Over the last few years there have been increasing reports of schools in the UK setting stricter rules about what their pupils wear. I know one school which bans pupils from wearing coats over their blazers in the school grounds (and no, there are not enough lockers to hang them so pupils just don’t bring them and get wet instead). Another school banned girls wearing skirts.  In the US an increasing number of schools are also setting out rules regarding prom dresses.

Prom dress styles you cant get away with

A recent article in the Daily Mail highlighted the range of fashions now being publicised as inappropriate at a prom. Posters and power points are being put up and emailed to pupils to draw their attention to what is considered inappropriate. For example

• To short; so just below the derriere is not allowed
• Slit to high; much above the knee is not allowed
•  Cut out sides showing more than 3 inches
• To many cut-outs on sides and back
• Low arm holes
• Plunging back dresses

There are reports from some US prom dress companies of dresses being returned. Girls are realising they might be turned away from their prom and will not risk it, hence swapping their dress for something “less revealing” or  more compliant with the school rules.  Some schools have teams measuring dresses as girls arrive, checking they comply. And they’re also checking for panels that have been tacked on, later to be ripped off to reveal the real dress beneath!

It has to be said some prom “dresses” do leave little to the imagination, and wouldn’t in my book qualify as particularly flattering.

Of course, its perfectly possible that what was once acceptable can now be deemed “law breaking” The recent picture of Michelle Obabma’s prom dress reveals alot of leg….with that dress she would have been turned away from many a prom in this decade!

Being aware of your body shape, what suits you and above all, what is flattering seems to be a sensible approach. Of course, what happens in the States often filters over her to the UK, and it would come as no surprise if we start to hear about such “fashion” rules coming into force at UK school prom’s. But I wonder if some other trends might also hit over here? Such as the boys who was banned for turning up in full Scottish kilt attire? Or an instance where a  boy tried to turn up in a dress to win the prom queen title?

So just ensure, you get a prom dress that ISNT going to see you turned away at the door!

inappropriate prom dresses · Michelle Obama prom dress · Prom dress rules

Ruby Prom’s latest style crush is Megan Fox. She shows all girls you can be both a successful business women, and be independent, whilst still looking amazing. She has starred in many hit films such as Transformers, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People and Jennifer’s Body. In each of these films whatever the character she still has a magnetic presence.

Megan Fox is an international celebrity gracing the cover of many magazines including Vogue, Elle and FHM. She is now about to appear on the cover of Cosmopolitan for the April 2012 issue. There is no doubt why she is featured so many times in these magazines.

Megan is featured above in this cute pink dress perfect for parties or even the red carpet. She demonstrates you don’t have to wear a long dress to look classy. Ruby Prom loves the contrast in colours featured on Megan’s dress and this unusual shape.

Ruby Prom’s  Lucy dress  represents this style using pinks and subtle changes in fabric to create a two toned dress, combining both purple and pink to create this sweet dress perfect for Spring/Summer. The added satin flower and beadwork finishes off the dress with an added kick of individuality. This 50’s style dress oozes sophistication and glamour, and is a must have in any girls dress collection.

Girls, get online to www.rubyprom.com to ensure you look ore inspiring at your next event! Don’t miss out. Get in touch with us on Twitter  and Facebook  to keep up to date with our latest info. Check out our last Celebrity style match Eva Longoria!

celebrity style match · Dress like Megan Fox · dual colour dress · Lucy prom dress · party dress · pink dress

