The Prom Guide 2016

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THE PROM GUIDE THE BEST FRIEND I SHOULD HAVE GONE TO PROM WITH AND THE

BOY WHO ACTUALLY ASKED ME

V I N TAGE PROMELLA

TM

WHERE TO FIND THE RETRO PROM ATTIRE OF YOUR DREAMS

2017

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Publisher’s Note

THE PROM GUIDE

Years in the making, finally finding my wings, the Prom Guide is ready to showcase and offer all things related to Prom. The final metamorphosis of a young person’s life and a coming to a new phase of their lives.

With each Prom Guide, we will celebrate the transformation of the young person’s journey through graduation, sweet 16 to prom, celebrating all these changes.

The Prom Guide invites you to explore our exciting new publication, filled with features & articles, must haves, trends, what’s happening in Prom worldwide, hair & beauty.

The ultimate resource guide for everything Prom.

With Gratitude,

Donna Keuhl

Publisher, The Prom Guide

Flying Solo: Why it’s better to fly solo at Prom.

Prom Shoes:

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How to Find the Ones You Can Wear all Night.

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donna@thepromguide.ca follow us @thepromguide

Beautiful By Design

964 Albion Rd, Ste 103 Etobicoke, ON M9V 1A7 416 743 BBD3

Designed in Toronto, Canada 2016 | NowCreativeGroup.com

The Prom Commitee

Why Being on the Prom Committee is Actually Worth Your Time.

Vintage TM Promella :

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Where to Find the Retro Prom Attire of Your Dream.

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Full Windsor, Bow-Tie, or Ascot?

The Gentleman’s Guide to Prom.

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The Age of Promposals:

2015 was the rise of the theatrical prom proposals. Consider the promposal game changed.

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Two Corsages:

The best friend I should have gone to Prom with and the boy who actually asked me.

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DIVE IN AND SEE WHY WE THINK IT’S BETTER TO FLY SOLO AT PROM. HEATHER HOULE

Nothing in high school has you analyzing your relationships with your peers as much as prom does. From whose house are you getting ready at, to who are you taking pictures with? And, infinitely more important, whom are you going with?

Who we take to prom is a status symbol; it’s almost as important as what we wear. And the idea of facing the big night alone: maybe a little uncomfortable at best, terrifying at worst. Sometimes we have to ask ourselves default questions about who to go with: significant others, best friends, the neighbour your age who you promised you take because they go to a private school that doesn’t host a prom. For the rest of those who didn’t make the first draft, it’s open season.

It’s rarely anyone’s first choice (or second, or third), it seems, to attend the most magical evening of their high school career without a date on their arm... But it should be. Here’s why:

YOU’LL ACTUALLY GET TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FRIENDS. Going to prom as someone’s date sometimes comes with a sense of obligation to spend most of your evening with them. If you’re lucky, your date will understand that you don’t want to be glued to their side for the entire night; if not, you may find yourself taking extended bathroom breaks with your friends just to get a chance to see them. This can become especially irritating if you and your date don’t have a lot of mutual friends, and you end up dancing among a crowd you usually don’t care to spend time with.

Prom is a celebration of the four or five years you’ve spent with these people-- you’ll want to spend it with the ones you like.

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YOU WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT COORDINATING OUTFITS. No, it’s not a requirement, just a tradition. Yes, it can be fun. But sometimes having to be matchy-matchy with another person is a hassle-- and can cramp your style (especially if your date’s favourite colour is lime green).

Your prom attire should be a reflection of your personal style; it’s a golden opportunity to show your peers how well you clean up. Why waste it by letting someone else influence what you’re wearing?

NO ONE WILL ASK YOU WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DATE. It’s very unlikely that everyone is aware of the relationship between you and your date. There’s always a few people who don’t keep tabs on what’s going on with their peers but try to get involved with gossip. Your friends know that he’s your cousin, but the girl that sits beside you in Biology doesn’t. Your teammates all know you’re just going as friends, but the guy who’s crushing on you might not. You know that she’s that she doesn’t like guys, but your parents don’t. People like to pry. Sideways glances, Facebook messages from people you’re not really friends with, questions from your mother about the person you bought that corsage for.

“So...are you guys a thing?” It’s usually harmless, but very annoying, and totally avoidable.

YOU’LL MAKE THE OTHER LONE WOLVES AT THE PROM FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEIR SOLO STATUS. You chose to go to the prom alone; you know you look amazing and you’re prepared for a great night enjoying your independence. Not all the soloflyers present will feel the same way. If there’s anything worse than showing up stag when you didn’t want to, it’s being the only person there without at a date (or at least feeling like you are).

By going unaccompanied, you make the lone gals and guys feel less lonely and show everyone how much fun it is to be dateless.

If you’ve already agreed to go with someone, cancelling on them so you can go alone might not be the most polite thing to do and it’s very possible to have a good time as a pair! If you don’t have a date, don’t stress. Show up looking fly and make everyone wish they had asked you.

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PROM SHOES HEATHER HOULE

We tell ourselves that sometimes looking good requires sacrifice.

That we can grin and bear the pain. That those gorgeous vintage pumps that match our dress perfectly are worth it. On the big night, they’re the last thing that gets put on before we head out the door. We vow that we’ll save face, and wear them all night, through the dinner and the dancing. Sometimes we make it through most of the evening, sometimes only through the first two songs.

But it’s practically inevitable that those beautiful leather stilettos will end up under your chair along with the place card the person next you knocked off the table during dessert.

Style of Heel From stilettos to chunky heels to wedges, height can come in many different styles. If you’re set on the high road, but feel a bit wobbly in thinner heels, try something with a thicker heel. Picking a shoe that’s more open, or in paler tones, will help lighten up the clunky look that larger thicker heeled shoes can have.

It doesn’t have to be that way. We are not doomed to toss our shoes to the wayside halfway through the night.

