Prom shopping

Normal life is like a dream for 17 year old Abby Gladin from Atlanta, Georgia, who is living with Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowl illness. For the last 10 years now, she's been in and out of hospitals and doctors appointments, getting countless surgeries and missing out on tons of school. She lives such a difficult life, so one of her dreams is just to live a normal life. And one of the most normal and fun parts of any teenager is going to prom, of course. In Abby's own words, all she wants is "a night of simple, sophisticated elegance." We certainly couldn't blame her.

So, one day while walking out of a routine doctor's appointment, she got an amazing surprise. She found her parents telling her that they'd be taking her on an extra special prom dress shopping expedition, complete with her own chauffeured car from Uber, all arranged by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. The car took everyone to a boutique in Georgia, where she could pick any dress she wanted for free! She told 11alive.com, "I feel so special!"

Some dresses were harder than others to wear because of her colostomy, a medical device attached to her abdomen, but she searched away! She explained, "I want my dress to be something you'd see on the red carpet." After lots of looking, they found Abby's perfect dress (she said "yes" to the dress!) and she looked so gorgeous that her mother couldn't help but cry. Her mom explained, "Some days she doesn't see how really beautiful she is because of this." We sure hope this whole experience helped to show Abby just how special she is!

That wasn't the end of her special day of prom shopping, though. Miss Georgia and Miss Colorado stopped by to place a special princess crown on Abby's head!

Even though the end of the school year will bring more surgeries, Abby can look forward to a special night in a special dress with her boyfriend. 11alive.com said that they will update the story once Abby attends prom with pictures of her all dressed up, so keep a look-out!

Source: 11alive.com

We can't believe March is officially here already! It may still be freezing cold out, but Spring is just around the corner (the first day of Spring in 2014 is March 20th...only 16 days away!) and it's definitely time to start making sure you're Prom Ready if you haven't started yet.

What do we mean when we say that it's time to get prom ready? Well, it may be too early on to have a date yet and to start planning some of the simpler things like the limo and what you and your friends will be doing for After Prom, but it's definitely time to start putting your outfit together. Finding that perfect prom dress is obviously the most important factor, but don't forget that it's also important to pick out your high heels, a clutch, jewelry and accessories, and even your makeup and hairstyle.

We recommend starting with finding your dress first, since that can be the most tedious process with deciding what color, overall style, and length you want. You also want to make sure to leave enough time to get the dress hemmed to fit you perfectly. But, some people are obsessed wearing stand-out accessories, like eye-turning heels or a bold purse. If you're one of those people, you may find it helpful to plan your dress around the shoes or purse you want to wear with your outfit.

If you need some inspiration on where to start and love the dress in our image above, it's Nina Canacci style 7014. It's a hand beaded chiffon sleeveless gown that features a sweetheart neckline and a V shaped back. The straps and bodice are adorned with intricate pattern of beautiful embellishments, and the flowing skirt is emphasized with soft layers that cascades to a full length. The color shown above is Bubble Gum, but it also comes in an Aqua color.

Good luck with getting prom ready for Prom 2014! If you have any questions about a dress or even just want help finding what dress might be right for you, don't hesitate to give us a call, send us an e-mail, or even just leave a comment below.

This is one special report that no Roo Girl should miss! NBC News recently did a story on their "Rossen Reports" Today show about how teens are being scammed with fake designer dresses. It made us sad to hear that scammers are becoming such a problem when it comes to purchasing designer dresses, that we wanted to make sure to pass on the information to you.

Jeff Rossen, the NBC reporter, started the report by mentioning:

"We've told you about scam artists selling fake electronics, handbags... the list goes on. Now these scammers are targeting the prom, fooling teeange girls with fake designer dresses, charging hundreds of dollars for gowns that literally fall apart in your hands. Their websites are a teen girl's dream, offering designer prom gowns at deep discounts. The sites sure look real, but designers say it's all a scam."

With how big online shopping has become over the years, it's definitely become more and more difficult to pick out the scams.

"The federal government has shut down hundreds of these sites, but the scammers are tough to catch, many of them based overseas. Good luck getting your money back. And those priceless prom memories."

