It’s finally April and you know what that means. That gray slush begins to melt, and finally it’s safe to go outside without our parkas! UConn begins to replace acres of grass with more grass, and maybe even a flower or two. Most importantly, it’s formal season!
Formal season: that precious month in April in which you (and everyone you know) is stressing over dates, diets, pictures, and most importantly… dresses. This period generally involves a lot of almost invites and uncomfortable blind set-ups with the brother of a sister’s cousin.
So what do you actually wear to a formal? Compared to semi (or semi-semi), formal tends to be just that… more formal. If you have a long dress, this is usually your best bet to whip it out. However, you won’t really see a common theme throughout the night, although it is assumed you won’t show up in leggings and a sweatshirt. Personally, I love dressing up, so formal is the perfect excuse to spend hours “researching” current trends and narrowing down options. But where do you even start?
I would highly suggest Rent the Runway. I’m obsessed with RTR, and I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t be too. With the prevalence of social media, let’s be honest when we say we’re probably not going to wear the same dress twice. And while buying a 100 dollar dress for one night might seem like a good idea at the time, your wallet and your closet might strain after a few parties. Enter RTR, here you get to rent a literal designer dress, act like you understand the difference between Christian Siriano and Reem Acra. But if renting isn’t quite your style, there are still plenty of ways to get the perfect dress. See below for a few of my favorite tips.
1. Swap with a friend for the night! No one will notice, and you’ll practically have a brand new dress. Add a few statement accessories and you’ll be the belle of the ball!
2. Check department stores. Prom season is right around the corner, and with that comes a slew of eligible formal dresses.
3. Pinterest! Search for whatever you want and no doubt someone, somewhere, once wore it. Definitely check here for inspiring accessories and the perfect shoes.
And remember, no matter what you wear, prepare to have the time of your life. You only have 4 formals, so try and enjoy every second of each one. It’s all about you and your friends for the night.