The Belle of the Ball: To Be or Not to Be

Have you always had a princess fantasy? Did you dream of dressing up in a sparkling dress with layers upon layers of tulle and chiffon? Did your imagination have you surrounded by a court of maids preparing your stunning frock? Followed by being surrounded by a court of suitors waiting to carry you away on their white horses?
Maybe your fantasy didn't take you that far, but still many girls dream of wearing a billowing ballgown for their special event, be it prom, wedding or even a military ball. After all, what's more handsome than a soldier in his dress uniform with his stunning wife in her elegant ballgown.
Often, a bride envisions herself floating down the aisle with hoops of white skirt surrounding her, trailing a train that glides along behind her and her distinguished father. At her reception, she spins around the dance floor with her newly minted husband, all eyes captured by her beauty, turning misty at the dreamy atmosphere of the perfect evening.
Of course, when we work with our young Latinas preparing for their quinceañera, the special 15th birthday party, we understand that the bigger and frillier the ballgown the better. These gowns reach billowing proportions that most girls never even imagine. All variations of ruffles and floral designs in the layers of chiffon also grow in popularity.
What has continued to amaze us each year are the number of prom girls who long for the poofy, but not too poofy, ballgown to fulfill their own childhood fantasies.
Ballgowns have followed many of the trends over the past few years, now featuring the illusion shoulders or the off-shoulder sleeves. Some also feature long sleeves sparkling with the beading of the bodice.
Another change many parents are relieved to see is the old wire boning in the hoop petticoats has evolved into the plastic materials that allow the skirts to swirl while dancing but collapse when sitting, eliminating that fear of the skirt flying up and exposing the garments beneath.
What would be your fantasy dress? Come share your vision and we'll see how we can make it a reality.

Tracking Tuxedo Trends for 2018

In looking back through our blog archive, which it's hard to believe goes sporadically back to 2009, we've never given much consideration to what our guys are wearing. And we are pleased to be able to provide a full line of tuxedo rental and sales service, plus accessories, for men (of course, women are welcome to don tuxes, as well).
So as we get back into publishing a regular blog (shooting for every Thursday, if you want to follow), we decided it's high time the guys get a little attention. There's no better place to address men's fashion as we head into prom and wedding season than to look at trends in men's tuxedos. For the moment, let's look at two trends that have jumped out:

Fit

A couple of years ago, we started receiving requests from our younger customers for a tighter-fitting tuxedo, especially the pants. Admittedly, with their adjustable style, tuxedo pants can offer some pretty baggy fits for slender gentlemen.
Initially, tuxedo pants came in two basic fits, pleated pants and flat-front pants. Pleated pants offer a little more room when sitting but still lay nicely when you are standing -- perfect for the bigger guys. But at that point the thinner fellows only had the flat-front option, which still offered ample room in the seat.
Several years back, more modern tuxedos started coming with the modern slim-fit pants, which eliminated some of the baggy complaints. The slim-fit pant gives a more tapered look, but with the advent of the skinny pant in ready-to-wear fashion, many younger men still didn't feel this look was slim enough.
Last year, Jim's Formal Wear began providing us with an ultra-slim pant that seems to satisfy the quest for a truly skinny look. If you're not familiar with this style, you can expect the pants to hug your thighs and taper to the ankle, where they need to be hemmed above the shoe top as they are not wide enough to drape over the shoe. The cut of the seat also means the waist rides lower than traditional tuxedo pants, so you get a completely different look with an ultra-slim pant.
Jackets also have become more snug fitting from the slim fit to the ultra slim. You can expect an ultra-slim jacket to strain across the stomach when you button it.

Color

The tuxedo purist might say the only true tuxedo is a black tuxedo or maybe white, but grays and blues have been gaining a greater share of the tuxedo market in recent years. (No, we're not talking about the sky blue tuxedos of the 1970s.)
Last year's addition of a steel gray option to the Michael Kors Wedding Suit lineup from Jim's (a tux that debuted in 2016 in black and navy) proved popular in both prom and wedding tuxedo rentals.
Shades of gray have been strong choices for wedding parties for several years. But it's hard to pin down a favorite as Jim's offers options in steel gray, medium gray and heather gray, each of which draws fans. A heather gray suit from Allure Men has been added to the Jim's catalog this year.
Blues also have been gaining ground the past few years, to the point this year it has been our most requested color for the guys booking their wedding tuxes early. While the navy wedding suit seems to be the leader so far, Jim's has added an indigo blue tuxedo from Ike Behar this year to add a fourth blue option (cobalt and slate are the other two).
No matter your preference of fit, style or color, ETC boutique is happy to work with you to find the perfect look for your wedding, prom or any other special event. Our extended hours in the mall make it easy for you and the members of a wedding party to make it in for measurements and fittings.
You can preview the entire line from Jim's Formal Wear on their website, where you have the option to build your tux and book it through ETC boutique.

