So, do you have a school dance to go to and no clue how to doll up (aka, make yourself even more pretty than you already are)? You’ve come to the right place! Kgirl is here, and I’m ready to help you out with some fashion advice for semi-formals.
Dress: If you are going to a semi-formal school dance (like boys are wearing button-down shirts or ties), you’ll need a cute dress. If you go to a big department store, you’ll find a lot of them, but they’ll be expensive. Instead of heading right toward the $200 dress on the mannequin, check out the sale racks. You can find awesome dresses for $20-$50.
Vintage is always hip, so don’t forget about secondhand stores (also called thrift or consignment shops)! These places get clothes that people don’t want anymore for cheap. But, just because someone doesn’t want it any more doesn’t mean it won’t look fabulous on YOU!
Kgirl tip: Stay away from shoulder pads, ruffles, dresses with chokers, and a lot of lace or velvet—better yet, just stay away from all dresses worn by girls in the 1980s! Choose a dress that flatters YOUR body and makes you feel like dancin’!
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Accessories: Don’t go too matchy-matchy! Choose a necklace and bracelet, bracelet and dangly earrings, or necklace and earrings, but don’t do all three. You don’t want your jewelry to take away from your fabulous dress! Find for fun and unique jewelry in all different colors at places at the mall like Claire’s (one of my fave shops!).
Carry a small bag that compliments your dress—you don’t want to be lugging around one of those huge hobo bags! Try a small clutch instead (which is a purse without straps—you’d have to hold it) that is just big enough to carry the essentials like lip gloss, extra elastics, safety pins (you never know), bobby pins, some money, and a little mirror with some powder.
Kgirl tip: Feeling adventurous? Skip the standard silver and gold and try out jewelry in other colors, like deep green, amber, or red—just make sure it doesn’t clash with your outfit!
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Shoes: Semi-formal events mean you might be able to wear heels with your dress. Try ½ to 1-inch heels, kitten heels, or even flats at department and those discount warehouse stores. If it’s a dancing event, you MUST wear comfortable in your shoes! Always make sure your shoes are the right size—shoes that are too big or too small make for painful blisters!
Make your shoes more comfy by wearing them around the house for a few days before the dance. You’ll get used to the way they feel and feel more confident in walking and dancing in them. Also, you might want to go outside and rub the bottom of your shoes against the rough pavement. This will scuff them up a little and make it less likely for you to slip and fall on the floor! Oh, and a Kgirl pet peeve—taking your shoes off at the dance might be more comfortable, but it totally makes your outfit look unfinished… plus, bare feet on the dance floor? Gross!
Kgirl tip: If your shoes pinch your toes or heel, try wearing thick socks with them around the house. This stretches them out a bit and your dancing feet will be ready to move!
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Makeup: If you wear makeup, use a little bit of mascara and tinted lip gloss, and you’re good to go! A small amount of glittery eye shadow is also cool and will make your eyes look even prettier than they already are. Matching nail polish and toe polish can be the perfect accent to your look, but consider natural nails if polish makes your outfit look too busy.
In my fashion-conscious opinion, I’d say skip heavy makeup like foundation, blush, lipstick, eyeliner, and even self-tanner. You want to be comfortable in the way you look—not running to the bathroom every five minutes to touch up or make sure you don’t have lipstick on your teeth!
Kgirl tip: Bring a compact of pressed powder that matches your skin tone in your purse. That way, once you work up a sweat at the dance, you really can go “powder your nose” and keep shine at bay.
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Hair: Work with what you’ve got! Think about which style looks and feels the best with your hair—then think about how you can make that a bit fancier! Overdoing it with gallons of hairspray and gel just looks way too forced for me. Soft waves, controlled curls, or straightened hair looks VERY elegant with a pretty barrette or glittery pins.
Or, you can go a bit dramatic (hello, Maeve) and have your mom or your sister do an “up-do” in your hair. That’s when all your hair is up off your neck, but it’s not just thrown into a pony tail (hello, Avery). It can include tiny braids or twists or curls pinned all over to create a very polished look.
Kgirl tip: Simplest up-do? Try the “pony-do”! Pull your hair in a high pony tail making and fasten with an elastic. Then, take a small piece of the pony tail from the bottom and wrap it around so that it covers the elastic. Finally, fasten it with a bobby pin, and voila! A fabulous “pony-do!”
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It's a nice shade of pink, and it smells good, too! 
