Shopping for a formal gown is unlike shopping for anything else. It is a major purchase with the intention of wearing it to a very specific event. Most people don’t buy a formal gown just because. But does the thought of dress shopping have you cringing? So many women have less than stellar experiences while shopping for a formal gown and most end up feeling deflated or disappointed at some point during the dress shopping process.
I’m going to share with you my 5 Secrets to Successful Gown Shopping, every time! I always have the best experiences while shopping for a formal dress and it’s because I follow these 5 bits of advice, every single time.
These 5 secrets work for ANY type of event.
Whether you are attending a wedding, a gala, a captain’s dinner, a military ball, homecoming, prom or you are a pageant contestant. These 5 pieces of advice will help you to find the perfect gown with the least amount of stress.
Are you ready? Here we go!
1. Establish a vision and define the look
Imagine yourself at your event. What word comes to mind?
Is it glamorous? Sexy? Conservative? Vintage? Maybe modern or chic?
Think about what you want others to see when they look at you. What side of yourself are you wanting to show? Is it fun and playful, or refined and sophisticated? Is it laidback and carefree or is it your eye-catching bombshell side?
For the event I’m shopping for today I envisioned a conservative yet understated sexy look with a 1940s vintage vibe. I wanted it to say “I’m smart and modest but also a little sexy.” What that description translated into was something fitted (but not tight) with no sparkles and no cleavage.
Spend some time thinking about how you want to be remembered. After you’ve established your vision and defined your look, it’ll be much easier to find a dress that expresses it.
2. Browse online first
When you have your vision in mind, browse the internet to see what might fit your look.
Now do not fall into a scroll-hole!! Stay focused on what you’re looking for. I like to always check the stores I’m interested in visiting to see if they’re actually worth visiting. When it comes to formal gowns, I typically always shop at either Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s or Macy’s. Be aware that every store will be a different experience. From the level of customer service to the designer selection and price points, it is helpful to be aware of before shopping.
3. Schedule your shopping trip
Plan your dress shopping in advance. Having a scheduled day to look forward to allows you time to prepare, mentally and physically. I like to plan about a week out, giving me time to invite family or a close friend who will undoubtedly give you their valuable second opinion.
And since we know well in advance when we will go dress hunting, it is best to prepare the night before. Doing things like taking a good shower and prepping your hair are advised.
What I mean by a good shower is while you are in there, be sure to take time to moisturize and exfoliate! Exfoliate your face, exfoliate your body and clean your feet with grating and buffing tool. Exfoliating really helps to smooth your skin by removing the dead upper layer, leaving your skin all soft and glowy. Plus smoother skin makes for a better makeup application!
I also always paint my nails and style my hair the night before. Touching up my hair in the morning frees up extra time to eat a hearty filling breakfast!
Speaking of the morning time be sure to plan your morning to include full makeup. You want to have the best idea of what you’ll truly look like for that big event and by taking the time to do your makeup really is a game changer! However, a word of caution – you should definitely be using a setting spray! I know you are always careful while putting on that dress but using a setting spray adds a little extra security.
Using a setting spray ensures that you keep your makeup on your face (where it should stay!)
4. What you wear while shopping matters
I like to plan my shopping outfit in advance. I do this because it matters. Each item of clothing serves a different purpose and all adds up to your having the best possible shopping experience while hunting for a dress or gown.
Here are my top 4 wardrobe tips to dress shopping success:
Tip #1: Wear a strapless bra.
Although I don’t ever wear a strapless bra on regular days, more often than not I find myself wearing one for special occasions. Wearing a strapless bra while shopping ensures that you will have seamless support in a variety of dress styles. My favorite to wear is the Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy Strapless Bra. I love the extra push-up it gives and I have never experienced sliding as I have with other strapless bras. Wearing a strapless bra will give you the best representation of how you will truly look for your upcoming occasion.
Tip #2: Wear SPANX. Seriously.
Wearing Spanx makes all the difference in the world when it comes to how the fabric lays against your body. If you can afford it, get the real kind. The name brand Spanx always work better for me than the off-brand shapers do. I absolutely love the firm control high waist, Mid-thigh styles, like this one. My favorite part is the double gusset—eyelet opening “for total ease when nature calls”!
If you own a pair, absolutely wear them when you go shopping! You may be surprised to find that you actually look really good in more than one dress! You might want to argue that they aren’t comfortable to wear but I’m here to tell you that these days are far and few between and a little discomfort is worth feeling like you look amazing.
Tip #3: Wear a dress.
I like to wear a flattering yet modest, colored dress. Now, I don’t normally wear dresses but I have found that wearing a dress while shopping is best because it is easy to take on and off. Removing two separate pieces (and putting them back on) is time wasted. I find that I am able to get in and out of different stores with just this simple time-saving tip!
You should wear a dress that you know you look good in. Something that makes you feel confident while looking through the selection and gives the store salesperson the impression that YOU are someone worth assisting.
It is also helpful if you can smile in the mirror after getting dressed again. Especially after a painful round of ill-fitting dresses. I’m pretty sure we have all been there. When nothing seems to fit quite right and it is absolutely heartbreaking. P.s. It’s not you, its the dress. Having at least one victory will maintain your morale and have you feeling positive about the continuing dress hunt.
Tip #4: Wear comfortable high heels.
Definitely, wear heels or wedges on your shopping excursion. I typically wear wedges. My favorite is my black Aldo sandals. I love them because they have good arch without being too high making them appropriate to wear in a casual setting. Even though they easily dress down, the dramatic arch does wonders for my posture helping me feel like a force to be reckoned with.
When you wear high heels while trying on dresses you’ll get a better idea of how the dress lays on your body. Plus, the effect of the extra height and improved posture add to looking better in the gown.
5. Set your budget
Set a budget and under no circumstances do you try on a dress over your budget. Even if it is “just for fun.” 9 times out of 10 that more expensive dress is, in fact, better than anything you’ve already tried on. And with good reason. With better quality comes a bigger price tag.
Don’t do it yourself.
I NEVER try on a gown outside of my price range.
It’s not worth the heartache of not finding anything better or the stress of trying to find the money to make up the difference because believe me, I’ve experienced both of those outcomes more than once.
Those were my 3 tips and 5 secrets to successful dress shopping.
I hope you feel more confident in your ability to find the perfect gown for you! Envisioning your event look and planning for your shopping experience guarantees that you purchase the gown that’s right for you and for your event. You now know how to go about defining your look by deciding what side of yourself you’re going to be showing. You have learned what to wear while shopping and why each item matters and you have learned some seriously helpful tips to having the only emotions of shopping be excitement and joy.
Follow these 5 things and I promise you will have a much better experience and may just end up finding more than 1 dress that works perfectly. Then the hard part is just deciding which one to wear – and that’s a good problem to have!
Here’s a peek at some of my gowns that didn’t make the cut!
If you have any questions about defining your look or where to shop for gowns leave a comment below and I’ll answer it right here! I look forward to hearing from you!
So now it’s your turn! If you try this, tag me at @goldengluegun
Golden Gluegun is a DIY lifestyle blog featuring incredible DIY flips, sewing tutorials, crafts, and creative inspiration. Join me as we plan and create!
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