Something New from Something Old

A real fashionista knows that as soon as you clean out your closet, those old styles you're giving away to charity will be coming back into fashion. Whether it comes back as retro or returns as something brand new most likely will depend upon how long it's been out of fashion.
One trend that's been making a comeback the past couple of years as something brand new is the off-the-shoulder look. Off-the-shoulder blouses and dresses permeated the fashion scene in summer 2016 and the trend has carried onto the prom dress runway for Spring 2018.
Off-the-shoulder dresses are everywhere, from gigantic ballgowns to slinky fitted jersey dresses. They are adorned with jewels or stripped bare. They vary from skinny straps to straight across long sleeves. They drape or hug the arm.
While they have adorned the red carpets and filled the racks of your favorite ready-to-wear outlet, off-the-shoulder styles have not come without controversy. This is largely because the original off-shoulder looks were in Victorian fashions of the early 19th century, representing the restrictions women faced, not only in their fashion choices, but in their very movements. These pesky sleeves would only stay put for women who performed no tasks more rigorous than sipping tea or embroidering.
As women gained a place outside the home, they needed sleeves that allowed them to work and move with comfort and convenience.
But each time the off-the-shoulder sleeves come back, they appear to do so by sending a message from women that they can be strong and sexy. And exposing those bare shoulders provides that hint of allure that is perfect for the prom season.
As Brooke Jaffe, fashion director for women's ready-to-wear at Bloomingdale's, told the Washington Post, “I don’t know many women who hate their shoulders.”
If you're looking to show off a little shoulder with a fun off-the-shoulder dress this prom season, come see all the various options our designers have for you.

What's on Your Color Palette for Prom 2018?

One of the fun aspects of the formal wear business when prom season rolls around is to see what colors the girls are searching for in their dream dress.
We might have some indications based on what colors were big the previous year and what seemed to be starting to catch fire. For instance, two years ago, burgundy dresses caught a few girls' eyes, and last year burgundy and wine were big winners.
Given what we are seeing from our providers this year, that trend is going to get even stronger. Navy has been a big up-and-comer the past three years and still seems to be gaining traction over the once-popular royal blue.
However, if we listen to the experts from Pantone who analyzed the colors passing down the runway last fall during New York Fashion Week, a whole new set of colors could be on girls' minds when they head out prom dress shopping.

The Pantone Palette

Let's look at that Pantone is predicting:
• Meadowlark: This bright yellow is more likely to appear in highlight colors in florals and prints rather than as a dress color.
• Cherry Tomato: A slight orangey red certainly could find its place in our runway as reds never seem to go out of style.
• Little Boy Blue: The sky shades of blue have been finding a small niche in the market so it will be interesting to see if it reaches new heights this year.
• Chili Oil: Burgundy will be a likely substitute for this earthy brown red.
• Pink Lavender: We're in a college town where purple reigns supreme but the lilac and lavender shades started to draw their admirers last year.
• Blooming Dahlia: This orangish-pinkish blend is unlikely to find a home here as the coral craze a few years back never caught on with the Kansas girls.
• Arcadia: This green with a hint of blue buys into the peek into a trend we are seeing with requests for the darker green shades like hunter green, jade and even emerald.
• Ultra Violet: We already mentioned we are in a purple town, so this darker shade could find its way into the prom lineup – and even some mother of the bride styles.
• Emperador: This rich chocolate has not shown up in our dress lines, but it's close cousin mocha is making a play.
• Almost Mauve: This vintagey pale purple with a hint of gray could attract attention for the retro girls.
• Spring Crocus: Only the special girl who wants to stand out at her prom will opt for the bright magenta tone.
• Lime Punch: The neon yellow-green tone again could appear in some wild prints.
Pantone also offered up a Classic Color Palette for spring that looks a little more traditional with Sailor Blue (nearly navy), Harbor Mist (medium gray), Warm Sand (neutral beige) and Coconut Milk (off white) that would more closely define our tuxedo customers.
Whether you want to play along with Pantone or strike out on your own daring color adventure, ETC will help you find a unique dress to fit your style and personality. 

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.