Here are some wearability aspects to think about when you’re out searching for the perfect prom shoe.

Height We all want to look statuesque and Naomi-Campbell-leggy, but super-high isn’t always the best way to achieve the look we want; especially if you’re not an expert heel-wearer. There is nothing sexy about waddling around, trying to keep your balance on your six-inch stilettos. Think about where your dress falls. If it’s floor-length, those elongated gams will go unseen anyways, and so will most of the shoes! If you’re wearing a shorter dress, heels may be worth it, but make sure you can walk and dance comfortably in them!

Size Size does matter. Sizing with more formal footwear can be a little bit tricky, since the fit will change slightly with the style of the shoe. A size 7 in a boxy sandal may feel fine, but that same size in a pointed-toe pump could be a bit tight. Feel free to go up or down a full or a half size to get a good fit. And if the store doesn’t have the size you need, seriously consider another shoe. Your love for the style of it will be quickly overshadowed by the discomfort you’ll experience if it doesn’t fit you correctly.

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Material Nothing reminds us how much sweat our feet can produce than a night of dancing. And it goes beyond being just uncomfortable, but in the event that we do end up taking off our shoes, we start to wonder how many people can sniff out the five hours our feet have spent in them. Sandals and peep-toes offer the most airflow, and are ideal for keeping your feet as sweatfree as possible. If you’re going with a closed-toe shoe, consider the breathability of the fabric. Woven fabric blends are much more breezy than faux or patent leathers, which can turn your Mary Janes into saunas in no time.

Inserts Inserts can be life-savers when wearing shoes that have particularly painful areas. Sold at most shoe retailers, pharmacies, and department stores in a variety of designs, they’re great for adding extra padding at the back of the heel, the ball or arch of the foot, or underneath straps. Full insoles, which cover all or most of the inner sole, are also available, though they tend to be more expensive. Inserts are great for troubleshooting problem spots, but it’s not a good idea to expect that a terribly uncomfortable shoe filled with inserts will give you a walking-on-air experience. It’s also important to note that inserts do take up extra space in your shoe, which usually means buying a larger pair than you’d usually wear.

Soles We tend not to think about the soles of our party shoes.

They literally exist to be stepped on. But certain plastics can make for not-so-friendly movement if they are too slippery, or make irritating clicking noises with every step. Heels usually don’t have much traction, but decent soles should feel a little bit sticky or rubbery, and have some sort of groove or pattern to provide a bit of grip. Applying a gritted sole, which is easily stuck on to your new shoes will defiantly help keep you on your feet.

Straps Is there anything more annoying that the straps of your shoes digging into your poor swollen feet all night?

Strappy heels add a little bit of spice to an outfit, and are especially great if the straps are adjustable. Good idea to watch that the straps are loose enough that your circulation (or a toe!) isn’t being cut off, and snug enough that they aren’t sliding against your skin and giving you blisters.

ALDO # P E R F E C T PA I R

There’s no need to choose between comfort and style when selecting your prom shoes; you can have both. There are an endless amount of options to chose from. Take your time, enjoy exploring your choices, and start working on your moves so you can dance all night in a pair of shoes that makes you look and feel flawless.

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» W ELCOME « TO THE AGE OF

PROMPOS ALS HEATHER HOULE

You’ve rehearsed the spiel in your head.

Spent too much time worrying about what they’ll say.

Wonder what your options are if they turn you down.

You’ve put it off and put it off.

It’s getting closer to the big night and you’re running out of time.

You can just go ahead and ask them, right?

Not really. Promposals are kind of a big deal.

A report released by Visa Inc. indicated that promposal spending in the United States averaged $324 per household last year. As graduates-to-be find increasingly elaborate ways to pop the question, simple promposals are falling by the wayside in favour of grander gestures ranging from the minutely dangerous to the classically romantic. Here are some of our favourite ways to #prompose.

MAKE IT AN ADVENTURE Make the promposal an experience in itself and give your future (fingers crossed) date a taste of how much fun they’ll have with you at the main event! Candlelit dinners and helicopter rides over beaches with the important question written in the sand are major-league promposals that make good stories but may not be your style. Scavenger hunts or picnics in the park (throw a note with a food pun promposal into the basket and you’re set) are less showy but can be just as fun! These types of promposals are heavily dictated by your time constraints and budget, but with some creativity you can still create a memorable promposal with limited resources.

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TEAM EFFORTS

SPELLING IT OUT

SONG AND DANCE

Sometimes going big requires a bit of help. Call up your friends or teammates to help you make your promposal extra special. Pull a flash mob during a pep rally.

Have someone blindfold and transport your promdate-to-be to an alternative location. Levittown teen Sarah Kardonsky enlisted the help of the New York Jets to create a video to prompose to her classmate.

Collaborative efforts take a lot more planning than something you do by yourself, but are totally worth it!

There’s nothing quite as high school classic as a big, bold P-R-O-M-?

Written in red glitter across a piece of dollar-store bristol board to be accompanied by a bouquet of roses and a nervous smile, but wait there’s no reason to stop at cardstock and sparkles. Large-scale messages can make use of backlit signs (with the business’ permission, of course), rooftops, or even pyrotechnics.

Promposals are an excellent platform to show off your talents (or make a fool of yourself, if that’s your thing).

Whether you perform alone or with a group, performances are a super bold way to ask someone to prom.

The location of your show can range from the school cafeteria to outside someone’s bedroom window; it can be as intimate and romantic or as upbeat and public as you want.

Bonus points if you compose an original song to pop the question!

On top of being very entertaining on it’s own, a solid promposal adds to the entire prom experience and sets the tone for the big night. As the school halls begin to fill with gossip about who asked who and how they asked, keep in mind that it’s all in good fun. You don’t need to ask your date with fireworks or back-up dancers in order to have a good time at prom and if their answer is conditional on how big your promposal is, you might be better off without!