There are ways you can protect yourself, though! Here are some tips:

1. Call the company and ask if they are an authorized dealer. Remember, you're always welcome to call Rissy Roo's at our toll-free number 1-866-779-7667 to discuss your order.
2. Look on the dress designer's website to see if the store is listed as an authorized website.
3. Look for verification seals on the bottom of the website, and make sure to click through to check verification.
4. Check if the website has a blog and a presence on prominent social networks, like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

This is definitely a problem that's grown substantially over the past couple of years. Whether looking for a dress online for prom, graduation, or homecoming, definitely keep your eyes and ears perked. If you ever come across a fake designer dress website, please contact us and let us know. We can all work together to try to stop the scams!

Source: NBC News

Prom is only weeks away, and we're sure that you're ready to bust a move on the dance floor. But, before the biggest night of the year, you have to make sure everything goes perfect...down to the nitty gritty details! In order to have a stress-free night, try to get everything done way in advance and have a handy check list. We are here to guide you through this stressful preparation, so we came up with important tips to follow for your dazzling night! This is a great list to print out and keep with you in the coming weeks to make sure there's nothing you forget!

Make sure your dress is tailored to perfection

Most of the time, dresses don't fit perfectly. You don't want to be uncomfortable and swimming in your dress! Go to the right seamstress and have her tailor it to your size and length. The length is especially important - you don't want it dragging on the dance floor. Make sure to bring the shoes you plan on wearing that night so that the seamstress can hem the dress properly.

Choose your Hair Style

Your hair is crucial! Make sure you book your appointment early enough in the day to give yourself plenty of time to get ready for Prom - you don't want to be late! Search for hairstyle ideas online and in magazines and bring pictures in with you so that the hairdresser knows what you want. You should also consider how it will look with your dress. Up-dos and half up-dos are great for one shoulder or high neck dresses. Strapless gowns can go with just about any hairstyle. One fun way to keep track of the hairstyles you like and compare them to each other is to make a Pinterest board.

Makeup and Nails to Compliment your Dress

You might want to book an appointment for makeup and nails also. You never know how crowded your favorite nail salon might be or how long the wait is for makeup. Getting a manicure and pedicure a couple days before is a great way for making prom day errands easier - just make sure that you don't chip them! If your prom dress is loaded with beads or has super bright colors, it's better to tone down your makeup and nails. Neutral nail colors and neutral eyeshadow colors are best with bright colors, lots of beading, and print. If you are wearing a neutral colored dress, you can go crazy...bold lips and bright nail polish for a pop of color!

Add some Bling with Jewelry

Jewelry is another important detail. It for the most part has the same makeup and nails rule; if you're wearing a blinged out sequin dress, you're going to want to tone down the jewelry. Otherwise, you'll have sparkle overload! Too much can overkill your whole look, so try to keep it simple.

Complete your Look with your Shoes

Your shoes are what completes your look. You don't want to look like your in pain in a gorgeous dress. Practice makes perfect! Try breaking them in a few weeks before. If that doesn't help, try slipping in padding or insoles. If your shoes are too tight, find a local shoe repairman and have them stretched out. You'll have a more confident walk!

Add a Hint of Personality with your Purse

A purse is always a great way to add some personality to any outfit. Pick a simple bag that blends in with your dress, or choose a funky clutch that's the statement piece of your outfit! Just remember, depending on your dress and jewelry, you don't want to be too blinged out.

Don't forget your Camera!

Of course, the most important accessory of all is your camera! It's a special night, and you'll want to take all the photos you can. Whether a disposable, a point-and-shoot, or the handy dandy camera on your smart phone, just make sure that you have plenty of room to take lots and lots of pictures. And, ideally, have something small enough that fits in your purse!

Prom season is finally here and every week we are posting the most popular trends of this year! This week, it's all about sequins! This old Hollywood look has been making a comeback, and is definitely a show stopper. If you want to stand out from the crowd, this trend is a great choice!

Check out our favorite sequin dresses below:

1. Flirt by Maggie Sottero P7782 Sequin Evening Gown - This sequin gown features a unique cowl neckline and a sexy low back with criss-cross straps making it an equally stunning exit.

Finding a dress that has the always popular high slit is a great way to infuse some extra sexiness to the sequin look. You'll certainly grab everyone's attention! With this trend, you might want to tone down the jewelry. Too much glam can be overkill!

1. Primavera 9500 Fuchsia Evening Gown - Dance the night away in this sequin embellished dress with low open back and straps, hi slit, and slight trail.

