Gown Trends - SPARKLE

Sparkling, shimmering gowns and accessories definitely produce the “WOW” factor for any big night! Take your cue from the red carpet, or add blingy accessories to a simple gown. Whichever way you go with sparkle, you can’t go wrong.

Here are few examples from Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and Anne Hathaway:

DIY Beauty - Zap a Zit

PROM SALE! It's Almost Here!!!

It's almost that time again! Saturday and Sunday, January 30th & 31st, all Mestad's in-stock prom gowns will be 20% off! If you need to special order a different size or color, no worries, you can still get 10% off (subject to availability).

Mestad's ROCHESTER and ST. CLOUD locations

will open at 9 am for the sale!

Mestad's SOUTHDALE store will open at 10 am.

If you've already chosen your gown, you may purchase it over the phone. We will begin answering the phones as soon as the store opens, and if you get a busy signal, keep trying!


If you still need to select your gown, or if you want to make sure you grab yours before anyone else, we look forward to seeing you in the morning!

Prom Hair Dos and Don'ts

Don't Fight Your Hair
Curly girls want to go straight. Straight-haired girls want curls. Why fight Mother Nature? If you're blessed with ringlets, don't spend hours torturing your hair into a straight style -- instead, choose one that enhances your natural texture. Run a lightweight balm that's made for curly hair through your tresses to banish frizz and ensure you've got sleek, spirally curls.

The same goes for those with straight tresses. Play up your sleek style by flattening things out with a straightening iron, or you can use hot rollers to create volume. First, work a golf ball-size gob of mousse through your soaked strands, then blow-dry. Use extra-large rollers to create volume (the little guys will just create curls), and let them set for 10 minutes or so. When you unroll 'em, hands off the brush. Instead, use your fingers to tousle your sexy new do. Tame any flyaways (and enhance your slick style) with a shine-enhancing spray.

Do Treat Your Locks
Curly or straight, give your tresses some extra TLC to ensure maximum loveliness on your big night out. Find a deep conditioner that suits your hair type (heavy-duty for dry, damaged, or color-treated hair; something on the lighter side if you're normal to oily). To maximize the benefits, get out of the shower and use a kitchen timer to be sure you let the goop set for a full five (or ten) minutes. Sure, it seems like an eternity when you're sitting around waiting, but you'll have plenty of time to enjoy yourself (and your great hair) later.

If your hair is in especially bad shape, get a trim to eliminate split ends, then follow a deep-conditioning regimen with a concoction that's cool for frequent use. Limit heat styling, and detangle your strands with a wide-tooth comb (not a brush). If you simply can't live without your blow-dryer, pump up your locks' defenses with a shielding treatment which will protect against the heat.

Don't Over Style
Avoid using too many styling products, like gels, pomades, or shine enhancers. Too much will overload your hair. And while it may seem like the only way to get your tresses to behave, the goop can leave you a greasy mess by the end of the night.

Instead of OD'ing on product, take the time to test out different looks and styles, using just one or two styling aids each time. Chances are, before long you'll hit on a combo that's right for you. And if you are regularly loading your locks with lots of products, consider using a clarifying shampoo once a week. These heavy-duty formulas are too harsh for everyday use, but just right for clearing out all that product buildup once in a while.

Do Accessorize
Whether long or short, up or down, play up your style with a killer accessory that complements your dress. If your look is glam and gorgeous, look for a vintage-style rhinestone barrette or hairpins. Got a more classic style? We love the look of a wide ribbon tied as a hair band to keep long locks from brushing your cheeks all night. And for any style, nothing can beat the glamour of a single flower (real or fake) tucked behind your ear.

Don't Leave Anything for the Last Minute
The day before your big night -- no, make that the week before -- is the absolute worst time to make extreme changes to your hair. If you hate it, you're stuck with it (and you'll have lots of pictures to help you remember exactly how it looked -- or didn't).

That means no color, no chemical process (like straightening or perming), and no cutting your hair (unless it's just a trim). Not only could you walk out with a hairdo you hate, the smell from the chemical treatment will linger for a few days. Plus, giving your locks a little recovery time after any process will let your new 'do soften up a bit and look way more natural.

If you really want a different look, try a test drive a month or two before the party. Grab a friend and spend a girls' night experimenting with a straightening iron, a curling rod, and the blow-dryer. You'd be surprised at the DIY styles you can create at home, no chemicals necessary. If you're looking to try a new hair hue, pick up a temporary color that will wash out after 10 to 12 shampoos. That way, if you love it, you can go permanent, but if you don't, you can leave it.

New Gowns This Week

Here are a few of my favorite things that have just come in this week!

Remember, when you purchase your gown at Mestads, we register it for your school, so no one else can buy the same dress from us, even in another color!

Top 5 Must Have Prom Accessories

1. Shoes
Heels or sneakers, sandals or boots – shoes are a great way to create a unique look for Prom 2010. Under a fluffy ball gown, no one will see your shoes anyway, so why not wear cute ballet flats? If your gown has a slit in the front, people WILL see your shoes – and here is where you get creative! Show your style in something OTHER than the expected high heel silver sandal. A bold color? Flower embellishment or a bow? Printed fabric? The sky is the limit, and you might even find something that you’ll wear again!





