Guys, how will you express yourself at the Prom? It doesn’t have to be boring or uncomfortable, there are fun alternatives and choices you can make to feel like you are expressing yourself just as well as the girls in gowns. Even if you are required to wear certain things like only black tuxes you can express yourself in colorful accessories like a colorful vest or jewelry and cufflinks.

Check out this article where the guys are showing off their school colors.

“Prom will be a chance to display school colors for Carey Fleming, a Clinton High School junior who plans to wear red accessories with his white tuxedo.
He won’t be alone.
“A solid third is either white or ivory,” said Jamie Martin, manager at Tuxedo Junction at Metrocenter mall where Fleming works part time.

Even more Tux advice here in this article “Guys can use accessories to punch up tux”

Here is someone who really went DIY with his fashion and made his own tux.. out of Coke Cans!

How about a Hoodie with a tie printed on it? It looks very cool!

Oh and if you have to wear a tie somewhere it doesn’t need to be boring!

If you really want to go ALL OUT and get crafty like Mr Coke Can did check out Duct Tape Fashions.

Or get even weirder and wilder and do something with Pom Poms, yes Pom Poms! Maybe in a Pom Pom Tuxedo you can take out a girl in a Sock Monkey Gown!

More on Event Fashion here!

Your school may have a budget for special events already, but if not, or your class wants something extra special, fundraising ideas can be creative and fun.

In this sweet news item, the Teddy Bear was part of a contest to raise money for a prom in a school in England. The Teddy obviously went on to make others happy. That’s the fun part of fundraising projects, you raise money, and make others happy along the way. Get creative, work hard and every dollar does something good. Photo, Ian Narin

Check out these ideas for having a great fundraiser for your Prom or Special Event.

1) Have a Prom Fashion Show
A Prom Fashion Show is a great way to raise money and check out fashions for your event. Check out this article for a how-to on having a Prom Fashion Show.

2) Have a Bake Sale
Everyone involved should bake one item and bring it to the sale.
Always follow proper hygiene when handling and preparing food.
Individually wrap items in plastic wrap. Baked goods that look attractive sell well.
Make posters to hang, informing people at the event of your bake sale, and directing them to the table or room where this is being held.
These can be attached to official school events.

3) Have a Car Wash
Always a fun and popular fundraiser that can get a lot of people involved and have a great time.

The most important things to consider for a Car Wash are:

If you are creative, inexpensive options can be just as pretty as higher priced fashions and accessories. Here is a big list of places you can start looking in your city. It can be a fun afternoon out on the weekend with friends wandering the thrift and vintage stores to see what might be tucked in these shops. Plus there are online vintage sources to browse through.

“CosmoGIRL Magazine fashion director Tara McBratney suggests finding a simple slip dress to pair with a “cool, wild shoe and a sequined brooch in a bright color,” for example.
Think you have the matching earrings, bracelet, necklace and bag to look like a glamour queen? Do as the stars do. Pick one focal point and make it memorable like actress Scarlett Johansson did at the Oscars with her diamond star tiara. If you have a big dress with lots of detail or sequins, you don’t need a glitzy necklace or a sparkly purse, only a long pair of nice earrings, McBratney said.”

Vintage and thrift stores are also great sources for alternative or themed fashion. If your prom is going to have a 1950’s theme for example, then you just might find a genuine poodle skirt from the 1950’s. You can’t get more authentic than that! Have fun searching for vintage gowns and party dresses and keep an eye out for fashions you can add to your everyday wardrobe. Many of these shops benefit charities so you could very well be helping your community while helping yourself and that’s a cool thing. Vintage gown photo by Dan Henry

Just because something is from a few decades ago doesn’t mean it will not be in style. Many of today’s formal styles are influenced by past eras. The most important thing is that you feel good in what you are wearing and that it reflect your personal style. If you love to explore all kinds of shops and sales, you will find the perfect outfit and save a lot of money.
Alternatives to shop for gowns and dresses:

1) Grandmother’s closet or attic

2) Rummage and garage sales

3) Vintage and Thrift Stores

4) Make your own

5) Sales, department store and online stores

Helpful Links:

Quite an amazing accomplishment. Like the fun Duct Tape fashions it shows a great way to express your personal creativity. This guy had a can drive where he and his friends collected the cans he needed and then he crushed and shaped and stitched them into a vest, bow-tie and suit jacket. He even created a corsage for his date! Check out all of his pictures here.

Other fun can sites:

Some gowns come with a shawl when you purchase them. They are usually made of the same fabric, and are pretty I’m sure, but if you don’t want that “matchy-matchy” look consider creating a shawl yourself. It could be another creative expression on your glittering night. Photo, Sewing.org
Dream a little dream of shawls..

Speaking of glitter, you may not want to wear a gown or party dress in a glittery fabric but imagine the piece draped delicately around your shoulders is glittery and its not such an overwhelming look but a pretty accent. A big bold print or woven pattern may not be to your taste for dancing in but a shawl could make a playful or dramatic statement. Browse fabric stores for gauzy, silky or sparkling textiles and buy a piece to highlight your look. Here are some tutorials for creating a shawl you may love so much you’ll use it even when your gown is packed away in the back of your closet. Click the pictures below for some online textile sources (just suggestions by no means all available):

Sometimes shawls are so gorgeous they can be intimidating to imagine making yourself but just take a calm look. Their beauty is in the fabric and in the most simple way all you need to do is add some fringe to the edges. Read these how-to’s below to get even more ideas and learn more advanced techniques to create a finished piece. Who knows, you may become a famous shawl designer one day!

A fun thing to do with the leftover wrapping paper and cards is to create fun things like ornaments you can use next year. Trees full of handmade ornaments made from recycled paper are always in fashion. You’ll remember all over again the fun you had this year and the wonderful gifts you received when seeing the paper again as a decoration. You can give them as gifts too. Of course there are other things you can do with cards and papers, and here are some fun links to ideas. Photo, MoonlitJazz

Kid’s Domain page to create ornaments from wrapping paper and cards.

Eco-artware’s idea for a “floating collage” you can hang in the windows or on your tree as an ornament.

PreschoolRock’s leftover giftwrap paperchain instructions to drape on your tree or bannisters.

Easy Fun School’s idea for making Christmas Crackers out of tp rolls and leftover wrapping paper.

MSN Crafts instructions for a cool decoupage box to make as a memory box for cards and things. Scroll down, but there are other fun craft ideas on this page.

Video Jug’s video of how to make gift tags from leftover wrapping paper. Stock up for next year!