WOULD YOU? @carymaitlin118 is glad she doesn’t have to go to prom ‘Solo’

If there’s anything better than an edible promposal… it’s an Up-themed promposal.

@madi_shaw5 receives a Pokemon-themed promposal from her boyfriend

Custom socks and promposals are a pretty good pair.

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T HE GEN T L EM A N ’ S GUIDE TO PROM

When shopping for prom how does a gentleman stand out amongst the crowd? I know I get it, prom is a day the girls take for beautifying, but gentlemen, you can take this one by storm. It’s possible! With the help of Eric Ampong of Eaden Myles Clothing Company, we have brought to you some the latest trends that will surely set you or your prom date apart.

Josie La Corte Instagram: @signedjla founder of @live.to.aspire

B E B OL D W I T H Y OUR C OL OUR C HOIC E S Prints are very much in style for dinner coats. Choosing something that is out of the box if you want to be different. Going with a custom piece also helps to stand out, as the chances of you wearing something someone else is wearing is quite slim. Choosing a coloured shirt, tie, bow tie or pocket square could also help make your matching mission a breeze.

Ascots are more for weddings – though if you’re going for a vintage feel you can definitely try it out. Bow ties seem to be the new trend. There are many local designers if you ask around or do a quick Instagram search. Even if you have a simple black tux, but you dress it up with a unique bow tie, skinny tie, or pocket square will have everyone copying you the next time around.

T HE ME NS A C C E SSOR IE S T H AT A R E T O TA L LY IN T HIS SE A SON Lapel pins, fabric pins, and chain pins are some of the few accessories that will truly set you on fire this season – yeah really! Cuff links are a great way to make your button down unique and your own -if your jacket needs them of course. Finding a style that fits your tux is important, but can definitely take you to the next level and have people wondering where they can grab one too.

F UL L T U X ? DIF F E R E N T C OL OUR E D B O T T OMS? Both options work well - however patterned coloured dinner coats give more of a wow factor than a plain suit. Rock it and do it with confidence and you’ll be unforgettable on your prom night.

T O TA IL OR OR NO T T O TA IL OR? ALWAYS tailor. Fit is key, it doesn’t matter how much you spend on your suit or tux, if it doesn’t fit well then it doesn’t make any significant impact. Knowing your body shape, and having your suit tapered and shaped to your body makes all the difference. It looks good on you, it makes you look mature and sophisticated and it doesn’t look like you’re swimming in your clothes the whole night!

Well there you have it! If you or your prom date need some ideas, check out @eadenmyles on Instagram & Facebook - Eaden Myles or visit www.eadenmyles.com or the showroom at 2100 steeles Ave - Suite 201 - Concord, Ont - L4K 2V1 - SIGNED

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T HIS SE A SON IN ME N ’ S A C C E SSOR IE S Lapel pins, fabric pins, and chain pins are some of the few accessories that will truly set you on fire this season – yeah really!

Cuff links are a great way to make your button down unique and your own -if your jacket needs them of course. Finding a style that fits your tux is important, but can definitely take you to the next level and have people wondering where they can grab one too.

Shoes with details are probably the easiest way to elevate your prom outfit. You already have to wear them, why not wear ones worth looking at?

Pops of colour, mess or perforations, two-toned designs, laser cut elements— there are so many options to step up your shoe game!

edithsfashion.com

Jewelry is a great way to add a little something extra to your prom attire. You decide what kind of look you want to go for. Diamond studs will ooze glam, while a leather strapped watch is more classic and sophisticated.

Belts or suspenders are a great touch to any formal outfit.

Suspenders are fun and will give you a vintage vibe. If you’re not wearing suspenders (or a cummerbund, if that’s your thing), definitely put on a belt. Brown or black leather is subtle and classy; if you want more bling, try a belt buckle with more visual weight.

The

DOCTOR’S HOUSE

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Here are some of the funny stories from the prom committee planners themselves!

Last year, there were so many

People wanted to steal my

people dancing on the dance

prom date. (lol)

floor that they literally broke

Last year the king and queen weren’t even each other’s dates... so while they were having their royal dance on the dance floor, their

- @siimplycrump

dates were sitting miserably at the table,

the floor.

waiting for the dance to be over. #ouch

- @nafanta1

- @haniaxoxo My mom got really emotional when she saw One of the students from my high school went

me all dressed up for prom. She was crying

to the wrong venue and walked into another

as she hugged me goodbye, and my friend

school’s prom! At least he didn’t dress up in

noticed after that there was some of her

vain haha!

mascara smeared on my shoulder!

- Christine K.

- @princess.sim

I took off my shoes when my feet started to hurt and left them under our table. When I

Our prom was 70s-themed. I wore a disco-

went back to get them they were gone! My

style dress with high boots and massive hoop

friends and I went looking and it turned out

earrings. But the hoops bounced around too

that another girl had taken them-- she was

much when I danced so I took them off and

wearing the exact same ones and thought

wore them on my wrist. For the rest of the

mine were her pair!

night I got compliments on my “bracelets!”

- @helene_eee

- @trashy_trishy

I borrowed a dress to wear to my friend’s prom. My bestie came over to help me get ready....but no one told me it was a little too

My older brother dropped me off at my

sheer. On the night of the prom it was pretty

prom… not a lot of my classmates knew who

windy and I was holding the dress down… I

he was and a lot of the girls came up to me

had no idea I was showing everyone my

asking where my date went! They thought he

underwear. My date said he didn’t notice, but

was cute!

when I asked my best friend why she didn’t

- @marina_hotson

tell me, she replied, “I thought you knew!”

