Prom night is an evening of princesses.

It is the time in a high-school girl's life where she wants to wear the perfect cheap special occasion dresses -- the one that makes her look and feel like she's part of a fairy tale.

"I knew I loved this dress the minute I tried it on," says Molly Bernick, who attends Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport, as she looked at herself in the full-length mirror at Sasha's Babette's Prom and Bridal Boutique in Bridgeville. "I knew I wanted a ball gown, didn't think I would want all the ruffles, but this dress is perfect. It doesn't have too much beading, and I love the corset back, too."

Finding the right gown is a little easier these days, says Natalia Zavodchikov, owner of Sasha's Babette's. Most girls today have perused hundreds of dresses online and have a style in mind, but don't always end up with their  Prom dresses under 100 choice from the web.

"I would say 90 percent of the girls who come in with a photo of a dress they want, don't leave with that dress," Zavodchikov says. "A gown is something you really have to try on because you don't wear a gown every day."

That is the danger of buying gowns on the Internet, she says. You might get better price deals online, but it's better to be able to see and touch the dress, Zavodchikov says. It also is important to bring along the undergarments, jewelry and shoes you will be wearing with the dress to see how it all coordinates.

Kimberly Mentecki, co-owner of Babe's Broadway Bridal in New Kensington with her mother Karen Fassinger, agrees girls have researched lots of dresses and that most are open to seeing everything that's available.

"There are so many styles, colors and patterns to choose from," Mentecki says. "What seems really popular this year are the high-low dresses, flamingo-inspired dresses with lots of ruffles. The peacock print is big, as well as bold colors. You will also see lots of embellishments on bodices. Bold colors are in. But really, in the end, it's about what she wants. It's about choosing a dress that looks best with your complexion, personality and figure."

Most prom dresses in local boutiques range from $200 to $600.

"You want to see if you look good in a certain color, or if there is too much or not enough beading, or if the fabric lays right on your body," Zavodchikov says. "We are there to help you because we want you to find something that is special, because prom is such a special night."

And don't be afraid to ask for assistance. Sales associates are more than willing to help.

Sometimes, girls will come in groups when just looking, but for the actual purchase, a parent is usually there, Zavodchikov says.

"When you are dealing with Mom and daughter, and sometimes Dad and daughter, you are dealing with two generations, so you have to aware of that," says Zavodchikov, who like most boutique owners will register the dress so no one else from the same school can purchase it. "Usually Mom and Dad give in. We might have to sew a slit so it's not too high, or add a piece of fabric to give more coverage and usually Mom and Dad are happy with that. It's about compromise at times."

It's also about buying the girl what she wants, says Lori Fillippa of Pleasant Hills, who was shopping at Sasha's Babette's with daughter Chelsea, 18, and her best friend, Claire Dobransky, 17, both seniors at Thomas Jefferson High School in Jefferson Hills. The girls decided to travel to a boutique outside of their town.

"It's her dress ... but I trust she knows what she wants and won't want anything I don't like," Lori Fillippa says.

Dobransky isn't afraid to go off the board a little with a color you might not think of for prom.

"I like white dresses," Dobransky says. "This one is not too fancy but it has some beading which I really like. Once you try on the right dress you know it. It's OK to wear white to prom. I am going to make it OK."

Getting the girls to decide sometimes includes drama similar to what you see on the TLC show, "Say Yes to the Dress."

"I think that show influences them," Mentecki says. "That show has changed shopping for prom. Prom is all about the bling."

Katelyn Kendra, 17, a junior at Highlands, who was shopping at Babe's Broadway Bridal, says she is indecisive.

17-04-2012, 04:59 Geschreven door noellesavard