Parenting Advice: How to Help Your Daughter Find the Perfect Prom Outfit
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Understanding a teenager’s thoughts and adherence to trends can be challenging as a parent, especially when it comes to our daughters. The pressure of social media can be triggering for children around this age, as they want to be the best version of themselves early on, with the perfect face and body.
However, being kind to our kids in such challenging times is key to bonding with them. Questioning each and every one of their decisions might not be the best thing to do, but being there for them and guiding them with compassion will help them tremendously.
If you find these struggles relatable, you may want to start changing your approach to parenting. For example, if prom is right around the corner and your daughter seems confused about how to prepare, this can be the perfect occasion to connect with her. Here’s how you can help.
Listen to her
The best and easiest way to help your daughter is to start by listening to her wishes. Perhaps she wants to pair her comfortable, low-heeled block shoes with a formal prom dress featuring sleeves. Or, she prefers going bold with stilettos and a low neckline gown. Either way, listening will help you understand her tastes, allowing you to tailor your advice to her preferences.
Of course, it’s best to choose the outfit based on the school’s dress code to avoid breaking it. It would be ideal to ask the teachers about what is decent or crosses the line in terms of dress, and then help her choose something that reflects her personality and makes her feel good.
Imposing your view before listening to her wishes will only make her avoid you. Therefore, make the time to truly listen to her, ask her questions about alternatives, or simply be there. This will matter more than anything for your teenage daughter.
Set a budget for her
The vast market of prom dresses involves both affordable and expensive gowns, so, depending on your finances and possibilities, it would be best to set a budget for her. This small detail will help narrow down the options online and offline, allowing her to find the dress of her dreams faster and with fewer back-and-forth shopping trips.
If you’re looking for budget-friendly dresses, those made of cotton are a great alternative to silk, and they also drape beautifully on the body. Chiffon fabric is also accessible and comes with a translucent appearance that can make the dress feel ethereal.
On the other hand, linen dresses tend to be a bit pricier, but they’re worth it, especially if prom takes place during the summer. Linen blends have excellent properties, including the ability to absorb moisture and remain breathable, making them a worthwhile consideration.
Encourage her to seek comfort and fit
While understanding current trends for girls’ dresses is important, try to encourage your daughter to try on more dresses and find the one that’s both comfortable and fits her shape. We all know how uncomfortable it can be to sit or move in a dress that’s too tight, or wear one that’s sloppy on our figure, so finding the perfect dress is imperative.
It would help her to identify her body shape, as there are specific dresses that look best for certain bodies:
- The hourglass figure looks best in dresses with V-necklines, form-fitting tops, and cinched-in waistlines
- The pear figure is enhanced by dresses with strapless tops, A-lines, or a fitted open neck
- The athletic body is highlighted with dresses with embellishments, ruffles, or other volume-increasing details
- The apple shape looks amazing in drop-waist dresses, wrap dresses, or gowns with embellished tops
- Petite figures look best in fitted dresses, accentuating the physique, or showing a little leg
Help her choose the shoes and accessories
Although the dress is the most important, the shoes and accessories complete the outfit. Wearing comfortable shoes will be helpful, considering all the dancing and walking, so try finding ones that are both easy to walk in and look good for the tastes of a teenage girl:
- Ballet flats are acceptable and come in amazing designs
- Round-toe chunky heels can also help her stay on her feet all night
- Mary Jane shoes have been trending for a while, and are great with and without a heel
- Pump sandals look great and are also usually comfortable
- Slide sandals are great for summertime
Accessories, on the other hand, should match the dress. If the gown is simple, your daughter can choose unique jewelry, but minimise it if the dress already has several embellishments. Rings, necklaces, or bracelets are important, so let her choose wisely.
Go shopping with her
The best thing about bonding with your daughter is that you don’t have to go overboard. Making time to go shopping and allowing her to try on as many different dresses as possible is best. This way, she can better figure out her shape or the designs she likes the most. Additionally, she can benefit from your support or opinion.
Shopping with your daughter means having fun, so both of you should try to uplift each other and maintain good spirits to enjoy quality time together. Remember that you will also need to figure out the best makeup for her, so you could make it a bonding activity by doing each other’s makeup.
Therefore, being open to trying new things and spending time together will help your daughter have a stress-free prom that she will remember forever. At the same time, this approach will benefit your relationship by building trust and eliminating doubt and judgment.
Are you ready for your daughter’s prom?
A teenager’s prom is an unforgettable event, but is mostly clouded by the stress of picking the right outfit. The help of a mother is always appreciated, but it should be given without judgment. This is why listening to your daughter and making time for her will help you choose the best dress so she can feel comfortable in her own skin.
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