- @heather.houle

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WHY BEING ON THE PROM COMMITTEE IS ACTUALLY WORTH YOUR TIME JOSIE LA CORTE Instagram: @signedjla founder of @live.to.aspire

When prom season comes around people sometimes get stressed out. You have to find and outfit you actually like, you have to figure out the ride with your friends, you have to do so much – or so you think. How about the people that have worked so hard behind the scenes to make prom a living fairy tale?

I’ve interviewed a few ladies that are have been on their prom committees and here are some of the inside details to what makes prom great!

1.

WHY JOIN THE PROM COMMITTEE?

INSIDER INSIGHT

Be in the know of all that will be going on before anyone else.

2.

ORGANIZE FUN FUNDRAISERS Ones that make money and allow students to have fun.

3.

DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS

4.

Be a voice for your friends!

And besides this will look great on a resume!

MAKE IT MEMORABLE You get to be in charge of making it a night you and your friends will never forget.

5. #PROUDMOMENT It’s nice to know you played a part in the end of high school celebrations.

MAKING IT A MEMORABLE NIGHT LOCATION Choosing a location will establish the feel of the event. Pick something that will fit your theme.

MENU You have to have good food! (My prom had half cooked rice. Um ew.)

Maybe test it before you set your menu, most venues offer this option

SEATING PLANS People get to chose with who they want to sit with. Organizing uneven tables and making sure everyone has a seat will be your job.

THEME & COLOUR SCHEME This is important! Making sure the colours match all the elements of prom – from the invites to the venue set up. Branding is important!

MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT The Key to success! Have a music request sheet that you could fill out as you were buying your tickets to give to the DJ in advance, this way the music that you want will being played and you could dance the night away with no worries!

CENTER PIECES If you’re not convinced yet, you get to organize the event, gain amazing skills and talents, and have fun doing it to! What do really need convincing about! Ask your friends and teachers about how you can get involved in the prom committee and see how you join in with the fun!

I had the pleasure of meeting Melissa from @melissaandreinc in March and her insta feed is full of great event and centre piece ideas! #getitgirl

You pretty much get to coordinate the entire evening!

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Dresses provided by Monique’s Boutique moniquescollection.com Cover and Showcase photography by Andrew Ly nineteen.is

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» PROM QUICK T I P S «

fo r

1.

2.

6.

Swagger (jack a celeb)

Make Sure Your Tux Fits Well

3.

4.

5.

Sweat the small stuff

Colour outside the lines

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

Add your own

Buy (don’t rent) your tux

Groom yourself well

Don’t worry about being dateless

Don’t be afraid to be a black tie rebel

A couple of sprays go a long way

Arrive in style

Think outside the florist

Be a gentleman

Keep your attire classy and simple

personality (you don’t need a cumberband)

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THE BEST FRIEND I SHOULD HAVE GONE TO PROM WITH

AND THE BOY WHO ACTUALLY ASKED ME BY: HEATHER HOULE

Marco was one of my best friends in high school. We had bonded during the 10th grade drama class that he didn’t even want to take. We talked about his racist parents, my over-protective father.

He was a farmboy; tall, green-eyed, on the football team. I was the eccentric yearbook committee editor who wore Chuck Taylors all year around. Several of my friends thought he was cute; said I could do worse. I wasn’t interested. A year later, as I watched my friends get wrapped up in elaborate promposals, I automatically assumed that I was going with Marco.

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It was late April when he asked me to describe my ideal promposal.

I said that the only thing I cared much about was being surprised.

I spent the next two weeks listening to Marco asking me for his opinion on every girl in our grade who didn’t have some sign of a significant other that he was aware of. For all his good looks and athleticism, Marco wasn’t very social, and didn’t have a clue that most of the people in our graduating class were. I patiently informed him of boyfriends he didn’t know about, promposals he had missed, and unfavourable character traits that overshadowed the “she’s kind of cute” cases he was making for the names listed on his roll of potential dates. Meanwhile, I began to formulate my own list, as I became increasingly dumbfounded as to why he didn’t just ask me.

Two weeks before the prom, I was leaving the library at the end of lunch hour and see Ty, who sat in front of me in English class, also heading towards the door. Ty was quiet, chunky, a little awkward.

We’d probably had two conversations ever. I wasn’t planning on initiating the third one, but as the distance between us closed, he began to slow down, uncomfortably half-stumbling towards me.

“Hey, Heather, could I talk to you for a second?” His voice cracked as he spoke. I gave him the go-ahead and what came out of his mouth was more or less: “Okay,

well, I know we don’t really talk…But you seem really chill, and I was just wondering if you would maybe want to go to prom with me?”

My response: “Oh. Uh, yeah, sure.” Sure.

“Okay, great! I was gonna do something cool, to, like, ask you to prom… I was thinking about writing a song or something.. I’ve just been so busy though, with school and stuff. Sorry about that.” Thank goodness he didn’t write me a song.

We left the library, muttered awkward goodbyes, and parted ways. I ambled through the halls in a daze and walked into French class with a deer-in-the-headlights expression. I hastily recounted the details to my classmates over a chorus of pitying mumbles and coos that cemented my already prevalent regrets.

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Early the next week, again in the library, Marco pulled a plastic chair up beside me. In his very drawn-out, circular way of speaking, he informed me that he caught word through mutual friends that Ty had stated his intentions to accompany me to the after-prom festivities that were taking place the weekend following the big night.

“I know,” I said, trying to decipher what part of it Marco thought was such a big deal. “He already invited me.”

“Heather... Cole told me that Ty said he’s gonna have sex with you at after prom. He’s been telling all the guys you two are sharing a tent.”

He sounded upset, but there was a hint of smugness in his voice; he was pleased with himself for uncovering this information.

Despite Ty’s impression of me, I was generally very unchill. Unchill, incredulous, and suddenly furious.

“He thinks that he’s entitled to sex just because he’s taking me to prom?! That’s... that’s ridiculous.” Marco shrugs and looks at me apologetically. I had nothing pleasant to say in response.

