The spring gowns have hit the stores and now is the best time to shop to get your favorite pageant gown before they are picked over. Here are some important tips to keep in mind when looking for your competition gown.
Know your system. Some pageants have specific requirements about the gowns worn by the contestants. Thoroughly read your paperwork and ask the director any questions you have. It’s important to know the modesty level of the pageant system in which you are competing.
Pageant Dress must be age appropriate. Do not put a strapless gown on girls under the age of 12. Spaghetti straps, as thin as they might be, are still a strap. Generally speaking, strapless gowns are most accepted on girls 15 and up. Make sure cleavage is properly covered. Slits and the color black are usually for women over the age of 18. Your judging panel is made up of many different personalities and people. Every person has their opinion as to what is “age appropriate.” To score the highest points, it is better to be classy and tasteful. Judges do not like seeing young girls look like teenagers, nor do they like teenagers dressing like mature women.
For competition, choose a solid colored gown. Save the fun prints for appearance and fun fashion. In a traditional, natural pageant, you want the fabric of your gown to be one color with the beads and stones complementing the style and cut of the dress. The dress should draw attention to you, not draw our attention to the dress. Your gown should make your body look proportional and you need to be able to walk in it comfortably. In natural pageant, do not wear hoops under the ball gowns. A skirt that is too full and big will be distracting to the judges and shorten the height of the girl wearing it.
In a pageant, you want to wear the best color and style gown that is perfect for YOU. Don’t worry about what the other girls are wearing. I’ve seen contestants blow their chance at the title because they took an unnecessary risk with their dress choice because they thought “different” was what it would take to stand out. Save different for high fashion events and appearances, not for competition.
Rhonda Shappert
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