouse? Both can be jazzed up a little into 'prom-suitable'.

[hillyhilly]

Try tk maxx, huge variety of all sorts of dresses all in one place. Go early so it's tidy and try as many on as you can persuade her to. That way you'll get a good feel for what she does or doesn't like or suit.

[Jaskla]

I wasn't one for wearing dresses and heels when I was that age but I wore one as I would rather have done that then stand out - every other girl wore a dress so she would probably be the only one in trousers.

I went shopping with a group of friends which helped as I could see the types of things others were getting. Is that an option for her?

[Mrscupcake23]

I really don't think trousers are suitable. She will really stand out.

Could she bit wear a dress and flat shoes ? Have seen girls in long dresses and dr martins before.

[Chopchopbusybusy]

DD1 is not a girly girl and lives in jeans, t shirts and converse. I was dreading prom dress shopping, but we went to a hire shop and it was really easy. She hired a long dress and so the shoes weren't so important and she wore flat sandals which couldn't really be seen under the dress. The woman in the shop was helpful as I'm a bit like DD in my taste in clothes so I wasn't a great help. I wouldn't recommend that she goes in trousers. I think she'll look really out of place.

[purpleroses]

Could you take her and a friend shopping together for something to wear? You could combine it with taking them out for a cake/coffee and a bit of general browsing around. It might be a friend's reassurance she needs more than yours tbh.

I recently took DSD and a friend shopping for party dresses. DSD's friend was quite uncomfortable about the idea of wearing a dress (never normally does) but together they were able to share ideas and DSD helped her find one she was happy to buy.

[Badvoc]

What about a rock a billy 1950s funky dress?

[Xiaoxiong]

Ok I am not 16 but I've just been re-watching Buffy. Willow always dresses in dungarees and converse but when she goes to prom she wears this: a black dress with a high neck. Conservative, classy and feminine?

[Nehru]

they dont have to be high heels and short skirts

some girls look really beautiful in maxi dresses and glittery sandals

[slug]

Any ideas here? Personally I would wear converse with many of these dresses.

[dexter73]

My dd doesn't like high heels so she has bought these to wear to her prom. She is wearing a long dress so you will hardly be able to see them.

[nilbyname]

I wore a flippy black strappy dress with a cobwebby shawl and black 18 hole dr martins! I was totally "me" but totally fitted into the prom scence.

Also like the idea of a 50's style dress, could be worn with flats and any sort of up do?

[TheWave]

Does she know if everyone's wearing long dresses or shortish?

Loads of short ones out there to try on but could be a wasted trip if looking for long as they mostly seem to be online.

[mrsjay]

this is where my dd first got into dresses was her prom she was 18 though when she went to hers so maybe a little more confident, try prom dresses uk,(googgle it) dd got hers there and loads of different styles dd wasn't a dress girl either, also vivian of holloway has alternative dresses that are lovely,

[mrsjay]

dd also had a pashmina she wore with her dress she hated bare arms

[crazypippa]

Many thanks Everyone for all your advice I will certainly take some on board, my daughter is a tee shirt, jeans converse girl and just does not want to stand out. She is very, very shy. I like idea of long dress and flat shoes. Here goes, will try and talk to her again.

[Wishiwasanheiress]

Hmmm well she could go the Lilly Allen way of dressing ; prom frock and dm boots in a patent/colour?

Or all saints? Look at the website and try to find look in other shops.

Or copy a look from a popstar? H&m do great copies of stuff. A trouser suit can look very cool. Keisha has worn a few very patterned/colourful ones recently that she looked the bomb in. H&m are doing cheaper versions.

[Wishiwasanheiress]

Rockabilly look would be fab. There's lots of vids on YouTube of dressing/hair/make up.

[KatieScarlett2833]

DD had a v plain black halter jumpsuit. She looked elegant and amazing, think it was from Oasis.

[Hitchcock1968]

My daughter is the same, she doesn't really do the whole dressing up and make up thing. But we found some quirky dresses online by hell bunny and also 50's rock style dresses, which weren't normal but are totally my daughters style, she has ended up with a short 50's punk dress with a material made to look like playing cards. Although she doesn't like girly stuff, she loves this dress. With it we have a short petticoat and she designed her own converses because she doesn't wear heels :)