Finding the perfect formal wear is a tradition for many East Texas high school students as homecoming season is among us.
Going store to store on a busy week day can be a daunting task to find the perfect formal dress, and pinning hair styles and makeup tips on Pinterest can be overwhelming. To help in the search, Texas Forest Country Living reporters talked to several beauty and style professionals across East Texas to find out the latest trends in formal wear and beauty tips to help you find the attire that will look best on you this season.
Makeup
Eye-shadow trends are leaning towards shades of mahogany and golden metallics, said Ashley Conlon, licensed esthetician and makeup artist. She added that darker shades of lips, such as warm browns, berry, and dark mauve, are the go-to look for fall.
“I love Aveda’s eye-shadow trio in Golden Jasper, eye-shadow in Illumination, Tarte’s In Bloom eye shadow palette, and of course, you can’t have too many lip colors,” she said. “Go bold!”
Conlon also advised those doing their makeup at home who “don’t think you can pull of a sassy smoky eye” to stick with subtle and golden eye-shadow with a classic winged eyeliner and bold lips.
“Easy and glamorous,” she exclaimed.
To make an appointment with Conlon, call (936) 635-4710. She is located at Bella Salon in Lufkin. More of her work and services can be viewed at styleseat.com/ashleyconlon.
Hair
Stylist Christina Proctor said most girls do either updos or half-up half-down dos for homecoming, adding that braids and curls are involved in almost every hairstyle.
Other hair styles popular this year include: romantic curls, side twists, baby buns, sleek bump, twisted Mohawk, a double-knotted updo, a fishtail braid, and twisted flower crowns are making a big comeback this fall.
Proctor advises homecoming attendees to browse Pinterest for ideas, but “hairstylists always add their own twist to a hairstyle to make it their own.”
For styling at home, she advises girls to use hairspray before each curl because they will hold longer.
To make an appointment with Proctor, call or text her at (936) 645-2065.
Wear
Floral patterns and velvet dresses are some of the big trends this season, said Caitlyn Kirkland, owner of Rubie & Jane Bridal.
“This year we’re carrying over the same trends from last year, such as high neck, low back. Most of the dresses have a halter top or maybe an illusion neckline across or the front and then a keyhole back or beads on the back,” she said. “As far as colors, they’re really all over the place on colors – bright colors, then fall colors, too. In the fall, you get a lot of the deeper jeweled tones and a lot of girls don’t get that for prom time, so they are looking for it for homecoming.”
Color blocking is also another big trend, Kirkland added.
“You may get a black laced top and a red bottom, just something opposite,” she said. “Of course, floral print has carried over. They’ll color block with that, as well. You might have a blue floral skirt and the top will be a solid blue, or champagne to kind of match.”
She also added there are several fun bow-ties for the boys to wear to the dance.
Kirkland advises those shopping for the perfect attire to be open to different styles and looks to choose from.
“Walk through the racks and pick out some things you think are cute, and after you try on a few I’m going to bring you a few styles that I really think you should try on,” Kirkland said. “You should be open to see what we think, just because we’ve seen them on different people and we know what they look like on.”
To view trends and styles available at Rubie & Jane, visit the bridal store at 104 S. First Street in Lufkin.