2. La Femme 18918 Black Evening Gown - Gorgeous sequined gown with a sweetheart neckline, beautiful rhinestone belt at the natural waist and a slit on the side.

Do you like the sequin look? Leave us a comment and let us know below!

We recently sat down with Cassandra Morris, the head writer of the Prom/Formal Dances section of About.com to talk all about prom, where she interviewed Marissa (owner of Rissy Roo's) to get the scoop on what's in style for Prom 2013! Marissa and Cassandra discussed everything from hot celebrities to get style ideas from, to what the 3 most popular dresses are at Rissy Roo's this season.

Check out some of the questions below, and Click Here to read the full interview on About.com!

About: What dress lengths are hot for 2013: long gowns or short mini dresses?
Marissa: 2013 is seeing a trend towards hi-low dresses and mini dresses, long gowns will always be popular for prom, but we are seeing many of our more progressive customers leaning towards dresses that show off their legs and still offer a glamorous formal look.

About: What colors are Rissy Roo's shoppers all about this year?
Marissa: We have seen an increasing number of girls gravitating towards jewel colors this season, royal/sapphire blue, emerald, red, and rich purples. We are also seeing many shoppers that are staying on the more serene side with shades of blush and nude.

About: Which celebs do you think provide the biggest inspiration for prom shopping?
Marissa: Our customers are inspired by the style of Taylor Swift, Kylie & Kendall Jenner, and Selena Gomez.

 

It can be very exciting to start looking for your perfect prom dress, but if you don' t have an idea going in of what you want, it can also turn into a very long process! So, before you begin searching for your dream dress, start thinking about what type of dress you're looking for. We'll be posting more about different types in weeks to come, but below are some basics to think about while it's still early on in prom season. They are in no particular order, and you'll find that you have no preferences towards some of the different features - it's all about finding the few details that you know you want in your dress!

1. The most basic of all questions: Short Dresses or Long Dresses? If you have a preference one way or another to this, it's a quick way to weed out a whole bunch of dresses! If you go with long dresses, this opens up many more questions, as there's different style long dresses to choose from: mermaid, ball gown, and evening gowns. Of course, if you can't decide between the two, the trendy Hi-Lo dress look may be a good option for you - it's a nice way to get both looks in one! Best of all, most Hi-Lo dresses have detachable skirts, so you really can wear the dress both ways.

 

2. What color dress do you want? If you have a favorite color that you know you want to wear, this can be a great place to start. There's so many options out there when it comes to color, so you definitely won't find yourself limited!

3. Is there a certain style you want? Some examples to consider are: the classic Cinderella ball gown, an edgy Glam Rock look, Vintage, or rock some fringe in a Flapper style dress.

Another fun way to find your prom dress style is to take the many quizzes online that match your personality to a dress! Seventeen Magazine's "What's Your Prom Style" quiz is a great one to check out!

Do you already know what type of prom dress you want? Leave us a comment below!

Your prom is sooner than you think! The groundhog made his prediction! With the winter storms almost behind us and day light savings soon to stretch our days with sun rays, the warm weather fun can be distracting! With spring on its way and the promise of summer vacation around the corner, it’ll be hard to remember that you can't wait until the last hour to find your prom dress!   If you are planning to attend prom this year, take it from me- you need to get moving!

1.       Availability is limited! Designer’s selection can be sold out quickly and most retailers will only have a dress in a few sizes and colors. In order to guarantee the style you want, it is ideal to get your dress as early as possible.

2.        Set a few weekends in February and March aside to check out the local dress boutiques. Most retailers begin stocking their stores to ready for the prom rush as early as January. Get there early, and you’ll see some of the hottest and newest trends for the season, not to mention the best selection.

3.       If you’re shopping for your prom dress online, check availability with the website you’re intending to buy from to ensure that your dress will be available in time for your prom.   Be sure to investigate designer size charts - A local seamstress can help you with your measurements to ensure proper fit!

Most of us require some adjustments in dress fit.  (And if your dress fits perfectly, you hit it out of the park!) Getting a move on your prom shopping as soon as possible will allow time for alterations and fittings.  By doing your prom homework (yes, after your school work) and buying your dress in the early hours of prom season, you can make sure that your dress is the perfect complement to your special night!

Best of luck with your prom shopping! Prom will be one of your most memorable high school experiences!Enjoy it!!