Our design studio

I wonder how many people realise the critical relationship between a magnetic wall and the creation of a prom dress?
No?
Well, in our studio outside Sheffield, Amanda O’Neil is hard at work dreaming up new designs for the next seasons prom dresses. Now, that doesn’t mean flicking through some mags, doodling with a pencil and hey presto! No, there’s a great deal more to it than that. The research includes current (and future!) trends, colours, demographics, what sizes are selling, demand on styles and of course, fabrics.
All those ingredients go into the discussions surrounding the plans, but then the ideas start flowing, and yes, the computer programmes, the pencil and colour charts all come out. But in order to get a real perspective of what is coming together it is important to see the evolution of ideas, styles and decoration. And so that’s where the magnetic wall comes in.
Using simple magnets, the designs can be put up on the wall. Given its about 14metres by 12 there’s a lot of space. Amanda can group ideas into styles, decorations, colours. The whole collection can be moved about, picked over and the team can see it all in one place. A whole group of us can then “discuss” (haha) the ideas, chew over a style and throw random elements together to get new and hopefully exciting styles.
Of course, the wall can throw up some issues. Members of the team under 5ft 2inches tall get annoyed when they can’t reach the design at the top. And the dastardly MD has yet to be persuaded a set of ladders is needed in a design studio! The long-sighted members of the team enjoy pontificating from distance on the range of 30 designs on show, whilst the short sited have to get up close to see three! And it would be unfair to describe the situation when one team member with a penchant for piercings got too close (it is called a “magnetic wall”…..you’d think there was a warning there would n’t you?)
So there you are. The importance of a magnetic wall in prom dress designing!

prom dress designs · Ruby Prom design studio

This Texas born star Eva Longoria, is well known for her role as Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives and always knows how to look glamorous on and off set.
She knows how to wow the crowds making an entrance in this beautiful purple layered gown with fitted bodice and gorgeous skirt. Ruby Prom always has our eyes on trends and how to make you girls feel amazing!

Our Savannah dress featured here in purple is perfect for making a statement this season; the sparkling diamantes around the bust and waist add that extra kick of captivating style. This bodice coupled with a tiered skirt and drop waist flatters the figure and makes any girl look dazzling! If purple isn’t your colour, why not try our Savannah dress in Teal and still have that sophisticated ore inspiring look?

Eva Longoria the face of L’Oreal in 2005 is well known to be a beautiful woman and was voted in FHM’s sexiest women proves she knows how to create that fantastic look which is envied and admired by others. An important part of completing a great look is by adding some gorgeous accessories to complement your dress.

To create this bewitching look, why not add a pair of glittering Ruby Prom shoes to your outfit! Our simple Emily shoes in silver will give you that added bit of style with a subtle hint of sparkle. To finish off your outfit, what about our twinkling Abby bag in a statement heart shape? This will be sure to win over their hearts at whatever event you are attending, with this combination of style and sophistication, you will be able to stand out from the crowd in an effortless way.

For the Eva Longoria fans out there, you can follow Eva on twitter, at twitter.com/evalongoria
If you’re not already doing so, be sure to follow Ruby Prom on Twitter and Facebook, for the latest updates on fashion and prom news.

Desperate Housewives · Eva Longoria · Savannha Prom Dress

Now that you are busy planning your end of year activities such as your Prom, have you considered producing a yearbook? Yearbooks have been increasingly the sort-after thing to have as a memory and reference to your last 6 years+. Yearbooks not only give you a visual reminder but a long time reference to what everyone said they would be (compared to perhaps what they ended up doing?).

Needless to say the advent of the web has moved yearbooks beyond the tortuous publication methods and designs that you see in the films, like Grosse Point Blank etc. Now, yearbooks are generated online, with uploading of images and text, even voting in polls for the different awards, and much more. The production values are then also very high. No longer just some black and white photo album; a much more vibrant and professional layout can be achieved. I took a look at Meno yearbooks, and was blown away by the funky layouts, and all the photo content. It’s intriguing to see it’s not just an academic thing; the yearbook writes up all the party stories, comments from teachers, school trips etc. From £10 each it seemed like a bargain.

So, if you want to see more on this idea, go and take a peak at Meno Yearbook . And if you quote ‘RUBY’ when you register you can save 10% on the total cost of your yearbooks. There is also a ticket offer at present; for all their 2012 customers Meno are offering to print a set of prom tickets for free!

Go and visit Meno for more information.

Meno · Prom year book · Year book