THE PERFECT PROM GOWN.Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer ONE WEEKDAY afternoon, three girls from Woodland Hills set aside thoughts of study groups and class projects and devoted themselves to the springtime ritual of prom-gown shopping. At Cache, a boutique that clearly thrives on prom-season business, Marybel Perez, a Taft High School junior, and Jazmin Zamora, a junior from El Camino Real El Camino Real (Spanish for The Royal Road or The King's Highway) was the name of a series of pre-automobile highways linking the various New World colonies of Spain:
This could be the one. Could be. Jordana, an El Camino junior, didn't buy it, but she put it on hold. Whenever they make their choices, Jordana, Marybel and Jazmin will be doing their part toward the $3 billion a year spent by girls or their parents on gussying up for the big school dance. ``It's a special occasion, a one-time event, and they're spending for it,'' said Dami Heinz, a manager at Ames boutique in Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga in Canoga Park. ``The moms are complaining because they're spending more on their daughters' prom dresses than they did on their own wedding gowns.'' Heinz and Cache manager Tanya Wong agreed that color is big this season, from sweet baby blues and pinks to hot oranges and fuchsias. Ombre om·bre also om·ber or hom·bre n. A card game, played by three players with 40 cards, that was popular in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. - dying variations from light to dark in the same color - is popular, and the most common fabrics are silky satin, crisp organza or·gan·za n. A sheer, stiff fabric of silk or synthetic material used for trimming, neckwear, or evening dresses. [Probably after Organzi (Urganch), a city of western Uzbekistan. and wispy wisp n. 1. A small bunch or bundle, as of straw, hair, or grass. 2. a. One that is thin, frail, or slight. b. A thin or faint streak or fragment, as of smoke or clouds. 3. chiffon chiffon (shĭfŏn`), plain-weave, lightweight, sheer, transparent fabric made of cotton, silk, or synthetic fiber; it is made of fine, highly twisted, strong yarn. . ``Black is the all-time classic, but this season it's all about color,'' Heinz said. ``They want to stand out. Girls are not shy these days.'' ``I just want the whole sexy look - a lot of skin,'' said Jazmin, working with a budget of $500 to $700 for the El Camino and Polytechnic high school proms. She said schools usually issue some wardrobe guidelines - ``not too much midriff midriff /mid·riff/ (-rif) the diaphragm; the region between the breast and waistline. mid·riff n. See diaphragm. , not too much cleavage'' - but she has yet to hear of anyone being turned away at the door for her attire. Big flouncy bows on the hip or shoulder were very '80s and early '90s. Bows are back, but this year they are small, often pressed, and poised at the waist or just below the bust on an empire-style dress. Think Audrey Hepburn in the early '60s. While most girls are going for the floor-length look, shorter styles have their own flirtatious flir·ta·tious adj. 1. Given to flirting. 2. Full of playful allure: a flirtatious glance. flir·ta appeal, such as graceful ribbon-trimmed chiffon handkerchief hems or modern-day homages to full-skirted cocktail dresses of the '50s. Also in vogue are gently pleated and folded bodices, double layered skirts and ribbons that crisscross up the side or back. Bursts of clear sequins and multicolored beading beading, n the scribing of a shallow groove (less than 0.5 mm in width or depth) on a cast that outlines the major connector. It is used to transfer the design to the investment cast and ensure tissue contact of the major connector. are also popular. Regular retailers' prices range from $150 to $400 or more for nondesigner gowns. One advantage to the mall method: Stores like Cache and Ames will keep track of who bought which outfit for what prom, reducing the chances of seeing your dress on another partygoer. And trying it before buying gives a prospective prom queen the chance to rate its comfort. (Don't be afraid to dance in the store to see how well you and the dress move together.) Online resources include www.egowns.com, which carries more conventional styles, www.alycedesigns.com and www.promfashionsusa.com, featuring more unusual looks. When comparing an online price to that of a bricks-and-mortar merchant, remember to figure in shipping and allow a little extra time and money for alterations if needed. Girls who wear plus sizes should check out online retailer Sydney's Closet (www.sydneyscloset.com). Created by Phyllis Brasch Librach two years ago after she failed to find a formal dress for her own ``curvy'' teenage daughter, Sydney's Closet offers a wide range of dress styles for girls and women who wear sizes 14 to 44. ``Our mantra is no more muumuus,'' Librach says. ``We believe that teenage girls that wear plus sizes should have as many or more choices of fabulous formals as do their skinny friends.'' And if one's date is not long-term commitment material? Consider renting the gown. One Night Affair in West Los Angeles
