Accessorize to Modernize

There are far too many prom-goers who are stuck with hand-me-down items. Even though the prom is one of the biggest high school events of a young person's life it seems that almost a third of students have dresses and tuxedos that belonged to someone before them. Excluding rentals, the thought of previously owned dresses can be one of the worst thoughts for prom-goers. This can even cause thoughts of non-attendance. It can be even worse if your outfit looks like something that has flown directly from the yuck-side of the nineties, or even eighties. The ones who are stuck with hand-me-downs are the ones who feel the worst; I was one of them so I know, but fortunately there is something you can do about this. As long as you have a keen eye for accessories and accessorizing then you are only a few steps away from creating a look of fashionable accordance.

Alteration May Be Your Answer

You may not have the perfect dress, and you may not be wearing exactly what you want to be wearing but the number one rule of dressing to impress is to always accessorize with an emphasis. When you use your accessories to accentuate an outfit, sometimes the accents can overpower and control the outfit. If you are not so happy with your outfit then this may be your main goal. Using your accessories to bring out features that your outfit is lacking can help you to feel more confident in this situation. For example, let's say that your dress has a bit too much frill around the collar and you want to tone it down; either purchase a fashionable scarf made of a soft material and a short necklace of vibrant colors to pull attention away from what's under the scarf or take the dress in for an alteration of the neckline and have the frill removed and the neckline hemmed down. Never underestimate the power of a seamstress.

Alterations can actually make a big difference in the appearance of an outfit without adding any excess. If you have an outfit that is over-sized with a funny cut, then having it altered may actually be your answer. If the material is your issue then finding a way to compliment the design or color is your answer. You can easily create a complimenting look for a strange pattern or design by adding pieces that cover, distract, and engage the entire outfit. Stylish over-coats, long scarves and other encompassing pieces can be the cover-up you need to feel better about your hand-me-downs.