I crossed paths with Ty later that day.

“Hey, Ty, I need to talk to you.” I noticed the harshness in my voice but I let it stand. “Marcus told me you think we’re having sex at after prom? I don’t know what gave you the impression that that was how things are gonna go, but I just want to let you know that’s absolutely not happening.”

I glared into Ty’s eyes as they moved from confusion to hurt.

“I… I never said that,” he began. He told me that Marco had gotten in his face about asking me to prom, as if he should have known not to ask me. This made no sense to me, since I was the last person Marco wanted to take to prom anyways. I apologized to Ty, admitting that the tale Marco had told me did seem a bit off, finding myself suddenly very willing to take his word over Marco’s.

It was a couple days before I was able to catch him at a time when he wasn’t making a point of talking to other people. When I finally encountered him alone in-between classes, he awkwardly attempted to act casual as I pushed for the rest of the story. I stared him down for a good 30 seconds before told me that yes, he had confronted Ty about asking me to the prom. He had also, however, caught wind that Ty was considering going with me, and as preventative measure, Marco requested that he hold off and let him ask me first. Ty decided to go ahead and ask anyways, Marco, pissed off, got in Ty’s face about it, and here we were. Except: “Marco, when were you planning on asking me?? All you talk about is the other girls you’ve been thinking about asking. I don’t get it.”

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“You said that you wanted to be surprised when you got asked to prom. So I thought that if I told you I was gonna ask someone else, you’d be extra surprised.”

What. An. Idiot.

“Marco… I was waiting for you to ask me before you started saying all that stuff! I wanted to go with you! I only said yes to Ty because I figured that no one else was going to ask me! Dude...that’s such a stupid idea!”

“I know, it was dumb.” He was clearly aware of his error but I was too shocked to be compassionate.

“So dumb! Ugh. Okay, so I’ll talk to Ty. I would rather go with you, Marco. Maybe he’ll be cool about it? It was kind of a dick move for him to ask me first.”

“Okay. Let me know how that goes, I guess.”

“Yeah, of course.” I laughed.

“But dude, you’re actually such a frickin’ idiot.”

Marco chuckled.

I spoke to Ty briefly in the hallway a little later that day. I reiterated what Marco had told me.

“Honestly, Ty, I’d really rather go with him,” I mumbled. “He was gonna ask me but you decided to go ahead and ask me before he got to.”

“Yeah… sorry about that.”

“You said you weren’t going with anyone, so I had assumed that Marco already asked you. That’s the only reason that I went ahead with it.”

I was confused. When had I told him that? Ty reminded me that I had mentioned to Cole that I didn’t yet have a date. Ty wasn’t being a jerk; he thought I had already turned Marco down.

“But, if you want to go with Marco, that’s okay, I guess.” Ty looked like he was about to cry.

I felt like a terrible person.

“You know what, Ty… I said I’m gonna go with you, I’ll go with you.”

“Are you sure?” He looked incredibly relieved.

“I’m sure. I gotta go though, I’m late for class. See you later.”

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About three days before the prom, I got a phone call from Marco.

“Hey, how’s it going?” This was weird; he never called me.

“I’m good. What’s up?”

“Are you home right now? I’m in your driveway.” What?

I walked outside. Marco has parked his burgundy Jeep Cherokee at the end of the driveway and was leaning against the passenger side. I noticed that he had a small box in his hands. As I moved closer, Marco waved and took a few steps towards me. I covered most of the distance between us before realizing that he was holding a plastic clamshell housing a large yellow corsage.

“Given the beef between you and Ty, I don’t really think that’s a good idea. But thank you.” I tried to imagine walking around at prom in my “I know you said you were going to go with Ty, but I just wanted to floor-length black gown with a sunshine-coloured flower on one wrist give you this.” He handed me the box. The rose was open wide and and a deep-purple bloom on the other. Did he not see how awkward attached to a stretchy band of cheap plastic silver beads. I knew that this was? he didn’t understand it wasn’t really my style.

“Alright, well, I gotta go. Hope you have a good time with Ty, if I don’t “Oh… that’s really sweet of you.” I was unsure whether or not to see you before Friday.” He’d see me before Friday. He was being conceal my confused surprise. He was playing martyr and I was weird. struggling to respond sensitively. “you know that I can’t really wear it though, right?”

I stuck the box in the fridge and gave limited details to my mother when she asked about it. Marco had meant well; he was sorry he had “I was thinking you could wear one on each wrist, maybe.” messed things up. But mostly sorry for himself.

“I was thinking you could wear one on each wrist, maybe.”

All in all, prom night itself was a bit of a mess. I smiled through pictures, Ty’s hands adhered to my waist as I awkwardly arched my back away from him. Prolonged trips to the washroom (which I mostly spent complaining about how miserable I was) helped me avoid Ty, who, despite being a musician (apparently), had absolutely no rhythm. When I couldn’t avoid him, I found myself constantly redirecting his hands as they creeped lower down my back. Marco ended up spending most of the night with a girl in our drama class who he ended up dating for a year.

The yellow rose wilted in the fridge while the petals of the orchard I received from Ty were slowly demolished as I clumsily maneuvered my way through the crowded dance floor on my many trips to and from the ladies’ room. At the end of the evening, with the first genuine smile of the night, I thanked Ty for the company and the pricey corsage (which had lost two petals over the course of the night).

I later heard later that he complained about me for most of the weekend. I didn’t blame him.

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T HEMED P ART IE S The Fairy Tale themed party can be a truly magical experience filled with flower crowns and sparkles. Classic and feminine, the Fairy Tale theme is growing in popularity for prom and “sweet sixteen” parties. With so many musicals, movies and TV shows to draw inspiration from, it can be very simple to put together an Old Fairy Tale Theme. Anyone who has watched a Disney film or read a Hans Christian Anderson story knows that bringing Fairy Tale to Life can be spectacular and fun.

