Area teens choosing 'Cinderella' dress styles for prom

Bethany Hughes thought she found the prom dress of her dreams in a magazine spread. The dress had a long bodice with a halter top, but once Hughes tried it on, she realized it wasn't for her.

So the Puxico High School junior had to start her dress search again.

Six shops and more than 30 dresses later, Hughes found another dream dress at House of Brides in Cape Girardeau.

"I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it," said Hughes.

With high school proms less than a month away, dress shops are seeing scores of customers.

Leigh Shoemaker, owner of House of Brides in Cape Girardeau, says February is the usual start for the prom shopping season, but some customers came in at the end of December.

"The companies haven't even sent catalogs out yet," she said of December shoppers. But that doesn't stop girls from flipping the pages of fashion magazines or searching the Internet for their perfect dress.

Girls were literally knocking on the doors of Alyshia's Magical Moments long before it was opened for business in late November. Owner Alyshia McLendon couldn't finish renovations inside because girls were eager to try on the display dresses in the windows.

With just a month until her first prom, Sikeston sophomore Chelsea Aldrich hit the racks at Alyshia's, taking any dress in to the fitting room that stood out. She said trends have no influence on her decision.

"I'm just myself. Whatever I like is what I like," Aldrich said as she sorted through the dresses looking for one dazzling enough to wear. She hoped to find one suitable for a beauty pageant next month and prom later.

Hers was an easy task considering the store carries many one-of-a-kind dresses. No other boutique in Southeast Missouri carries La Femme, the designer label responsible for the patchwork of colors and intricate detailed dresses drawing crowds of girls into the store.

Determining what dress to wear really depends on the girl, Shoemaker said. "Some go for the toile. Some want the sleek, beaded dresses."

Both styles have been popular this year and in years past, but there always proves to be a mix, she said.

Fashion magazines and catalogs have a major influence on popular styles nationwide. The magazines are like mini bridal magazines, filled with pictures of dresses and information about accessories, the pre-prom dinner, the party and planning tips.

But style inspiration can come from anywhere. At last year's Notre Dame High School prom, Laura Brown found her dream dress on a friend. She knew the light blue strapless dress covered in shimmery glitter would be perfect for this year at her senior prom.

Finding the perfect dress, however, came with a price limit for Brown. She stuck to the sale racks and found a perfect match.

"I don't think it's worth spending over $200. I know I'd never wear it again," she said.

For some girls, price is no issue and they go over the top when selecting their dress and accessories. And designers know it -- Magic by Mystique offers a line of fiber optic dresses that light up. The dresses are available locally.

"They are tiny lights so you don't light up like a Christmas tree," said Shoemaker, who sold one. The lights go undetected in between the beading when they are not turned on. And when they are, it's a small flickering. The lights run by a minuscule battery that fits in a hidden pocket in the dress lining.

While there's always a hint of glamour at prom, the majority of girls tend to choose rather conservative styles. Shoemaker didn't order two-piece dresses or anything outrageous this year for fear they wouldn't sell.

"It seems to be more of a conservative area, so we stay away from the wilder dresses," she said.

But conservative does not mean bland and boring. No matter what style the girls decide on, their main concerns are bright colors and unique designs.

Hughes wanted to stand out from the crowd at Puxico High School. She was looking for an infusion of color and the strapless, bright fuschia dress with a large bell skirt -- a classic Cinderella look -- did the trick.

Hughes said trends do not usually influence her prom dress decisions, but she is right on target with her selection since fluorescent colors are making a comeback.

cpierce@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127