Formal season. Chaos. Every year as the season draws to an end, we women are faced with the decision…of finding a date. For some, it is an easy decision. They have their long-term boyfriend of six years who is more than willing to don the suit and tie. But for the single ladies in the crowd, it is a time period of stress, anxiety and self-consciousness.
For those of you who have a boyfriend and can avoid these issues, we salute you. To the girls who struggle with the decision of who to bring to formal, you’re not alone. But here are a few things to ease your mind:
- This is not a formal marriage ceremony. You will most likely not be marrying the person you bring to formal, therefore, this decision will not haunt you for the rest of your life…only the rest of the semester. Luckily for you, it ends in two weeks.
- There are no expectations. You can ditch him the moment you walk through the door. You may find yourself enjoying their company but don’t forget, you can always ditch him…
- PSA to the boys receiving these coveted invites: you are lucky. There are more than 1,400 boys to choose from at this school. Be appreciative and you’ll even get brownie points if you give her your jacket at the end of the night.
To the girls going stag. We respect you. You are a strong, independent woman, who don’t need no man! However, your stress probably stems from your outfit choice. We are here to help.
- Honestly, throw the classic LBD out the window. This is your time to shine and pick something that empowers you! So break out that jumpsuit, snedges, or fringe cape you’ve been eyeing. These are not your wedding photos.
- Don’t be afraid to take off your shoes to dance. The best part of formal is frolicking in the disco light with your friends. If the heels prohibit that, they need to go.
The best advice we can give you is cliché but true. HAVE FUN! In the grand scheme of life, this formal is but four hours on a Saturday night. You can choose to take those four hours in stride, making it just another memorable night in your college experience. So remember…it’s just a date and it’s just a dress. Family members will not (we hope) be scouring photo albums of this night in the future. So if we haven’t said it enough, it’s only one night. Let’s make the best of it!