2. Hand Bag
For prom, its best to keep the bag small. What do you need to carry to prom? Cell phone, makeup, prom tickets, money, double sided tape. In other words – not much. Keep it cute but take your style cue from your shoes. They don’t have to match exactly, but they should coordinate, or compliment, each other.





3. Jewelry
Rhinestones, crystals, beads? Depending on what your dress looks like, you can decide what the best style of jewelry will be. The more bling you have on your dress, the smaller your jewelry should be. If you have a plain, simple dress, go for the big earrings, bracelet, or pile on the necklaces.





4. Garter
Some schools do this, some don’t. Find a garter that matches or coordinates with your dress, take pictur5es with it, and then give it to your date!



5. Wrap, Jacket, Shawl
If your prom is early, it might be cold out! Consider a (faux) fur wrap, satin shawl, or a cropped cardigan sweater, just for the time that you’re outside.

PROM SALE!

Rochester, Southdale, and St Cloud locations. Save a whopping 20% on ALL In-stock Prom dresses and take 10% off any special order prom dresses. This sale is HUGE…get here early!

Gown Trend - BACKLESS

If you’ve got a toned, smooth back, why not show it off? Backless gowns are still one of the hottest styles available. Mestads has plenty to make sure that you can wear the trend while still being unique! Did you know that we register your gown? Once you buy your gown from us, no one else from your school can buy it from us, even in another color!

Here are Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Miley Cyrus showing off their toned backs!

DIY Beauty: Cosmetic Counter Etiquette

DIY Beauty - French Tips

New Gowns in this Week!

Here are a few of my favorite Cool Book gowns, just in this week!

Shoes: Runway vs. Real Way

We'd all love to wear Christian Louboutain, Valentino, or Jimmy Choo shoes to prom, but let's be realistic. For one night of fun, $600+ for shoes just isn't happening! Here, you can see some designer shoes paired with their affordable counterparts. Hopefully this will get you thinking about how to snag a designer look for your prom night!

Runway: Jimmy Choo
Real Way: Two Lips



Runway: Christian Louboutain
Real Way: Guess



Runway: Valentino
Real Way: Paris Hilton

PANOPLY Trunk Show with designer Jay Reynolds

Rochester and Edina only. This is your chance to work with designer, Jay Reynolds, as he shows his 2010 line! Jay will be in the Rochester store on Saturday, January 23 and in the Southdale store on Sunday, January 24. All in-stock Panoply Gowns will be 20% off and all Special order Panoply gowns will be 10% off. Save 20% off all Panoply in-stock gowns in our St Cloud store this weekend only.

Just for fun, I asked Jay a few questions about prom, his experience, and his stories:

1. What is your favorite current prom trend?
Color. Lot of bright prints, bright colors, bright beading.

2. Did you go to prom? Were tux styles different then?
Yes I went to Prom... Yes, my tux was powder blue with a blue ruffle tux shirt.

3. What is the most heartwarming prom-related story you've heard?
I had a customer who had a mother with cancer, and the mother told me she had saved for years to buy this dress, which was discontinued; so I had the factory make the dress, and the mother came in to pick it up, brought me cookies, and cried and cried and told me she could die happy.

4. How did you get into this industry?I was a costume designer, and designed many gowns for friends in pageants; as they started winning, stores approach me and I starting selling to retail stores; then I was hired by Sasson in NY to create a Punk Rock Prom line, and they closed, and I opened J Reynolds under my own name.

5. Tell us something interesting about Panoply's history?When I started importing from India and China I wanted to create a brand, so I started Panoply. It means 'an impressive array'; so come to Mestads to see Panoply gowns in a Panoply of colors.

6. Have any celebrities worn Panoply?Many. The MS Universe 2009 wore a gold sequin halter on the red carpet to the Academy Awards, and the Emmy awards; I also did designs for many movies, including Drop Dead Gorgeous, where I gowned Kristen Dunce, Denise Richards, and Kristie Ally.

7. What is your favorite gown in your whole spring 2010 collection?A printed full skirt gown, done in an orange multi Galaxy Rose print, with beaded midriff, halter top; it is the catalog cover for Panoply Spring 2010.

8. Is there anything else that you want prom girls to know this year?
Shop early to reserve the best dresses!

Gown trends - MERMAID

How better to show off your curves than in a slinky mermaid style gown? This style has been seen on red carpets EVERYWHERE!

Anyone can wear this style, but if you’re petite – beware – if you need to hem the gown, make sure you don’t have to hem off the entire flared part at the bottom. You might try to find a style that begins flaring a little higher, so when you hem it, you still have the curvy look that you want!

DIY Beauty - Manicure

NEW GOWNS this week!

