Dressing to impress for the debs

With the debs season approaching, thoughts are turning to the all-important dress. Nicola Corless spoke to a West Clare boutique owner about this year’s colours and trends.

While the Leaving Cert may be the main concern of those finishing school this year, somewhere in the back of most pupils’ minds and gaining increasing prominence as the days pass, is the all-important coming-of-age social event, the debs.
The event offers what is for many young women the first opportunity to don black tie attire and really feel like a princess.
Anne Vaughan has been involved in the fashion business in one way or another since she was a child. Her mother owned a bridal boutique in her hometown of Waterford and in September 2006, Anne carried on the family tradition by opening her own bridal and formal wear shop, The Bridal Emporium in Miltown Malbay.
Although bridal wear is Anne’s main business, she also stocks a wide range of bridesmaid and debs dresses.
“I try to cater for all the local schools and surrounding towns. All debs dresses are exclusive, in that The Bridal Emporium is the only place stocking these designer dresses in counties Clare, Limerick and Galway. We try our best to keep a policy of one dress only to each school to try and prevent girls having the same dress,” she outlines.
“Typically, the debs season starts around the end of April or beginning of May. All new stock is in by then for the girls to choose from. The colour trends for this year are a variety of purple shades, teal and sea blues. Also, the fuller debs dresses in bright colours are going to be very popular. Printed silk dresses are very in season too,” Anne continues.
While individual taste dictates what any young woman decides to wear, there are some valuable points to keep in mind.
“There are only two colours that everyone can wear and they are black and white. It you have pale skin, pastel shades and neutral shades will suit you best. Avoid bright and bold colours, as they will make you looked washed out. If your skin colour is medium-tan, you can wear most colours but there might still be a few you should avoid. Decipher your skin tone to find out what colour is best for you. If your skin colour is dark, light, dark and rich colours are best for you. Avoid pastel shades and the colour yellow. The rich colours that suit dark skin best are royal purple and red,” she explains.
“Every girl that comes into my shop is looking for that something different. Trends vary with fashion but there are such a huge variety of styles, shapes, colours and fabric in today’s debs designs that there are dresses to suit all tastes.
“I believe it is not what is in fashion at a particular time that girls are looking for, it is that they are looking for their dream dress for the biggest night of there life, until their wedding day, of course. Even when it comes to picking the perfect wedding dress, it is down to what the girl herself has dreamed of,” Anne points out.
Carrying the bridal and debs comparison through, Anne offers debs appointments to give one-on-one time to customers but for those to whom that doesn’t appeal, she also allows group appointments.
While some girls are moving away from the traditional ball gown to shorter styles, according to Anne, this does not mean that tea-length dresses will become the norm.
“I haven’t noticed a huge change over the last few years. Girls are going for tea-length dresses for their graduation nights and then going for the full-length dress for the debs night,” she reveals.
Indeed, many teenage girls, though not often credited with it, are pragmatic when it comes to selecting their dream dresses.
“A lot of girls when considering the dress attempt to be practical in that they may use the dress again for college balls or be able to shorten it for a wedding occasion,” Anne points out.
“If I had one piece of advice for girls who are starting to consider their debs attire, it would be simple, try the dress on. The dress might look completely different on you and might be exactly what you are looking for. When shopping for the perfect debs dress, it’s always best to keep an open mind. Try on the dresses that you like and a few of the ones that you don’t. You might be pleasantly surprised that it may look absolutely divine on you,” Anne concludes.