Disney's Prom: Free Advance Screening Passes at Mestads

Stop by Mestads Southdale to grab your free passes for an advance screening of Disney's Prom!

Quantities are limited, so don't wait!



What to Put in Your Prom Purse

1. Tickets
2. Driver’s License and Student ID
3. Lipstick or Lip Gloss
4. Cell Phone
5. Camera
6. Hair Pins and Dress Tape
7. Mints or Gum

Nail Colors to Go with Your Gown

Your fingernails and toenails are just extra accessories, so just as you would try to match your purse and jewelry to your prom dress, you should also coordinate your nails with your gown. Look for shades that will complement your dress but still claim a bit of attention for your nails.

To create a slightly more glamorous look for your nails, try using nail tattoos or crystals. When you apply the crystals, be sure to use nail glue. Also, be careful to match the crystals to the size and type of any jewels on your dress.

For an artistic look, try painting your nails with stripes rather than one solid color. You can use strips of painter’s tape to mark off the stripes. If the painter’s tape idea seems a little too difficult, try creating your own unique nail color by layering on several different shades.

Make your look unique by using a slightly lighter shade of polish on your fingernails and a slightly darker color on your toenails. Perfectly matching hands and feet can sometimes be a little…blah.

With the right makeup and well-manicured hands and feet, you should be looking and feeling beautiful on your prom night!

HOW TO - Choose a Boutonniere

A what? It’s the flower that is pinned to the collar of your date’s tuxedo. You might consider going to the flower shop together to select his boutonniere and your corsage, or you might just want to surprise each other. Either way, be sure to let him know what color your gown is, so he can choose something for you that will compliment your outfit. This way, you can choose something for him that will pull the whole look together.

Here are a few unique alternatives to the classic rose:

HOW TO - Go to Prom Solo

No date on the horizon? No problem! Plenty of glamorous fun can be had without someone by your side all night! Here’s how:

1. Find the most fabulous gown and accessories you can imagine. No worries about what your date wants to wear – it’s all about YOU!

2. See if any friends are going solo too. Have dinner together, ride together, and if your school has a grand march, walk together!

3. Get your friends together for photos before dinner, no need to separate daters from non-daters! My favorite prom photos are the ones taken with my best friends; we still talk to each other, but not to our dates!

4. When you get to prom, dance with who you want, talk to who you want, leave when you want and have FUN!

Take this opportunity to celebrate with your best friends - this may be the last time you're all together at the same time, except maybe graduation. Once everybody goes their separate ways, it could be 10 years bevore you're all together again! You deserve to celebrate your hard work over the last 3 or 4 years of high school - don't miss out over a date!

DIY Beauty - Prom Abs

DIY Beauty - Hairstyle: Half Up / Half Down

Step 1.) Smooth hair with straightening iron such as Farouk CHI 1 Inch Ceramic Flat Hairstyling Iron by Chi, which allows you to adjust the temp. to your individual needs. Apply a smoothing gloss for shine.

Step 2.) Make a side parting about 2 inches back. Take hair from ear to ear, 2 inches back, and move out of the way. Secure with a barrette clip.

Step 3.) Next, take the top, back section of hair. Tease or use large hot rollers for slight volume. Jet Set Purple Rollers 2-1/8" are perfect for quick easy styling with volume. Simply put into dry hair, hit with a blow-dryer, allow to cool and remove! No pins necessary and hair is finished with volume in minutes! I love these things!

Smooth then fasten in the back with barrette or pins.

Step 4.) Take the front section you put to the side. Separate that into 2 sections, divided by the parting. Take the right part of the section and apply a small amount of a smoothing product. Pull to the low, back of the head, tuck under barrette and fasten with bobby pins. Use comb to get rid of any small bumps that might have occurred. Now do the same to other section. Spray with hairspray.

DIY Hair Repair

Hair fried from too much color, heat or ponytails? Try this hydrating mask to add shine to your tresses. Use once a week leading up to prom to get your hair in top-top tiara wearing shape! Note: If you’re wearing your hair up, don’t use this the day of prom. Your hair shouldn’t be washed the day of an up do.

Ingredients
½ avocado, peeled, seeded and mashed
1 small banana, peeled and mashed
1 egg
3 T olive oil
2 T honey

Mash avocado and banana together using a fork. Add egg, olive oil and honey and mix well. Apply to hair, making sure to massage into roots and the entire length of hair. Wrap in plastic wrap or a towel and let sit for ½ hour. Shampoo and rinse thoroughly.

Don't look like THIS on prom night!

HOW TO - Feel Confident in Your Dress

Here are a couple of helpful tips to make you feel and look your best on prom night!

1. When you’re looking for a dress find something that you are comfortable in and not something you’re going to be pulling and tugging at all night. That never looks good and it can make your night less than perfect. If you’re set on a strapless gown use fashion tape and get the dress altered to fit in the waist so that you’re not constantly pulling up on the top. If it fits correctly, you should never have to touch it.

2. Feel good about what you’re wearing! If you don’t feel good in something, you won’t look good. You chose this dress for a reason, so embrace it! Recognize how beautiful and sassy you look!

