How to Look Hot at Winter Formal

HoliBall, Winter Ball, Winter Formal. Whatever the name of your school's winter formal dance, this is a chance for you to really shine before Prom season.
Not all schools follow the tradition of offering a winter formal dance for their students, but many smaller schools in Central Kansas offer these events. And in most of these schools, the winter formal overshadows Homecoming, making that dance more of a casual affair.
That takes us to the question: How do you look hot at your winter formal dance?

Get Your Sparkle On

In the dark, cold days of winter, there's nothing like turning up the heat with lots of sparkle. You'll cast a glow on the dance floor, sometimes literally as the dance floor lights will reflect off your dress's crystals and send that sparkle out around the room. These sparkles can come from three main sources on your dress: sequins, clear crystals or colored/multicolored crystals.
A full sequin dress will make you dazzling on the dance floor, while crystal enhancements can be full-out sparkle if you dress with many or more subtle if you like just a little bling.

Find Your Shape

No matter what kinds of curves your body has or does not have, you can find the perfect dress shape. Many short formal dresses feature the full skirt but many companies are offering body-hugging short dresses in formal styles.
The fabric of your dress also makes a huge difference, even among the same shapes. A stretchy jersey fabric will look much different than a lace overlay in the same style dress.
The illusion and embellished sleeves and halters also are popular in shorter dresses. They give the illusion of a strapless dress, but can feature extra bling and also provide support while you are dancing and enjoying your party.

When you visit ETC boutique, we can help you find the perfect, one-of-a-kind dress to make you shine at your winter formal. We also can special order your dress and receive it in about 5 business days. See us today in Manhattan Town Center.

Prom Dress Trends 2017

Prom 2017 promises to be more exciting than ever as designs continue to grow bolder, brighter and blingier and colors run the gamut from bright pastels (is that a contradiction?) to rich darks. Which style will you choose to stand out at your prom this season? Here's just a sampling of the trends you'll be seeing for 2017 (we'll explore more in-depth in future posts):

Crop Tops

The two-piece dress really gained traction in 2016 in Kansas, and this year the trend is growing even bolder with the crop top, to show more of those rippled abs. Of course, the milder two-piece dresses that show just a sliver of skin at the mid-section will continue to gain in popularity this year, as it will be only the fittest, bravest girls who opt for the crop top.

Bold Floral Prints

Floral prints started to reassert themselves last year and are coming on stronger in 2017. Tiffany Design will offer classic floral, floral Mikado and even a floral print over bold black and white stripes this season.

Delicate Floral Embroidery

A takeoff on the floral design that will surely be a hit with our Kansas girls this year is the floral embroidery. These delicate designs are one of the biggest trends this year, so you don't want to be left behind on this one.

Sparkle, Sparkle, Sparkle

Girls again will be twinkling under the dance floor lights this year with the trend toward sequin and crystal designs sure to turn all eyes your way.

ETC boutique in Manhattan Town Center is excited to offer all these styles of prom dresses and more to our prom girls for 2017. The great news is you don't need to wait to see the latest styles. We have catalogs in the store now, and we can begin taking orders so you reserve your one-of-a-kind dress for Prom 2017. We can make your parents' lives easier, too, with layaway and payment plans.

Wedding Dress Trends for 2017

ETC boutique is looking forward to a market trip in about 10 days to get a preview of wedding and prom trends for 2017, but we couldn't resist peeking ahead by browsing online a little.
According to Brides magazine, among the wedding dress trends for 2017 are:

Photo from Brides.com

• Plunging necklines: Brides' Roberta Correia reported the 2017 look for brides will be much sexier, largely due to those deep-V styles seen in nearly every bridal dress line. She noted the designers are counting on brides to make a bold, skin-baring choice, with a result she described as "elegantly sexy."
• Bare shoulders: Along with the exposed decolletage, brides are being encouraged to show their shoulders with the off-shoulder look making a strong appearance, a trend that's moved slowly from the ready-to-wear runway.
• Toppers: Be it capelets, bomber jackets, boleros or ponchos, the topper also grabbed its share of attention from designers for 2017.
• Big bows: The oversized bow made its presence felt from many designers this year, be it a more traditional back bow or something to adorn the waist or sleeves, or even jewelry.
• Brides in color: The traditional white is receiving a challenge from designers this year who are taking off the Pantone colors of the year (Rose Quartz and Serenity) to adorn their brides in new hues. The rose-colored dress made several appearances on the runways along with shades of blue.
We'll share our own take on the 2017 bridal trends in a couple of weeks after our own trip to the bridal and prom market.