Cool Collection gowns, featured in Mestad's Cool Book, are coming in weekly! Here are a few of my favorites this week:

Cool Collection by Jovani

Cool Collection - Mestad's Exclusive


Cool Collection by Jasz


Cool Collection by Tony Bowls


Cool Collection by Jovani

DIY Beauty - Teeth Whitening

You COULD go to the dentist to have your teeth professionally whitened before prom, but you can also do this at home for a LOT less money!

A great way to start is with whitening strips. I have had the best luck with Crest brand standard strips, but I’m sure any national brand would be great. I personally haven’t had good luck with any store brand strips, so I would NEVER buy them again! The strips were thick and didn’t cling to my teeth as well as the Crest brand. Make sure you follow the package directions!

Make sure you brush and floss according to your dentist’s instructions. Use whitening toothpaste. Clean teeth are white teeth!

Skip beverages that can stain your teeth – coffee, brown soft drinks, tea, or red juices. If you must, then use a straw to keep the beverage off your teeth! Did you know that smoking also yellows your teeth? Just one more reason not to smoke, in case you needed any!

Lipstick colors can affect how your teeth look. You can create the illusion of whiter teeth by using a darker lipstick.

Use a self tanner (or a few sessions in a tanning bed – if it’s ok with your parents) to make your skin darker, so your teeth look whiter.

Prom Transportation

How are you getting to prom this year? There is a world of options...traditional limos, stretch Hummers, party buses and more! As soon as you get your group together start exploring your price options, limo/party bus types and make sure to book as EARLY as possible (Companies book more quickly the closer to prom, so DON'T WAIT!)

When you are looking for transportation find out if any companies offer prom discounts or have promotions for prom. If you're going to bring beverages remember to stick to clear drinks in case there is a spill!

JOVANI Trunk Show

Rochester, Southdale, and St Cloud locations. These gowns are hot! You don’t want to miss this chance to find and buy your Jovani Prom dress at a discount. All in-stock Jovani Prom Gowns will be 20% off. You can save 10% on any Special order Jovani’s during the event as well.

Gown Trend - PRINTS

This year prom is all about fun! Show your carefree spirit in a wild, show stopping print gown. Mestads has printed gowns a-plenty, we’re sure you’ll find an envy-inducing print that fits your personality. Since Mestads registers your gown for your prom, no one else will have the same look as you!

As seen on recent red carpets – Miley Cyrus, Carrie Underwood, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

JOVANI Trunk Show

Next weekend (January 16 & 17), JOVANI will be sending us the hottest gowns from their 2010 line, and we will be offering 20% OFF all in-stock JOVANI gowns, and JOVANI special orders (when available) will be 10% OFF!

You can't find a better deal for your JOVANI prom gown!

Remember, we're located in Southdale Mall on the second floor near Macy's, and also have fabulous selections of prom gowns in our Rochester and St. Cloud locations! We also register your gown for your prom,

HOW TO - Choose the Right Undergarments

Under every great dress are great undergarments – regardless of the occasion – prom, wedding, or pageant – the right undergarments can make or break your big night look.

Spanx – Great under slinky, clingy dresses! These power panties slim and smooth from the ribs to the knees. Let your lumps and bumps be your little secret.

Sticky Straps – Double sided tape created specifically for use with clothing. The stick’em won’t irritate your skin, and these strips can help hold your dress to your body (think J. Lo!), keep a hem in place, hold buttons together, hold your bra strap in your dress, or hold a wrap closed.

Smooth’em - Thanks to superior coverage from Smooth 'em nipple covers, there's no reason to be shy. (As if you are a wallflower anyway). The re-useable circular silicone discs, worn discreetly under a form-fitting halter dress, gently adhere to the breasts for a natural and seamless silhouette. Now, all that's left to do is ditch that bulky jacket, stand tall, and look nothing but dazzling on the red carpet.

Gather-the-girls - Whether it's a major cleavage boost for that slinky black halter, or a sassy, pulled-together look in form-fitting cashmere, Gather-The-Girls will help you keep your assets perfectly aligned. Silicone cups stick to your body and clasp in the center, giving you the lift you’re looking for!

Sew in cups – My first choice for comfort! These can take the place of a strapless bra, and often cost less. They usually come in cup sizes, and are sewn directly into your gown. They are great for giving coverage if you need it, lifting, and filling the front of a gown with fewer alterations! These are great to replace a strapless bra in today’s backless styles. Since they aren’t gripping your skin like a strapless bra, they don’t hurt after hours of wear!

Strapless Bra – The classic standby. This can also give you lift and help you feel more comfortable. You can use Sticky Straps to hold your bra into your dress – then it won’t come peeking out!

Plunge bra – This bra often has convertible straps. Since it plunges in the front, so it can be concealed under a plunging halter neckline.

Seamless thong – These undies are made of microfiber and have a laser cut edge. They lay smoothly on your body, and hide very well, even under clingy silk charmeuse gowns.

New Gowns In Stock

Here are a few of my favorite things that have just come in this week!

Remember, when you purchase your gown at Mestads, we register it for your school, so no one else can buy the same dress from us, even in another color!