Tips for A Perfect Prom!

OMFG PROM IS COMING!!

Prom night can either be totally amazing or literally scar you for life. There are three main parts to Prom: your date, your dress and your behavior. I’ll show you how to ensure that each aspect is flawless. Read on!

1. Your Date

Junior prom: I was beyond thrilled when my crushed asked me, even though all my friends said he was a twerp. Sure enough, the DAY of prom, he decided liked this other girl, ignored me all night and I cried for about two weeks after. Hellish.

I think he even wore a red tux too :(

Senior prom: The boy I really liked didn’t ask me, but (in a rare moment of good decision making) I said yes when the cute sweet guy asked me. Even though I wasn’t super into him, I decided to just give the good guy a try for once. Turns out, we had the best prom ever. He was so sweet, so gentlemanly, so romantic. It was heavenly. And now, years later, guess which one is hotter, richer, funnier and sexier? YEP, Mr. Senior Prom!

Team Peeta!

The point is: your date can make or break your evening. However, this isn’t Sadie Hawkins–you can’t do the asking. Seriously you can’t. If there’s a boy you really want to go with, be a little extra flirty with him in the weeks leading up to prom. If he is interested in you TRUST ME he will ask you. This is a golden opportunity for him to come after you. If he doesn’t, I hate to say it, but that’s your answer. So if a different  guy asks you, say yes even if he’s not your OMFGDREAMGUY4EVR. He may just be a Peeta.

2. Your Look

• The Dress

Repeat after me: you do not have to spend a ton to look fab on prom night. RentTheRunway has amazing designer dresses that you can borrow for under $60. But make sure that you’re getting a dress in the proper size. No one is going to be checking your tag to see if you’re in a 6 or an 8, so pick what is FLATTERING, even if it’s the size up! Also, make sure it works with your usual style. Hate strapless bras? Don’t get a strapless dress. Why torture yourself? The overall point of your dress is to make you look like a princess, and that happens when you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing. Also, make sure the color flatters your skin tone. Blush, yellow and rose gold are all super cute hues, but not on a pale blondie like me.

All of these styles are from RTR–cheap, cute and Shallon approved :)

• The Shoes

I see SO MANY girls in great dresses, chic hair, flawless makeup…and they’re clomping around like llamas because they can’t walk in their shoes. If heels aren’t your thing don’t wear them. A guy won’t be turned off if you wear cute ballet flats. “Yeah I was going to kiss her but then I was like whaaaatt she’s wearing flats?! Hell no, bro.”–said no guy ever. He will be, however, if you’re hunched over wobbling because you can’t navigate heels. Not hot.If you’re going with heels, PLEASE practice walking in them before hand, on a flat hard surface, not carpeting. But please PLEASE don’t do what I did and change out of your heels and into SNEAKERS during the dance. Holy mother of god what was I thinking.

Yes, my real senior prom photo and YES I REALLY WORE THOSE SHOES WHY SHALLON WHY?!

•  Your body

One word: POSTURE. I know I sound like your mom but seriously, you need to stand up straight–it’s the #1 thing you can to do look skinnier and sexier and more confident. It makes your tummy flat, butt perky, and boobs bigger. And, bonus, it’ll make you seem cooler than every other girl. It Girls stand up straight–always. Check your posture by looking down at your thumbs–are they brushing your thighs? Bad. Roll your shoulders back so that your thumbs point forward–that’s how you know you’re standing up straight and sexy.

Boys find the Olsen twins repellant. Could it be their awful posture?

Next, slather Jergen’s BB Body which will give you a sexy glow and slight shimmer, but not in a skanky strippery way

Now, perfume! Always opt for an expensive fragrance over a cheap drug store one. Sephora has rollerball versions of high-end perfumes (my current fave is Nirvana White by Elizabeth & James) for under $20. Roll it onto your pulse points–wrist, neck, cleavage, behind the knees and nape of your neck, but don’t rub it in, that breaks down the scent molecules. If you put too much on, rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad can get it off!

Your Behavior

When I say the phrases “belle of the ball” or “princess for the evening” what do you picture? A girl who is demure, polite, charming and a little bit mysterious, I bet. You do not picture a girl who is loud, whiny, drunk, slutty or worried about looking fat, do you? NO YOU DON’T.

For each dance I went to (and now, each gala, which are basically grown up proms–so fun) I find a “celebrity spirit animal” to guide me through the evening and boost my confidence. As you may know frommy vids, one of my big tricks to faking confidence is to pick a celeb persona to emulate, click here to watch the video!

For example, I went to the Kentucky Derby last weekend and one of my dresses reminded me of something Hayden Panettiere’s character, Juliette, would wear on Nashville. So I let that vibe come through and semi-pretended to be Juliette Barnes–spunky, feisty, flirty, brazen–throughout the day. Tonight, I’m going to a charity gala and my belted lavender dress is very Kate Middleton so I’m going to be oh so gracious and sweet and polite and warm.

My Kate-esque gown will get me in touch with my inner princess

But some of you may be saying “Ummm why would I want to pretend to be someone else on prom night?” Well relax. We all know that “spirit animal” or no, your authentic personality always shines through, as it should! This is just an idea to help you overcome prom night jitters and have a behavior guide if you’re not used to such a fancy evening with a date. So if there’s a vibe that bubbles up from your dress or your hair, go with it!