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HOW DO I THROW A FAIRY TALE THEMED PARTY? When planning a Fairy Tale party, you have to decide on whether you want to base the theme on a specific story, or take ideas from all of them. As all Fairy Tales have similar “theme design,” it is important to choose one very special thing about each Fairy Tale that will easily show everyone which Fairy Tale you have chosen as your theme.

BUDGET TALK A fairytale theme may sound expensive, but not all princesses and fairies need pricey celebrations.

Here are some tips to keep the magic high but the costs low.

Plan ahead. If you give yourself time, you might realize you can make a party work without spending as much.

The Christmas lights in the basement

For example, if your theme is Beauty and the Beast, you could place red roses under glass for the centerpieces on the tables or even as a single focal point in your entrance. You may want to choose yellow tablecloths to represent Bella’s Gown and maybe add a tea station to represent Mrs. Potts & Chips. Choose clocks as your party favours, or candelabras to represent Lumiere as your centerpieces. Your invitations can be rolled up parchments to resemble the announcement in the village.

The best way to keep your theme consistent is to research it thoroughly and make a list of what you need before you start shopping.

can be used for decorations, you’ve got enough plastic cups in the kitchen to go around, & there are balloons leftover from your sister’s birthday.

START PLANNING

DIY as much as you can.

Most party planners write down their ideas or create a design/colour board. Make a colour or design board, it helps to keep you on track: from colours to cake, from invitations to favours. Think about the location. If possible, try to find a place that will suit your theme. If you are planning on a Beauty and The Beast theme, a golf and country club, a heritage location or a more ornate banquet facility is better suited than a modern and artistic facility. Think about how many people you want to invite and pick the appropriate location and size for the amount of guests you plan on inviting. When entertaining, you want to think about how to stimulate all the senses of your guests. The ambiance and décor will stimulate their sight and touch; the food, their smell and taste; and the music, their hearing.

Princess hatshaped invites will make your party

THE INVITATIONS

magical before

band might be a lot of fun, but will also be expensive. Instead, put a playlist on, play some games, & enjoy the company. Having a party is to have fun with your friends-- remember that!

Design by Silverbox Creative

Date, Time, Location, RSVP

Optional: Expected Dress (Should your guests wear something specific to add to the overall effect of the event?)

Not only will you pay more for plates, napkins, balloons, etc. with your favourite Disney character’s face, but the guests might not even notice.

Instead, use the elements and colour palette of your theme to convey the idea. Blue & white decor with sparkles & snowflakes for a Frozen theme; or earth tones & fake greenery if Merida is your princess of choice.

Let your main entertainment be each other. A magician or a live

wears them or not!

Ensure that your invitation properly sets your theme to your guest so match the invitation to the theme of the party

Stay away from buying branded party supplies.

if even starts-whether anyone

Invitations to your party should include:

This may seem intimidating, but a DIY party doesn’t have to mean a paper mache castle & working drawbridge (unless you want to). Baking the cake and putting together lootbags instead of buying pre-packaged ones are little things you can do to save some cash.

The watercolour Simple, elegant

background and

21st birthday

delicate script

invitation

make this invite

Designed by

especially fitted

RM Creative

for a princess!

@rmcreative_

Created by Design on Paper.

This first birthday

With lovely pastels

party invite is classy

and gold accents,

enough to be used

this unicorn-themed

for any age and

invitation is as magical

occasion!

as they come!

Design by Party

Design by Clementine

Invites and More

Creative

Skip the food or do it potluck-style. If you don’t want to spend the money to feed your guests, schedule it outside of usual mealtimes.

Between 2-4pm, or after 8pm are good slots; you might even do 10:30 to noon if you have a tea-party. If you definitely want to serve food, keep costs down by having every guest sign up to bring one dish- this will keep costs down but also provide you with a diverse spread!

@clementine_creative

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T HE

History OF Prom

Proms today are an iconic, integral part of the high school experience. They come complete with stretch limos, fancy ballrooms, live bands, kings and queens, and, most importantly, dresses worthy of movie stars. However, proms have not always been the elaborate productions they are today, inclusive show they are today. Many scholars believe that high school proms emerged from the popularity of upper-class debutante balls in high society.

At these balls, girls in white dresses and white gloves would be proudly escorted into a grand hall for their official introduction to the social dating scene. Invitations were exclusive and official debutantes were few and far between. Indeed, the word prom is short for promenade, or the grand marching beginning to an immensely important social event.

“Early proms were times of firsts; the first adult social event for teenagers, the first time taking the family car out after dark, the first real dress-up affair, and so forth.”

In the early days of high school proms, the nighttime dance served a similar function to a debutante ball. Early proms were times of firsts; the first adult social event for teenagers, the first time taking the family car out after dark, the first real dress-up affair, and so forth. Proms also served as picture-taking events, similar to a first communion or wedding, in which the participants were taking an important step into a new stage in their lives. In earlier days, the prom may have also served as an announcement of engagement for the “best couple” after the prom court had been crowned and recognized.

While high school yearbooks did not start covering proms and including prom pictures until the 1930s and 1940s, historians believe proms may have existed at colleges as early as the late 1800s.

The journal of a male student at Amherst College in 1894 accounts an invitation and trip to an early prom at neighboring Smith College for women. The word prom at that time may just have been a fancy description for an ordinary junior or senior class dance, but it would soon take on larger-than-life meaning for high school students.

Proms worked their way down from college gatherings to high school extravaganzas incrementally. In the early 1900s, prom was a simple tea dance where high school seniors wore their Sunday best. In the 1920s and 1930s, prom expanded into an annual class banquet where students wore party clothes and danced afterward. As Americans gained more money and leisure time in the 1950s, proms became more extravagant and elaborate, bearing similarity to today’s proms. The high school gym may have been an acceptable setting for sophomore dances, but junior and senior proms gradually moved to hotel ballrooms and country clubs. Competition blossomed, as teens strove to have the best dress, the best mode of transportation, and the best looking date. Competition for the prom court also intensified, as the designation of “prom queen” became an important distinction of popularity. In a way, prom became the pinnacle event of a high school student’s life, the ultimate dress rehearsal for a wedding.

