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Got your dress Cinderella
Debs dress fairytales.
Once upon a time, there lived a blonde beauty, who dreamt of a night of elegance, sophistication and enchantment.
Her name was Cinderella. She longed for the day that Prince Charming would knock on her door and whisk her away to the ball. She imagined her dress would be a full-length gown seeped in elegance. Its beauty would out-shine them all. She, and only she would be the belle of the ball in her exquisite and unique attire.
I am undoubtedly certain that this classic fable refers to the fantasies of all of us girls. The desire for the dress, the shoes and the hair all come part and parcel with the female species. The whole idea is rooted in the fairytales we read as young girls, where the ‘once upon a time’ and ‘happily ever after’ ideals appeal to us like soccer captivates men.
This spellbound allurement culminates in the debutants ball, commonly known as Debs…also referred to as a big ‘piss up’ after the Leaving Cert. Call it what you will, but for many Irish girls this is ‘The Ball’, the chance to dazzle spectators, in a breathtaking and luscious gown.
So, where do we begin? The pursuit for the ‘Debs dress’ is underway. Shopping jungles such as Galway, Dublin, Belfast and Limerick all offer an array of popular shops for such events. But how do we pick that special something? A dress with a unique twist that reflects a bubbling personality is hard to come by. It is a girl’s worst nightmare to step out off her carriage and see that someone else has chosen her ‘individual’ garment for themselves.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an unheard of tragedy. I experienced this fatal mishap during the summer. A scene from The Good, Bad and The Ugly unfolded right in front of me. Two girls sporting identical dresses glared at one another in sheer horror. Both were certain that they had picked an exclusive dress. However, both had chosen identical blue gowns from Beverly Hills. The damsels in distress soldiered on for the remainder of the night, sulking as they tucked into their three-course meal. It took several alcoholic beverages to finally lift their moods. All in all, they began to enjoy themselves towards the end of the night.
Personally, this situation would be my worst nightmare, since I am addicted to the art of personalisation! I don’t go out of my way to be seen, but I don’t want to be a majority either. ‘‘Radiant with a difference’’, that’s what I always say! Surely I’m not alone on this one; I’ll refer to the fairytales and that initial aspiration of myth and magic. The princess is (excuse my stereotyping!) the first job we all wish for as young girls; that, or Britney. No-one really dreams of becoming a uniformed police woman or a suited bank manager at the age of 5.
It’s all about finding Neverland and pretty palaces, and being the best dressed at the MTV awards! Don’t let these young dreams die at the age of 17, 18! For your special night; be breathtaking, be beautiful, be desired!
It’s your night to cherish so wear something YOU! You can buy some exquisite dresses all around the country and beyond, but be sure to add your very own touch to bring the gown to life. Even if it’s something as simple as a funky broach, it will give your dress that extra something. Even better still, why not tailor your own dress? Design it and hand the sketches over to your local dress makers to work their magic! It doesn’t have to cost too much either. We are, dare I say it, drowning in the ‘R’ word.
But you can still be classy on a budget! Keep your eyes peeled for a bargain! A simple dress in Pennys is the perfect ingredient for a customized, inexpensive, darling dress with a dash of fabric and a pinch of sequins. Try to cut down on the nails and get a D.I.Y kit. The tan needn’t be an added expense either; many catwalks this season are lined with porcelain princesses. Let’s hope that this trend will last until next summer!
So, quite simply the moral of this story is: be unique and dare to be different by customising your dress. Don’t let the fairytale turn into a nightmare!
And they all lived happily ever after.
By: Siobhan McGuire
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