TUXEDO TREND: Gray

A color we are starting to see more of in tuxedos is gray, dark steel gray in particular. One benefit of a gray tuxedo is that it looks good with so many colors that are perfect for prom. You will never have to worry about not matching your date! It also looks stunning with a silver vest and tie that will match virtually everything.

Don't forget to check Mestads.com or stop in to find ways to save on your tuxedo! 

TUXEDO TREND: The Fitted Tuxedo

Most of you have your dresses by now, or at the very least, know what you are looking for, so it’s time to start thinking about tuxedos.

One new trend we are seeing in tuxedos this year is the fitted tuxedo. This tuxedo is fitted in the waist giving it a more modern look, and comes with flat front pants more like a normal men’s dress pant instead of a more traditional pant with pleats. Our two most popular fitted styles are the Fitted Notch in white and the Ridge in black.

Don't forget to stop in and ask a Mestads Stylist how you can save money on your prom tuxedo!

TREND: Corset Style Bodice

One trend we’ve seen a lot of the past few years and is continuing to gain popularity is the corset style bodice. This look is characterized by exposed boning in the top of the dress to create the illusion of a corset. Some of these dresses have a lace up back, much like a real corset would, but many of them have a zipper back instead. This look is great for creating and defining an hourglass figure because the boning in the dress creates a structure that is flattering on everyone!

TREND: Neutral Colors

Last year, big bold colors and prints were in, but this year we’re seeing more and more soft neutrals, colors like white, gold, ivory, nude, champagne and light blush pink. These colors have the frosty, elegant feel of pearls and lace and add a little more feminine flair to this year’s prom style!

TREND: Mermaid Dresses

We saw a lot of the mermaid shape last year and will be seeing even more of it this year.  A mermaid dress is set apart from other styles by its unique shape, a fitted dress that flairs out below the hips, anywhere between the mid-thigh and the knees. Mermaids are great for accenting or creating an hourglass figure and highlighting curves. Make sure to stop in and see a Mestads Stylist to find the right mermaid for you.

TREND: The Carwash Skirt

In the last trend post we talked about ruffles.  One particular type of ruffle that we are seeing a lot of this year is the “car wash” skirt. In this particular type of dress the ruffles cascade down in twirls that resemble a car wash. The ruffles are often at varying lengths giving the skirt shape and definition creating a fun, flirty look that’s perfect for prom.

Staff Pick: AMANDA - SOUTHDALE

Amanda is new to Mestads Southdale location as an employee, but not as a customer! Amanda purchased most of her formal gowns at Mestads, and loves that Mestads registers the dresses they sell for prom. Amanda is a competitive figure skater, loves volunteering at hospitals and shelters, and loves spending time with friends and family. Her favorite color is yellow, which is the color of the first Mestads dress she wore!

Amanda graduated from Eastview High School in 2011, and is currently pursuing a Journalism major and Spanish minor at the University of Minnesota. Amanda recently pledged Alpha Gamma Delta sorority at the U of MN, which is the same house that Southdale manager Julie was a member of while she studied at the U of MN!

Amanda loves selling dresses because of the reaction on a girl’s face when she finds a dress she loves.

Amanda’s staff pick is Sherri Hill 1403. She loves the shattered glass stones that sparkle, and how the corset structure of the bodice is really slimming on any figure. The nude color is really in this spring, and also elegant and timeless.

TREND: Ruffles

One of our favorite trends this year is ruffles. They are showing up on just about every shape and style of dress and we LOVE it! The great thing about ruffles is that they accentuate everyone’s best feature. For example:

A full skirt of ruffles helps accentuate the waist giving it a cinched corset look.

A ruffle mermaid accentuates the hips, helping them appear firm and sculpted

and a full ruffle skirt with a drop waist makes the torso appear longer, and the hips appear fuller.

Make sure to stop in to Mestads so we can help you find the best ruffle dress for your figure!

TREND: Feathers

Feathers are a fun accent that many designers are putting on their dresses this year. We’re seeing everything from fully feathered skirts to small feathery embellishments. The feathers create a light, floaty, feminine look that will make you feel like the belle of the ball.

TREND: Cocktail Dress with Removable Skirt

Just like the High-Low dress, a similar style that is popular for 2012 is the cocktail dress with removable skirt.  This dress has the same concept of a High-Low, being short in the front and long in the back, but with this style the skirt attaches around the waist and can be removed to create a whole new dress for your dance. The best part about this type of dress is that you can continue to wear the cocktail dress underneath for years to come, but still have the long look for prom. What’s even better is that you don’t even need to have a bustle hook added to the dress to keep it off the floor. You can simply remove the top layer and dance the night away!

Staff Pick: ANNIE - SOUTHDALE

Annie has worked as a prom stylist at Mestads Southdale location for about a year. She is a senior at a local high school and is looking at colleges for the fall. She loves basketball, shopping, spending time with friends, drawing, cooking, and she was a dancer for 14 years!

Annie loves seeing the customer’s face when they have on “the dress” and they know it’s the one.

Annie staff pick is Sherri Hill 2835. She loves the trendy “carwash” style skirt, the sparkly paillette sequins, and the fact that this dress usually doesn’t need hemming. Since Annie is petite, she knows that hemming can be expensive and this style is perfect to avoid that added cost.

TREND: Chiffon

Everyone’s favorite fabric this year is chiffon! Chiffon is a light, flowy fabric that creates a soft feminine look that smoothes and hides any imperfection. The great thing about the chiffon dresses Mestads has this year is that they look good on EVERYONE!

TREND: Bling

Bling is back! Rhinestones, sequins and glitter are back this year and hotter than ever. Here are some trends that will wow them on the dance floor.

Shattered Glass Stones

One trend we see picking up is shattered glass stones. They are large rhinestones shaped like glass shards and they’re showing up everywhere this year.

Sequins

Another trend we are seeing a lot of this year is sequins. There are several types of sequined gowns. The two most popular types of sequined dresses are “all over sequins,” where sequins cover an entire portion of fabric, and rows of sequins, where the sequins drip down the dress in rows.

Black A/B

A completely new trend we are seeing this year is Black A/B rhinestones. These stones are black with a shiny reflective coating to make them appear multicolored.



Staff Pick: KARINA - ST. CLOUD

Karina works as a Prom Stylist at Mestads St. Cloud location, and this is her first year selling prom dresses! She hails from Prescott, WI, and is a junior at St. Cloud State majoring in public relations.

Karina is the lead singer in a band called The Lotus Goodnight, and she also plays ukulele and guitar. She enjoys the outdoors: hiking, climbing, kayaking, camping, and anything else you can think of!

Karina’s staff pick is Sherri Hill 8439. She loves the unique AB rhinestones across the bodice, the sparkle of the sequins, and the flowy high low hem!

TREND: High-Low Dresses

One big trend we are seeing in prom this year is the High-low dress. High-low simply means these dresses are short in the front and long in the back, making them easy and fun to dance in. We’re loving this style because it works for anyone, any height without having to be hemmed!   Our favorite feature on select styles of High-lows is a zip off skirt. Some dresses, like the Jovani dress below, have a hidden zipper that hides under the skirt so that it can be removed for the dance.

The best thing about High-lows is that they come in many different styles, from a straight dress to a fluffy ball gown, so there’s something for everyone!