Today, prom continues to be an elaborately important event in the social climate of high schools.

Popular movies and novels attest to the importance of prom themes, prom dates, and prom queens. Still, prom has become more liberal about its requirements for participants and activities.

It is no longer quite as important to have a date or to be asked by the perfect guy. More and more girls are choosing their own dates for the prom and more and more guys are going “stag” or with a group of friends. Prom is often still the main social event of the high school season, but it is also a time for fun and the creation of memories for everyone to enjoy.

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V I N TAGE

ON E - M I N U T E GU I DE TO V I N TAGE G OW NS You’ve decided that you want to go vintage for prom, but don’t know what era is your style? Here’s a quick guide to women’s formal wear by the decade:

TM

› WHERE TO FIND THE RETRO PROM ATTIRE OF YOUR DREAMS ‹

1920s: Flapper era was filled with sleek, drop-hem gowns with straight silhouettes and lots of glam.

Dramatic colours embellished with beading, fringe and feathers.

JOSIE LA CORTE

Instagram: @signedjla founder of @live.to.aspire

1930s: The slinky lines of the 20’s moved into the next decade through floor-length, streamlined gowns in sophisticated colours. Satin and silk fabrics and draped details gave the 30’s a timelessly elegant look.

1940s: Dress bodices became more fitted and skirts filled out, while hemlines stayed below mid-calf. Matte fabrics started to replace shiny materials as velvet accents and floral prints gained popularity.

1950s: Bodices were carefully fitted while above-the-knee-length skirts flared out with countless layers of tulle. Feminine pastels and bold jewel tones balanced with delicate details of ruching, lace, and pleats.

1960s: Silhouettes of the 60’s were a mix of those popular in the 50’s alongside slimmer gowns with longer hems. Dresses featured muted colours & solitary, large embellishments like bows & florals.

1970s: Long, flowy skirts & empire waistlines took over in the 70’s as the bohemian aesthetic of the time took over. Sleeves appeared on more dresses, as did lacy overlays and deeper necklines.

1980s: The iconic fashion of the 80’s was bold & very bright. Short, fullvolume gowns in vibrant, nearneon hues were decked out with sequins, ruffles, and shoulder pads.

Beaded Two Piece Dress in Navy,

1920s Black & Silver Beaded

Sexy intricately beaded strapless dress

Peach, Black, Black & White

Paradise Mesh Flapper Dress

Brand: Mignon

Brand: Mignon Browse these pieces and more at cabaretvintage.com

In this day and age, a simple scroll down your feed will show you how every girl is looking more and more alike. The same make up styles, the same hairstyles, the same clothing. If you’re tired of looking like every other girl at prom, and you feel like you’ve been born in the wrong generation, going the vintage route for prom is definitely you. Don’t know where to go? Cabaret Vintage has got you covered.

I visited Cabaret last year for an after hours clothing swap hosted by a youth group. The event was amazing, but I couldn’t help admiring the vintage venue. It had hats, brooches and intricate one of a kind dresses from various era of the past. AND on top of that, they have a men’s section, so you don’t have to worry about your prom date missing out on the vintage fun!

The Cabaret happens to be one of the two shops in Toronto that sells dresses from New York brand, Mignon!

These classic and extravagant dresses will light up a

room and set you apart from the typical crowd! From two pieces and elegant long gowns Cabaret does a good job balancing the two with these dresses.

You don’t want to leave your prom date out! The Cabaret Collection for men by Ellis Esq, is uniquely offered at Cabaret and is a line so well designed and especially tailored to fit a man’s silhouette. They’re classy, yet unique. Masculine yet playful. Timeless yet modern, and a wonderful balance of the both worlds. These striking 1950s inspired brocade tuxedo jackets look amazing paired up some of the Cabaret dresses. Check them out below for some vintage prom inspirations!

If you’re not convinced yet, head down to the shop at 974 Bathurst in the core of Downtown Toronto, to find the latest and classiest styles in the city or visit www. cabaretvintage.com

- SIGNED

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You’ve been dreaming of your prom for so long: the outfit, the hair and makeup, the flowers, and the limo.

But when it comes to finding stores and services that can make that dream a reality, there are so many options that it can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve culminated The Promenade: the best of the best for all your prom needs. From formal wear retailers to salons to limo providers, we’ve got you covered. These fairy godmothers (and godfathers, and florists and stylists and everyone in between) are here to make all your wishes come true.

GALA

THE PROM GUIDE

Glam

HAIR/MAKEUP Dress Couture dresscouture.ca Montreal, QC 514-507-9949

Novotel novotelvaughan.com Vaughan, ON 905-695-1733

BCBG bcbg.ca Toronto, ON 514-733-4470

Parkview Manor parkviewmanor.ca Toronto, ON 416-391-5888

Boutique 1861 1861.ca Montreal, QC 514-670-6110

Tuxedo Royale tuxedoroyale.com Markham, ON 416-798-7617

Moroccan Oil

Andrew’s Formals andrewsformals.com Toronto, ON 416-783-8181

moroccanoil.com/canada Mont-Royal, QC 514-448-8967

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Couture

WOMEN’S ATTIRE Distillery Events distilleryevents.com Toronto, ON 416-203-2363

Music in Motion musicinmotiondjservice.com Mississauga, ON 905-564-0971 & 0972

ALL AVAILABLE CATEGORIES Memories Bling Design Print Glam Yum

Photography & Videography Accessories Decor Stationary Beauty Hair & Makeup Confectionary & Pastries

Soiree Bloom Underwraps Couture Embellishments

Event Planning Floral Lingerie & Undergarmets Attire Shoes & Handbags

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Every year there is a new graduating class of grade 8’s & 12’s. A metamorphosis of adolescents to teens and teens to young adults, a celebration and the coming of a new phase in a young person’s life.

