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: 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!

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.



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!

Short Dresses = Embellished Shoes!

If you're going short for homecoming this fall, then your shoes matter. How will you flaunt your footwear? Ruffles? Bows? Roses? Sparkle? The possibilities are endless, and can be found in any price range. Here are a few of my favorites:

Forever 21 $28.80

Paris Hilton $99

Kate Spade (I know... But they're soooo pretty) $325



New HOMECOMING Dresses

Very soon, Mestads Rochester and Southdale will be filled with new, fantastic short dresses from Mori Lee's super-cute Homecoming 2010 collection! Here are a few of our favorites, and be sure to check out our whole album on Facebook, and "like" Mestads for the latest updates on new arrivals and sales!

Homecoming is Here!

Maybe right now you're thinking more about pencil cases, calculators and filler paper than about what you'll wear to Homecoming, but it is right around the corner!

Mestads has started to recieve some fabulous short dresses for Homecoming, and most are under $200! We've got sparkly dresses, one shoulder styles, prints, solids, and everything in between!

Is your school more formal than short dresses? No problem! As always, we have a great selection of long gowns as well.

Here are a few styles to get you started:

Just In Time for Holiday Parties!

Just in time for your holiday fete, Mestads has short sparkly cocktail dresses! Here are a few of my favorites: