It’s that time of the year again! Semi-formal is in less than a month and students everywhere are stressing about what to wear. From dresses to blazers, there are so many options for what to wear. For freshmen, this is your first school dance as a magnet student, and likely your first high school dance ever. There are only so many dances to look forward to over your four years so it is important to make every one count. And for seniors about to attend their last semi, you should try to go out with a bang! There are so many different places to find dresses and my recommendation will be listed below!

Borrowing From a Friend

Borrowing an outfit from a friend is such a sustainable option! It saves you money and saves the planet by needing to produce one less fast-fashion dress. This is an especially good option if you have a friend who goes to a different school so it’s guaranteed that the outfit will be available for you to use! This also helps reduce the likelihood of outfits being repeated. And if you have an outfit for them to use, propose a trade! I love offering my outfits up to friends – it makes me feel better about buying more expensive things because I know they will have plenty of use for years to come.

Buying Online

Buying online is a great option! I almost always buy my semi outfit online. There are so many options online and the filters built into the websites can help you to find specific colors you might want or styles. If you want a patterned shirt rather than a solid color or a flowy dress rather than one that is skin-tight, shopping online and using these filters is super helpful! There are countless websites to find any style of clothing appropriate for semi. “I get my semi dresses from Revolve every year and the shipping is always reliable and fast. It usually takes about two days to come in. The dresses can be expensive but they’re so gorgeous and after some searching, you can definitely find some that aren’t too pricey”, says fashion icon Sousa Waggoner. Here are some recommendations of online shops:

Dresses:

• Lucy in the Sky – Usually affordable and sooo many cute styles 
• Princess Polly – Unique dresses and a student discount!
• Revolve – High-end styles and timeless designs
• Urban Outfitters – More casual dresses that can be worn time and time again

Men’s Apparel:

• Jos. A. Bank – Find versatile suits that can be worn to any event and can be easily altered
• Mens Wearhouse – Affordable and stylish
• Bellissimo (shoes) – So many styles to choose from to add a pop to your outfit

In-Person Shopping

Shopping for semi in store can be a challenge, but it definitely has its benefits. The ability to try things on is so so helpful, especially when buying from a brand that may be new to you. Also, having store employees can be a huge help when trying to find different sizes, styles, or colors. If you have pictures of sort of what you are looking for, nine times out of ten you can simply show an employee the “vibe” you are going for and they should be familiar enough with their stock to help you achieve your vision. Some great stores to go to are again, Jos. A. Bank or Men’s Wearhouse. And for dresses, Dillards and StyleXChange have beautiful options!

How to Accessorize?

Accessorizing for semi can be a huge challenge. When you are looking for accessories, you want something that compliments your outfit but doesn’t take away from the star of the show (your dress/suit). One way to do this, for guys especially, is through wearing a unique pair of shoes. As listed above, Bellissimo is a great option for shoes. When it comes to the simple pants and shirt combo, things can get a little boring – extravagant shoes are a great way to spice up your outfit! If wearing a dress, your outfit is likely already pretty fancy, but to elevate it a little more consider layering necklaces or wearing statement earrings – after all, this is a dance, so take this opportunity to wear things you normally wouldn’t!

Dressing to the Theme

Dressing to the theme can be a challenge, but we are privileged to have an amazing student council who come up with awesome themes! This year’s theme is Fly Me to the Moon which is super exciting and has so many different potential interpretations. The two main ways people may take this theme are either astrological dress or a Frank Sinatra style. If you take the route of outer space you could find something to do with stars. A personal recommendation is a dress worn by one of our very own, Bridget Enright last year (pictured on the left). “I love the star pattern, it’s super chic yet subtle, the perfect way to execute the theme this year”. Her stunning dress can be found at Finesse. Tres chic! Talia Barsness also found a beautiful dress suiting the more Frank Sinatra-esque vibe. “I thrifted this dress and I absolutely love it. I think it’s perfect and I can wear it to so many places, not just semi”. Wow, she’s sustainable AND fashionable, we love to see it. Whether you want to go the outer space vibe or channel your inner jazz club, “Fly Me to the Moon” is a great theme that can be executed with subtlety and fashion.

Semi is a great opportunity to show off your own personal style and show up and show out. It’s not every day you get to dress up with your friends and go out to dance and have a night of fun. Try out a new style, whether it be your hair, makeup, or just a deviation from what you would normally wear. As our first school dance of the year, this is your chance to show your classmates just how good you can look! See you February 8th Raptors 😉