Unforgettable moments on these specials day are what we are all in search of, but who wants to spend countless precious hours searching the internet or going from store to store? The Prom Guide has taken the countless wasted hours out of the search. The Prom Guide has been designed for teens & their families to quickly and easily locate the resources needed for graduation, prom, and all of life’s other special milestone events while addressing the needs of all consumers.

Annually The Prom Guide will showcase the newest collections of must have’s and the upcoming year’s top trends in the Prom & Special Event world.

Event Showcase. The guide will help consumers find the resources needed for Prom and Graduation that will help create those everlasting & beautiful memories.

There are NO comparable publications in Canada and there is a huge demand for a resource guide in the marketplace. Prom Guide has carved out a niche position in the market with its exclusivity and unique placement on the magazine stand against its US prom industry publications.

Each guide will be shrink wrapped and loaded with samples as a direct marketing tool for our advertisers, allowing for coupons, incentives and samples to get directly into the target market’s hands.

I personally invite you to become a part of an extremely exciting exclusive advertising and marketing opportunity.

The Prom Guide will produce and distribute over 25,000 copies of our annual Prom Guide through Indigo – Chapters, advertisers and Promella, a Prom & Special

Donna Keuhl CEO/Founder 964 Albion Rd, Ste 103 Etobicoke, ON M9V 1A7 416 743 2233 x 222 info@thepromguide.ca thepromguide.ca

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THE PROM GUIDE Target Demographics Male & Female Students aged 12 – 20, Parents 40+, 16+ Party goers Any Education Level Motivated by Price, Quality, Aesthetics/Appeal Parents are the purchasers In search of convenient resources

MARKET ANALYSIS

The Prom Guide is specifically targeted to the Prom and Special Events Market.

Graduation, Semi Formal, Formals or Prom, the name doesn’t matter as much as the events themselves. This is a major milestone in a young person’s life, so tweens, teens and even parents will do what they can to celebrate it. The average Grad, Semi, Formal or Prom Attendee will spend as little as $600 to as much as a couple of thousands of dollars. The average teenager will spend around $800 for their prom.

Just add it up… $250 plus for gowns, $50 plus for shoes, $100 on Aesthetics, $100 on Hair, $75 on Make Up, $100 for a Limo, $50 on Flowers, $50 plus on jewelry.

Grade 8 Graduation is not as an elaborate an affair as Grade 12 Prom, but many full time working parents will still spend the money to outfit their children. In Canada, more than 70% of the cost of Prom falls directly on the parents. The unique thing is that working class parents, as well as upper middle class parents, participate in the Prom experience with their children. It’s a coming of age for the Graduating Teen and a bonding time for the parents of the same teen.

Canada is still relatively new in the entire Prom experience, with an average household spending of $804 on Prom, compared to the USA which spends an average of $1,086 for the same event.

However, unlike the USA, Canada’s parents are more involved with the preparation and general spending for Prom. Boys are following fairly closely to the girls when it comes to putting on “The Right Stuff.” The average tuxedo is no longer the “riguer.” More and more young men are beginning to opt for a designer look, choosing a Bespoke suit over a regular tuxedo or choosing a more stylish tuxedo, over the traditional boxed look.

Prom has also broken many barriers by bringing together a multitude of cultural and individualized style in cities all over Canada. From an Indian Langa or a Chinese Cheong Sam to a traditional prom dress to a sexy little affair.

Everything and anything goes.

Before a wedding, Prom is the first big event in many teenagers’ lives, so many teens make huge mistakes that can cause them a lot of money and disappointment. The Prom Guide wants to make the Prom Experience easy and seamless by finding products and services who have strong interests in working with teens and their parents.

But most importantly Canadian businesses who wants the teen business.

The Prom Guide will be a high quality, high fashion publication created by BBD. BBD will be hiring only the very best that Canadian Universities & Colleges have to offer. It is the intention of BBD to hire a younger, more stylish and involved force who is still very much in touch with what other teenagers want. The design, articles and fashion spreads will be exclusively created by the 29 and under youth. Up to 4 pages of the Prom Guide will be dedicated to a list of services, helplines and government services just for youths and a discounted rate will be given to specific non-profit groups for additional advertising in the guide.

The Prom Guide will also offer information on Canadian products and service providers for prom. Helpful articles will be published to help Prom Attendee’s plan their prom. A series of real life prom experiences will be featured in the magazine as well as exclusive interview with celebrities or red carpet favourites.

So, if you are planning to target the following: Grade 8 Graduating Students Grade 12 Prom Attendees Event and Party Planners Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Quinceneara, Sweet 16, or Debudante Balls School Proms Then The Prom Guide is offering the perfect platform to connect with your target.

Prom has also become a place to shout out a message, whether it be “The Right to Education” or “The Right to be an Individual”. It has and will become the final place to have your say before leaving elementary or high school and embarking on the journey to adulthood.

Prom is an emotional and powerful event in many peoples’ lives, both for the teen and their parents. There is a strong emotional connection to Prom that will last way into a person’s life. This is why both the parents and the teen participate in the prom experience.

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ADVERTISING SIZES

Double Page Spread

Full Page, Trim

18” x 12”

9” x 12”

1/2 Page Vertical 4.5” x 12”

1/2 Page Horizontal 9” x 6”

1/3 Page Vertical 3” x 10.875”

1/4 Page 4.5” x 6”

Business Card 3.5” x 2”

Sponsored Banner Logo Premium Sidebar Rotating Sidebar *Sizes to be determined

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