adj. Having no strap or straps, as a dress or an undergarment. n. A garment having no strap or straps. strapless Adjective bras, shoes and purses - for lease. Dress prices run $45 to $175 with the average around $100. ``They're going for all the sherbet sher·bet n. 1. also sher·bert A frozen dessert made primarily of fruit juice, sugar, and water, and also containing milk, egg white, or gelatin. 2. Chiefly British A beverage made of sweetened diluted fruit juice. pastels - the pinks, the oranges, the lime greens - a lot of high slits, low cuts, low backs,'' said owner Sharon Gilchrist Sharon Gilchrist is an American mandolinist, bassist and singer specializing in bluegrass music. She was born and raised in Southlake, Texas. In the 80's, together with her brother Troy and the sisters Martie and Emily Erwin she played in a bluegrass band called Blue Night Express. , noting many prom shoppers arrive with magazine photo spreads from the Academy Awards in hand. ``And even though everybody loves all the colors, the majority go with black,'' she said. ``It's always slimming, it's always glamorous. These girls are little size 6s and they still want to look thin, thin, thin.'' Consignment shops such as Couture Exchange and Suzanne's resale boutique, both in Studio City, are another option. Remember: It's not old, it's ``vintage.'' Marybel, the Taft High School junior, was enjoying shopping with her friends, but she is not picking a new gown for herself this year. ``I already have four dresses'' - hand-me-downs from two older sisters who wear her size. ``The dresses I have nobody's going to have - they're, like, so two years ago - but they're gorgeous.'' But she still is fueling the local prom economy to attend dances for Crespi Carmelite High School Crespi Carmelite High School is a private, Roman Catholic, all-male, four-year college preparatory high school located in Encino, California in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. and El Camino Real. ``I'm going to be spending, like, $250 - on hair, makeup, nails and toes.'' Valerie Kuklenski, (818) 713-3750 valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com Prom particulars Need a frock that rocks but don't have the time to shop before prom night? Check out the cool clicks below: --www.promspot.com - Tips galore! This one-stop online shop will help you find a dress, fix your hair and book a limo. Fun quizzes, advice columns and helpful hints for fashion-challenged guys round out this site. --www.prom.com - This search engine promises to help you locate the best deals on everything prom, from shoes to gowns, tuxedos and even hair salons. --www.promadvice.com - Created by the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, this site dispenses advice and tracks prom trends, including the newest in cosmetics, accessories, dresses and themes. Guys Corner features handy pics of various tuxedo styles that you can download and take with you to the local mall. --www.sydneyscloset.com - Girls who wear sizes 14 and up need look no further than this site. Created by a mom whose own ``curvy'' teenage daughter was fashion starved for flattering styles, this site provides all the prom essentials, including dresses, accessories, shoes and more. Short on time? Check out the Dresses Ready to Ship section. Rush orders are available, too. - Sherry Joe Crosby CAPTION(S): 5 photos, box Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) 1. Alyce Designs' prom style 6388 silk features mermaid beading with a sweetheart neckline neckline The line that connects the two lowest points on the intermediate declines of a head-and-shoulders chart pattern. In an inverted head-and-shoulders formation, the neckline connects the two intermediate tops. ; comes in coral, white, blue radiance, capri, purple and black, sizes 0-22. (3 -- color) 2. Alyce Designs' special occasions style 8550 is in fully beaded silk chiffon with sweetheart neckline and train; in black, new aubergine (jargon) aubergine - A secret term used to refer to computers in the presence of computerphobic third parties. and cobalt, sizes 2-20. (4 -- color) 3. Sydney's Closet's Carmen Carmen throws over lover for another. [Fr. Lit.: Carmen; Fr. Opera: Bizet, Carmen, Westerman, 189–190] See : Faithlessness Carmen the cards repeatedly spell her death. [Fr. ball gown-style dress has a dropped-waist bodice in matte satin with red roses over black tulle Tulle (t  l, Fr. tül), town (1990 pop. 18,685), capital of Corrèze dept., S central France. Firearms and other goods are made there. Tulle was built around a 7th-century monastery. ; tulle shawl included; $249.99. (5 -- color) 4. Faux-corset-detailed dress with full skirt by Jessica McClintock flatters many figures. Photo by Brian Sanderson Box: Prom particulars (see text) |
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