We Enjoy Our Military Ball Customers

One of the attractions for ETC boutique when we decided to open a formal wear store in Manhattan Town Center in Manhattan, Kansas, was the proximity to Fort Riley and the opportunity to work with more customers looking for formal dresses for military balls.

Military balls can be large or small, depending upon whether it's a unit, a brigade, a detachment, etc. Either way, it's an opportunity for couples to dress up and enjoy an evening with friends and co-workers, away from the stresses of family and jobs. Oftentimes, the balls are planned on rather short notice as units schedule a ball before a deployment or shortly after returning from a deployment.
This leaves the women, be they the wife of a soldier or a soldier, searching for a dress that can reflect her personality, will be unique and can arrive quickly. Fortunately, ETC boutique works with many providers who can supply us a dress in four or five days, and alternations are done in-house, so they can be completed quickly as well.
That leaves the decision of what style of dress to wear. Some women choose to go all out with a full ball gown that allows them to make a sweeping entrance into the ball. Others choose a more simple yet elegant look that can match the husband's dress uniform. Of course, some of the women searching for a dress are soldiers themselves, and they enjoy the opportunity to stand out away from their dress uniform.
If you are in need of a formal dress for an upcoming military ball, visit ETC boutique to see the latest styles and find a dress that matches your personality. You'll enjoy our friendly service and quick response to your needs.

Homecoming Trends in Formal Dresses

If you want to spice up your homecoming this fall, why not try one of the latest fashion trends in formal dresses for fall.

Floral Prints

Floral prints started appearing for prom dresses last spring, and we had just a few girls in Manhattan who were bold enough to put on a bold floral print for their prom. This fall the trend has carried over into short homecoming dresses. 

Typically the floral print is featured in the skirt, topped by a bejewelled top, but sometimes it's reversed with the floral accenting the top and a solid-colored skirt.

Two-piece Dresses

The two-piece dress made its debut for prom dresses a few years ago, but didn't really catch on with our Kansas girls until this past prom season. Then it caught on in a big way with nearly every other girl asking about two-piece prom dresses. We seldom kept a two-piece dress in our Manhattan store window for more than a day or two before some girl snatched it up for herself. 

We're expecting more of the same this homecoming season as our providers offer a huge variety of short dresses in two pieces. Girls can choose from a full skirt or a fitted style, depending upon her tastes. 

Intricate Beadwork

Intricately patterned beadwork is another feature that has carried over from prom dresses into homecoming dresses this year. Many companies are using this beading that looks like something that would appear on a royal outfit, but now it can be a detail on your homecoming dress. Carrying the beading from the bodice to the hem of the skirt adds even more appeal. 

At ETC boutique in Manhattan Town Center, we'd love to work with you to decide exactly which features you would like in your homecoming dress, or dress for any formal occasion. 

Fashion Thoughts on Homecoming

With the school year getting back into swing here in Kansas, our thoughts begin to turn to homecoming. While each school seems to handle homecoming a little differently, we try to think about the statement each young lady or young man wants to make during their homecoming.

Age Differential 

Younger ladies – freshmen and sophomores – see homecoming as their first chance to shine at an "adult" high school dance. They are more excited about the opportunity to shop for an adult dress and like the bling. On the other hand, mom and dad sometimes struggle with seeing their little girl growing up and like to influence them toward a more conservative look.
We did hear a few complaints from older high-schoolers last year that underclass ladies were opting for long dresses, in essense turning homecoming into their own little prom.
Juniors and seniors tend to be more focused on prom dresses and treat homecoming as more of an obligation. They will go to make an appearance with their boyfriend, but aren't too concerned with getting the perfect dress to make just the right look for homecoming.

Court of Honor

The exception to that would be the ladies and gentlemen selected to serve as queen and king candidates for their schools. Knowing they will be paraded onto the field in front of their parents and entire community, these candidates look for a little more elegance

What About the Guys?

Young men shoot for that in-between look for homecoming, for the most part. Not so casual as their everyday wear, but also not often do they choose the full tux option. Generally, bow ties and skinny ties are popular choices to pair with dress slacks and shirt. Adding a pair of suspenders or opting for a brightly colored shirt makes for a fun statement.
What look do you or your sons and daughters strive for at homecoming? Leave us a comment. Next blog we'll talk about some style trends we see this year.