Best Accessories for Your Prom Dress

Best Accessories for Your Prom Dress
Kathryn Lively

As you’re shopping for the prom, you’ll find that getting the perfect dress is only half the battle. If you really want to make an impression, it’s necessary to accessorize your prom gown so that you really turn heads on the big night. Now, what you need to go with your prom dress will vary, depending on the style – floor-length, short dress, empire cut or strapless – and you want to be certain not to go overboard. Flash is nice, but you want to avoid looking gaudy and overdone.

Jewelry is a must with any dress, and what you wear will largely depend upon the cut of your gown’s sleeves and/or bust. Also, if you plan to wear earrings it is a good idea to keep one set of jewelry elaborate and the other simple. In others words you can have dramatic drop earrings to draw attention to your face, accompanied by a simple choker or pendant necklace that matches the color. Or, you can reverse the look with a luxurious necklace and stud earrings.

The late Jacqueline Onassis, largely regarded as one of the top fashion icons of the 20th century, held to the suggestion that one should never wear more than three pieces of jewelry at a time. If you have a bulky class ring, you may want to leave it at home this night in favor of something that better complements your outfit, or else keep your fingers bare and try a simple bracelet if you don’t wear gloves.

Do you wish to wear gloves with your prom dress? They tend to work mainly with longer, sleeveless gowns or prom dresses with spaghetti straps. If you are wearing sleeves, you may opt for smaller, opera style gloves. The length of the glove usually corresponds to how much or how little your arms are exposed.

While you’re at the prom, you definitely don’t want to lug around your normal purse. Find a smaller clutch with or without a cross-body chain or strap that matches your dress color.

The right accessories for your prom outfit, tastefully worn, can enhance the way you look on your big night.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on prom dresses and prom gowns.