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"facebook dialogPinterest\n\n While shopping around quaint and eclectic Cary Town in hometown of Richmond, Virginia, my friend and I noticed a major trend on the prom scene: short dresses! I have always had the perception that for prom a more formal, longer gown is the choice ensemble. Am I wrong with this assumption? Ultimately, I purchased a beautiful short silk Burgundy dress with rosette detailing on the bodice. I think it's elegant and classy, but I just want to make sure short is chic. Do you have any advice on how I can \"dress it up\" for my more formal event? I appreciate your insight!\n\n Fashionably yours,\n\nLong Legs Olivia_\n\nDEAR Olivia,\n\n I can remember the exact moment when I thought short dresses were acceptable for black tie and dressy functions. (And, now that I think about it, this little anecdote is very timely as the subject of the tale has a fashion forward film about to hit theaters.) The story goes like this: Sarah Jessica Parker. At the Golden Globes. Late 90s. A presenter. She takes the stage in a black dress, the camera pans out and we see it has long sleeves. Camera continues the wide shot until it's just below her waist and - OH NO SHE DIDN'T - she was wearing a mini dress! Yes, in the post show reviews, some people said Parker's Calvin Klein dress wasn't appropriate. But fast-forward a decade and you see more long, lean legs on the red carpet than you do shawls and petticoats by a long shot!\n\nSo, I guess, my first response to your question is that yes, short can still be formal. (Although, I must say, some social occasions, namely weddings, will state on the invitation that long dresses are requested; in that case, play by the rules and get a gown.) And off the top of my head I can think of several girls I've seen showing off their legs in dressy situations recently: Ashley Olsen at some after Oscar parties and Alexa Chung at fashion week are two girls that come to mind quickly. I can remember last year when Sienna Miller showed up at the premiere of her Broadway play in a distressed Balmain mini dress - and believe me, Broadway isn't used to distressed, mini anythings!\n\nfacebook dialogPinterest\n\n What is perhaps most important is that you love the dress and you love how you feel wearing it. Doing this guest blogging has really been taking me down memory lane, and I look back on my prom with such fond memories. Wear a dress you like, or else you'll always regret it! So make sure you're comfortable in short, and don't just wear it because you and your friend think it's trendy. Trends come and go, but prom is forever. Ha! And oh, when you're in a mini at prom you need to be extra careful on the dancefloor. If you're prom is anything like mine you'll have a tacky DJ that will undoubtedly put on 'YMCA' or 'Shout'. OK, fine, these are fun on prom. But just make sure that when you're readying for that first Y in the Y-M-C-A your hemline isn't above your belly button!\n\nYours,\n\n Derek\n\nDerek Blasberg is the editor-at-large of Style.com and a senior editor at V magazine. His first book, CLASSY, is on sale now! Blasberg is TeenVogue.com's April guest blogger; if you have questions of your own, e-mail him at TeenVogue@derekblasberg.com\n\nMore from Derek Blasberg:\n\nWhat is the proper attire for airports?\n\nCheck out his book, CLASSY"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-do-i-make-a-short-dress-more-formal>