Shopping Atlanta’s Mart:  Prom 2007

Jane and Nancy Engelke just returned from Atlanta’s AmericasMart August Prom Market.  Elizabeth Michaels has been nominated for the AmericasMart 2006 DIVA Prom Retailer of the year Award.  The winner will be announced at a ceremony during the October market.  There have been three stores nominated from the Atlanta’s territory. Designers are also given DIVA awards and you will see them listed on their websites.  There is also the Dallas Fashion Award, the Rose Award etc for other parts of the country.

From thousands of offerings Jane and Nancy picked close to 400 gowns for 2007 prom and they will begin arriving at the store in mid-December. In addition, top notch pageant gowns, interview suits, competition swim wear and shoes, shoes, shoes have been ordered.  So, what is new this year?

In the pageant realm we have some new looks. Sherri Hill has designed gowns with Pave’ Swavorski Crystals covering entire areas of the pageant gown.  One such gown had a wholesale price of $7,500.00.  Sherri is also using a fabric that looks like tiny open chain weave.  It comes only in gold, a very unusual presentation when used in the right combination.  Sherri sketched a special gown of Jane’s creation using this material with some other unusual twists.  The nice thing about ordering from Sherri Hill is the fact that you can design one of a kind gowns for your customers.  Several girls put in orders for their “dream” gown before Jane attended market.

Tony Bowls had an awesome gown with long sleeves and open, scalloped front.  The entire gown was covered in black bugle beads.  The model was well over six foot tall and was mouth dropping GORGEOUS!!!  With that combination the gown and girl would be a winner in any pageant judges eyes.

For prom 2007 look for “retro glitz”, bouffant’s and flips all with a modern twist.  Bubble skirts are really, really big!  They were popular in the late 50’s. A new fabric being used is the lame’, prominently in gold and silver. Polka Dots are big as is Dotted Swiss, also 50’s style. 

Jovani is using lots of bows, lace and wild prints.  Many dresses are two-piece and the short dress is being shown by all the vendors.  Terani had the cutest short dresses last year and they were a very big hit.  Terani designers have outdone themselves this year.  A favorite of shoppers was a short, very full lame dress with lots of crinoline to make the dress stand way out.  The colors being rose, gold and silver.  Look for lots and lots of lame’.

Ball gowns are big all over the country.  Every vendor had about half of his or her collection in the ball gown style. Red carpet dresses are still popular but not as much as last year.  There is still a few named after stars or movies.  The nude illusion dress is about gone.  More traditional gowns seem to be the more prevalent choice this year. Beading is also making a big comeback.  Chocolate is the big color news.  There was some chocolate last year but is much bigger news this year.

Elizabeth Michaels favorite designers are Jovani, (www.jovani.com) Paris Prom by Tony Bowls (www.parisprom.com) and Terani. (www.teraniprom.com)  Flirt by Maggie Sottero (www.flirtprom.com)  is great as well. Niteline was very popular last year and will be again this year.  One trend noticed was the favorites of last year being offered again this year.  The seasoned eye cannot help but notice how one designer steals ideas from the next.  In some cases it is very blatant This happens in shoes as well as gowns.

Alisha Hill (www.alishahill.com) is in her early twenties and is designing some fabulous shoes for this year’s prom.  She is the daughter of designer Sherri Hill. One of Jane and Nancy’s favorites was a patent leather sling pump with a bow.  Another very retro style.

Most vendors do not have their 2007 merchandise on line yet.  Elizabeth Michaels will have links to all the prom vendors they will be carrying and will give you a “heads up” in this forum when they do begin to show up on the net.  (www.elizabethmichaels.net)

Jane Engelke is a M.A.C. make-up artist and attended a seminar at market on fall trends.  Contouring is making a comeback.  This is where you use a brush and light powder to contour your cheekbones and nose.  It is a very subtle technique.  Your face is a blank canvas and as you apply your make-up with brushes you create a beautiful painting.  Brushes are the number one tool when you apply your make-up.  You need them to create the look you are working towards. 

For special occasions you may want to spend as much as a half an hour on your application however on a daily basis keep it to 15 minutes.  You need to make one area of your face the standout.  Daytime looks suggest softer eyes and bolder lips.  The bright red lips of the 50’s are the new trend.  At night you can go for bolder eyes and lips.  Gold, Plum, Grays, Olive and Copper are eye color trends.  With brown eyes use Olive and Greens.  Green makes eyes “pop” and Navy’s are good also.

If you go to www.macmakeup.com you can see a picture of the soft eyes and bright lips.  Inside Style and Fashion wishes you a great fall season and we will chat again next month.