The St. Louis American Foundation is celebrating a milestone with the 25th Annual Salute To Excellence in Education Gala next month – and doing so in grand fashion (all pun intended).
Preparing for a formal evening out can be a daunting task, so we at The American have made this undertaking a little less challenging by giving you a preview to what to do and not to do when it comes to being formally fashion forward.
Each year for a quarter-century attendees and awardees have risen to the occasion with respect to being dressed to the nines, but the idea of doing so can be scary for those who might not be used to deviating from the normal everyday attire.
However, thanks to the non-traditional trends in fashion at the moment, guests have the liberty of expressing their inner glamour by way of many different silhouettes, colors, and fabrics. A few of St. Louis’ most fashionable young influentials graciously granted a peek into the delightful variety of formal flavor expected on the red carpet.
The Dress
Women can play up their figures with flattering gowns that are elegantly revealing as well as complimentary accentuating our curves. Dresses and gowns don’t necessarily have to be a certain length or fabric either. If you have a dress that is ornate, and fanciful, but the hem line is at or above the knee, don’t be afraid to wear it to a more formal event. You will be appropriate, and still stand out in a crowd. This goes for men as well! It is tres chic for men to wear non traditional colors in formal wear, as long as they are tasteful and complimentary to the occasion.
The Hair
When styling our hair for a formal occasion, we always want to err on the side of doing an up do, which is great, but can seem a little dated. If your looking to be more fashion forward, try out a wave (dry or wet), soft curls, or a bone straight style. If your attire requires an up-do, don’t be afraid to add different textures to your hair, including braids, waves, and tight curls. I know a lot of women are concerned about your hair holding up throughout the whole evening. If you run into that problem, be sure to ask your stylist to apply products that will provide a lot of hold. Your hair is your “crown” and one of the first things people notice when you walk in the room, don’t be afraid to make a statement, and look royal while doing it.
The Face
Now when it comes to our faces, it can be so easy to over do our makeup!!! If you’re not sure, I always go for “LESS is MORE”. If you’re more of a dramatic type, you can still have a natural look with emphasis on your best features. The classic smoky eye is your best look when you want a vivid eyes shadow option. This can be done with various colors that can compliment your ensemble. You can also add an eyelash extension, to give you an extra pop for your eye. Being that you will probably be taking a lot of pictures throughout the night, you want to make sure that your concealer and foundation blend naturally with you’re your skin tone to avoid discoloration from the camera flash.
The Accessory
How you decide to adorn yourself can make or break your look. Picking the right accessory can either take your look up a notch or drag it through the mud. But you want to be careful not to overpower your look with too many accessories. There is no need to wear a necklace, earrings, bracelet, watch, ring, toe ring… you get the point. One or two striking pieces will be more than enough to make statement with your jewels. The same goes for your shoes. You want to make sure you are comfortable and stylish at the same time. If you know you won’t be able to walk after an hour in a 5 inch stiletto, than maybe you should opt out for a 3 inch platform.
St. Louis American Foundation’s 25th Annual Salute To Excellence in Education Gala will take place on Friday, September 14 at America’s Center. For tickets or more information, call (314) 533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com
Special thanks: Models Raven Akram (Sandberg Phoenix), Diana Blair (Weber Shandwick), Keith Harris (St. Louis Rams), Michael Kennedy (KAI), Anisha Morrell (SSM Health Care-St. Louis), Shanti Parikh (Washington University) Adrian Saddler (Federal Reserve Bank) and Jason Wilson (Chronicle Coffee).
Special thanks: Portfolio Gallery and Robert Powell for the venue space. Be sure to check out their latest exhibit Dark Girls currently running through August 31 at 3514 Delmar in Grand Center. For more information, call (314) 533-3323 or visit www.portfoliogallerystl.org.
Special Thanks: Lawrence Bryant of LB Photography for videography services. Be sure to visit www.stlamerican.com for exclusive footage from the 2012 Salute To Excellence in Education Fashion preview photo-shoot.
Jewelry and watches courtesy of Vincent’s Jewelers, the official jeweler of the Salute to Excellence. Women’s jewelry shown is from the Rebecca collection, available at Vincent’s, 11733 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141.