3. No matter what you think, Size doesn’t matter! Don’t be hung up on the fact that you’re wearing a size 16 and not a size 8. FIT is more important than SIZE! It would be worse to show up to prom in something two sizes too small that you can’t sit in or dance in rather than the size that actually fits you! Size is nothing but a number!

4. If you feel like you have a few imperfections or you’re feeling a little nervous about things staying up, invest in shape wear (try Spanx) and some fashion tape. If you’re worried about an open back and what bra to wear, you can get cups sewn into your dress that work just as well as a bra.

Mori Lee Trunk Show!

Back for a second time, Mestads is having a Mori Lee trunk show, this time in all three stores! March 18th-20th, all in stock Mori Lee prom gowns will be 20% off!

If you missed it a few weeks ago, don't pass up your last opportunity to get your Mori Lee gown at a great discount!

Remember, Mestad REGISTERS your gown, which means that we won't sell it to anyone else attending your prom!

Mestads REGISTERS Your Prom Gown!

Other stores may say that it's no big deal, but Mestads disagrees! We carry the most EXCLUSIVE dresses in the state of Minnesota, and they aren't sold in any other stores in the state! If you didn't get one in the mail, come to one of our stores and ask for a COOL BOOK, which is the greatest collection of unique gowns for Prom 2011! We know that it's a big deal if someone else has your dress, and we'd rather turn someone away than have two of the same Mestads gowns at your prom. Our registration happens at the point of sale when you purchase your gown, and it is linked through all three stores. We will NEVER sell the same gown to your school twice, we promise!

We said it last year, and we'll say it again: Don't let this happen to you!

Be EXCLUSIVE, wear MESTADS COOL COLLECTION!

HOW TO - Turn Down Mr. Wrong

So he asked you to the prom...but he's not exactly your idea of a dream date. Don't scar the poor guy for life with a scathing eye-roll and a catty comeback! But that doesn't mean you're stuck with him, either. We've got five tips for turning down his offer without breaking his heart.


Be gentle.
Even if you're totally grossed out, act polite (and don't laugh!). It took a lot of nerve for him to ask you, and you've got to give him some cred for that. Make sure you say that you think it was very sweet of him to ask. If you seem (or better, are) genuinely flattered, it takes out a little bit of the sting.


Say it in person.
You owe it to him to say it to his face. Rejection always hurts, but rejection via phone, email, IM, or text message is a lot more painful. If you're worried you'll freak out, mentally rehearse what you're going to say (just enough 'til you think you can make it through flub-free).


Don’t give him false hope.
Looking him in the eye and lying ("Ohh, I'm sooo sorry -- I already have a date for the prom") is only going to come back to bite you later. You don't want to deal with the consequences (or the karma) when he finds out about your deception. After all, you'd be giving him false hope by sounding interested -- and then crushing it. You might think you're doing him a favor (and let's face it, you're letting yourself off easy), but you need to be truthful and just say no. If you want, say you don't have a date yet but that you "have a feeling" someone else is about to ask. Don't name anyone. You don't have to prove it's true. He'll take the hint. You prefer someone else (whether or not he's about to ask). Don't babble and go into details to try and soften the blow. Think: short and sweet. Like ripping off a Band-Aid.


Go with the group.
Maybe you like him enough as a person, but you don't want to slow dance with him. "A whole bunch of us are going as a group and it would be great if you came too" is the prom equivalent of "I think we should just be friends." Sure, he won't be super-happy that you didn't want to go with him as his date, but at least you'll have the chance to salvage things (and he'll have the chance to have a fun night hanging out with you and your buds).


Pair him off.
Best-case scenario? Sure, he's not your idea of a dream date, but you've got a friend who'd be thrilled to arrive on his arm. If you're sure she'll be game (you don't want him to face rejection twice, do you?), say, "I'm super-flattered that you asked me, but I can't accept. My friend really wants to go with you, and she'll never forgive me." Then you can give him some tips on asking her to the dance. Problem solved! You're freed up to find Mr. Right and you've definitely done your good deed for the day.

Article from http://www.prom-spots.com/ps_article(54).htm

Mestads REGISTERS Your Prom Dress!

Other stores may say that it's no big deal, but Mestads disagrees! We carry the most EXCLUSIVE dresses in the state of Minnesota, and they aren't sold in any other stores in the state! If you didn't get one in the mail, come to one of our stores and ask for a COOL BOOK, which is the greatest collection of unique gowns for Prom 2011! We know that it's a big deal if someone else has your dress, and we'd rather turn someone away than have two of the same Mestads gowns at your prom. Our registration happens at the point of sale when you purchase your gown, and it is linked through all three stores. We will NEVER sell the same gown to your school twice, we promise!

We said it last year, and we'll say it again: Don't let this happen to you!

Be EXCLUSIVE, wear MESTADS COOL COLLECTION!

DIY Beauty - Eyebrows

Top 10 Dos and Don'ts of Eyebrow Shaping

1. DO decide on your eyebrow shape

-Figure out where you want your brows to start, arch and end. The perfect eyebrow starts above the inside corner of your eye (over the tear duct), and ends at the outside corner, above your eyelashes. Eyebrows should have an arch. Ideally, the arch happens over the iris, the colored part of your eye. Be careful to not give yourself a "surprised" look by over tweezing your arch.

