‘Decisions, decisions, decisions’: this is the mantra of every girl as she pushes through her wardrobe—or through the New Arrivals rack at her favorite store. As all girls will know, an empty wardrobe is not a prerequisite for having ‘nothing to wear’. You could have a multitude of maxi dresses at your disposal and still be stumped about what to wear for your upcoming evening event.
Lady in red: will you play it straight, fall in love with florals, or sparkle in sequinned patterns? Images: Alamour The Label
And, look, sis: we don’t blame you. The art of picking the perfect outfit can be a tricky one. There are so many things to consider, such as length, colour, dress code, and current trends. How about you plonk yourself down in the Boyfriend Seat and let us drive for a bit? We need to break this down.
We can’t pick your perfect evening gown, but we can point you in the right direction. Here are our top tips for picking the right one—or, at least, narrowing the search parameters a little.
Establish the budget
People arrive at personal budgets in different ways. Other people haven’t arrived at an understanding of the word ‘budget’. And, look—if you are living a childfree lifestyle with a six-figure salary, perhaps you could afford to spare no expense. Many people, however, will have spending limits, dictated by annual income, average spending habits, lifestyle factors, and responsibilities. Even if money is not an object for you, it never hurts to track your expenses.
So, if you’re earning a modest amount and paying rent, you might want to forgo (admittedly gorgeous) gowns of this calibre in preference for something more like this. (And, TBH, these gowns look pretty great to us and it would take an eagle-eyed fashionista to spot the difference in price.) Eliminate the high-end brands and this will narrow down your search. Set a maximum price and this will help you shorten your selection even in stores that are, for the most part, affordable.
Stay golden with golden sequins, patterns, and florals. Images: Alamour The Label
It’s not just brands that determine prices, either. Fancy fabrics, detailing, and embellishments will all add to the grand total. To justify your purchase, you may want to consider if you will get your money’s worth of wear out of the garment. How many times will you wear the garment in question? And, more importantly, will it fuel you with a few hundred dollars’ worth of joy? If your answer to the latter is yes—and if it comfortably fits your budget—that’s a sign you’re getting warmer (or maybe even red-hot!).
Take note of the dress code
If you’re in search of an evening gown, chances are the dress code is formal or black-tie. And if that is the case, then this is your licence to let your hair down—well, maybe not your hair (in fact, up-dos are encouraged here), but certainly your gown. Floor-length gowns were made for formal or black-tie events. The more inches that trail behind you, the more you’re worth—right?!
Look serene in emerald green—whether you sequin it up or play it straight. Images: Alamour The Label
If you’re attending a slightly more low-key event—perhaps with your nearest and dearest—then you may want to rein it in a little. You can still find a totally trendy evening dress that’s a little more understated and a whole lot shorter. It may sound air-fairy but go with your gut here. Gold-plated ballrooms = fancy, possibly sequinned ballgowns. Your aunty’s loungeroom slightly decked out for your cousin’s engagement party = smart-casual evening dress—sans sparkly tripping hazard.
Choose your favourite cut
Okay, so, we could write a whole separate post about cuts of dresses. For the sake of keeping it brief—which you likely won’t be doing with your dress of choice—we’re going to assume you know what we mean when we say things like ‘maxi’, ‘midi’, ‘mini’, ‘A-line’, and ‘mermaid’. Quite simply, everyone has different preferences that work for them in different ways. You should choose something that makes you feel great!
Which shade of blue will you do? Images: Alamour The Label
A-line dresses are a popular choice because they emphasise the waist and flare downwards for a flattering silhouette. However, for formal and black-tie events, you will likely be choosing a maxi cut—preferably in the mermaid style. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, and midi dresses will work in this context, too. Save the minis for a more casual party, though.
This works in tandem with the section above regarding dress codes. Different cuts tend to be associated with different dress codes, and whilst you should take this into account, you should also choose something you’re comfortable with.
Choose your favourite colour (or shade)
Some colours work better on different bodies or skin tones. Choose something that complements your skin—and your hair! If you’re feeling unsure about this, you can rarely go wrong with black. It’s the boldest neutral of them all and it pairs well with almost any other shade. Add some pearl-based bling and you’ve got yourself a classy, one-size-fits-all solution.
Here come the (wo)men in black! Glamorous defenders! Images: Alamour The Label
If you’re keen to find your colour palette—let’s trade places for a moment. We’ll sit in the Boyfriend Seat and you try on some colours to see what works. If at first you don’t succeed, try trial and error!
Check what is #trending
The title of this post references ‘trendy’ evening gowns, so you likely saw this coming. Granted, if you are rummaging through the New Arrivals rack, this step likely isn’t so crucial. Also, you don’t need to have your finger on the fashion pulse to know what’s in—at least, from a peripheral perspective. Oftentimes, all you need to do is look around to get a feel for what’s in.
Another favourite neutral: white. And this is so appropriate for an evening event—unless that event is a wedding you’re attending as a guest. Images: Alamour The Label
Nevertheless, it can never hurt to do a little online research regarding what’s in and what’s not. Check the socials, check fashion-focussed blogs, or—if you like the tactile approach—thumb through a fashion magazine. (We would advise against spending too much time on this step. Just develop a schema and use it to your discerning advantage if you’re sorting through the Sale rack.)
Internalise our advice
Okay, so you got all that, right? If not, here is a break-down of the major points:
- Establish a budget based on your income, spending habits, lifestyle factors, responsibilities—and, of course, your sensibilities. Its personal value (to you) needs to match or surpass its monetary value.
- Take note of the dress code and choose a gown that fits the corresponding criteria.
- That being said, choose a cut you feel comfortable in.
- Choose a colour or shade that complements your skin and hair colour. If all else fails, black (with pearly bling!) is a great backup.
- Check the current trends before setting foot in the store—but don’t spend too much time on this, either.
So, does that help narrow it down? Some of this will be subjective, of course, but that is the beauty of styling an outfit. No two ensembles are going to be identical.
Anyway, that’s our advice and we hope it sits well with you. Speaking of sitting, it’s time to get up off Boyfriend Seat and head back into the shop! We think you can take it from here. You’ve got this. Now—run along to that New Arrivals rack before that other girl gets there first!
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