How to Dress to Impress at a Ball or Formal Event

When you have a big social event coming up, such as a graduation ball or a wedding, you will want to make a good impression. However, attending such a big event takes a lot of planning and preparation, even if you’re going to attend with a simple but elegant look. Not only do you have to spend a lot of time trying to find the perfect dress or suit to wear, but you also have to prepare your hair and makeup and arrange accommodation or transport. But let’s focus on your look; how can you dress to impress? 

Find the perfect perfume 

A perfume can be a great addition to any outfit simply because a good scent can make you memorable in the minds of others. If you are worried about the smell of your perfume fading as the night goes on, then you should try applying Vaseline to your wrists and neck and spraying your perfume into those spots. Vaseline will help your bouquet stay fresh for longer, so you do not have to worry about losing your scent. If you are new to perfume, then the tom ford perfume is a great one to start with. 

You may worry that purchasing perfume will be costly, but it does not need to be. You can buy perfumes from Dossier, a brand that sells fragrances similar to high-end perfumes, but they are cheaper and also vegan and cruelty-free. This makes them the perfect place to search for a great scent for a formal event. 

Wear matching jewelry 

Jewelry is a great addition to every outfit and can make your appearance more dramatic. An excellent tip to stick by is always to wear matching jewelry. So, if you want to wear silver earrings, make sure your rings and necklace are also silver. Unfortunately, mixing types of jewelry can stand out for all of the wrong reasons; for example, a rose gold necklace with silver hoop earrings can contrast each other too much. Jewelry also does not need to be luxury or high-end to add to your look. You can buy some great individual pieces of jewelry from places such as Etsy, and you can practically guarantee that no one else at the event will be wearing the same pieces as you.  

Match your shoes to your jewelry 

A good tip when choosing shoes or high heels for an event is to wear footwear that is a different color from your dress or suit but matching or similar to your jewelry and handbag. For example, if you plan to wear a royal blue dress with silver accessories, your high heels should also be silver to tie the entire outfit together. This can make your dress look effortlessly chic and ensures that no aspect of your outfit contrasts too harshly against another.  

Make sure your outfit is comfortable  

It can be challenging to be entirely comfortable in a ball gown or suit, especially if you are wearing heels, but it is essential to be as comfortable in your outfit as possible. Otherwise, you will look stiff and rigid all night and won’t enjoy yourself as much if you don’t feel at ease in your clothes. Therefore, you should try to choose heels that are a height that you know that you can walk comfortably in, and perhaps consider a faux-fur jacket if you are concerned about being cold on your way to or home from the event that you are attending. This rule also applies to makeup. Do not wear a lot of makeup if you are not comfortable doing so and just do not want to, simply because you feel that you need to make the extra effort. It is much better to wear what you feel right in. 

Wear your colors 

While you can obviously wear any color you like, often it is a good idea to wear colors that suit you best. However, if you are unsure of what colors suit you best, then there are quizzes online that can tell you what your seasonal color palette is as well as what colors will suit your body type best. However, be sure not to spray your perfume directly onto your dress no matter what color you choose to wear, as it could leave a little mark temporarily. 

Featured Photo by Ali Pazani on Unsplash