2. DO use a quality pair of tweezers

- A good pair of tweezers cost about $20, and is worth the small investment. A more inexpensive pair of tweezers may make the process take longer or break the hair instead of pulling them out - or can't grab onto short hairs.

3. DO trim brows if needed

-A common mistake people make when tweezing their brows is to overpluck, when what's really needed is to trim the excess length.
-Comb up and then cut, Use the proper tools for eyebrow trimming (eyebrow scissors).

4. DO clean up the tops of your brows

-It is okay to pluck the stray hairs right above your top brow line, this gives you a more defined and clean look.

5. DO use an eyebrow pencil or brow shadow for correcting

- If you have sparse brows, over plucked, or are growing out brows to a fuller look, use feathery strokes of an eyebrow pencil or shadow to fill-in. For medium to dark eyebrows, choose a color one shade lighter than your natural color. If you have light brows opt for a shade closest to or a half shade darker than your natural color.

6. DON'T stand too close to the mirror when plucking your eyebrows

- With some distance from the mirror you will be more able to balance your brows and see the 'whole picture', and have less chance of making brows uneven. After you have your shape in, you can get close-up to better reach the finer, lighter hairs.

7. DON'T use ice to numb

- Cold tightens the pores and can make a firmer hold on the hair follicle. You want to soften skin and hair by using a warm washcloth on brows, or do your shaping after your come out of the shower. (If you're really concerned about the 'ouch factor' use a numbing spray, first applied to a cotton swab and then to eyebrow area).

8. DON'T put a brow shape that isn't flattering to your face

- Keep in mind that arching your brow doesn't mean two perfect half circles or arches, which doesn't compliment anyone's facial features. It does mean to clean up the excess hair to better frame your eyes.

9. DON'T shave eyebrows

-There are little shavers that are made specifically for shaving eyebrows but steer clear! It is a much better idea to tweeze then shave because by tweezing you can take your time removing hair, shaving takes off a lot quickly and can cause an unnatural shape or no eyebrows by the time you are done!

10. TWEEZE CORRECTLY!

- Hold skin taut by gently holding skin firm with your free hand while tweezing, this means less tugging and pain on the skin.
-If the hair is just too short for tweezing, don't push the tweezers into the skin. Scraping, bleeding or even scarring can result if you get a little too forceful with your tweezers. Wait for the hair to grow a little bit more and try again.

11. DON'T save plucking your eyebrows for last minute, especially if you are a first timer. Give yourself time for hair to grow back if there are any mishaps. Pluck two weeks prior and then when your brows are the way you want them, light grooming will keep your eyebrows glamorous for prom.

Tuxedo Vocabulary

Bow Tie: a short necktie tied into a bow at the neck

Collar Types:
Wingtip: a collar style that points down in the
front but does not lie down around the entire
neck, generally worn with a Bow tie
Lay down: standard wide, pointed collar of a
dress shirt that lays down flat, generally worn
with a Windsor tie


Cuff Links: a fastening used in place of a button on the cuff of a shirt

Cummerbund: broad waistband worn with a dinner jacket instead of a vest

Lapel: the folded back collar on a coat

Lapel Types:
Notch: a notch cut out of the lapel of the coat
Peak: the lapel will form a “V” or a peak
Shawl: rounded, smooth lapel


Pocket Square: a folded square of fabric put in the breast pocket of a coat for decoration

Stud: a fastening used in place of a button on the shirt front

Suspenders: supporting bands that go over the shoulder and clip or button to waist of pants to hold them up

Tailcoat: a tux coat which is shorter in the front and has two tapering tails in the back

Tuxedo (Tux): outfit consisting of a tuxedo coat, pants with satin strip down the side, cummerbund and bow tie, or vest and tie and polished shoes.

Vest: a sleeveless garment worn over a shirt

Windsor Tie: a wide necktie tied with a slip knot with both ends left hanging

Organize a Pre-Prom Get Together For the Girls

A great way to get ready for prom is together with your friends! This is one way to save money, because you can do each other’s hair and makeup (be sure to get together before-hand and practice!). Plus – it’s FUN! Who doesn’t want to get excited with their friends before a big event?

1. Send an Evite or Facebook event invitation to everyone in your group, don’t play favorites or leave anyone out. This way, all can know who’s coming, and you can have an organized guest list so you know how many beverages to buy.

2. Have everyone bring a snack to share, and provide bottled water and soda.

3. Make a playlist of music to get everyone in the mood to dance!

4. If you have a lot of ladies doing hair and makeup, it might help to map out who is helping who with what at what time, so everyone can get everything completed in time for pictures.

5. Wait until the last minute to slip into your dresses, so no one gets wrinkled or gets food stains on their gowns!

6. Take pictures while getting ready, these are great memories!

TIFFANY Trunk Show

March 4th-6th, all three Mestads will have in stock Tiffany gowns 20% off!

Remember, Mestads REGISTERS your gown, so we'll never sell it to your prom twice!