Welcome to School Dance Season: A Look Back at Prom

Hello and welcome to school dance season! If you survived homecoming and are a senior or just one lucky gal who got asked by an older man, then you're probably going to prom. I'm Carly, a college student, and prom really feels like a lifetime ago. Looking back on it, I honestly didn't do it right. Think making a scene at the time was something like "drama lies and tears," which is so 2016 tumblr and email-abetted. Unfortunately, kind of summed up my prom night. I had a lot of fun once I got to the actual dance, but I spent way too much money and got involved in way too much drama leading up to prom.

I have to admit, I'm not exactly a beauty guru, and I was feeling quite uncertain about my look for prom. So, I went for a soft smokey eye and pretty pale makeup. I think a dramatic eye look does not suit me, but after applying some mascara, I thought it looked okay. I did add a little bit of under-eye shadow to spice it up, which made me nervous that I'd end up looking like a raccoon. Thankfully, the mascara really helped balance everything out. As for my nails, I chose silver and shimmery designs that look way cooler on camera than they actually do in person.

Now, let's talk about my hair. I went all out with this look by straightening it first to get rid of any frizz and then curling it afterwards. The reason I straightened it first is because it makes my roots look really smooth and gives my curls a nice, pretty soft finish that I wouldn't have gotten if I just curled my natural hair. I'm not sure yet whether I'll be putting this dress on or not – we'll figure that out later in the video. For now, let's talk about some of the amazing dresses I've received from Jay Jay House for this video.

First up is a gorgeous saucy dress that makes me feel like a total diva. I love how it's still fancy but doesn't look like your typical prom dress – which is perfect because it could easily be reborn as an evening gown at a fancy adult event. The dress has a sexy leg slip, just like Milena Jolie's iconic Oscar look, and I have to say that I feel pretty amazing in it. My only complaint with this dress is that I'm currently wearing a major push-up bra because of the open back – which, let's be real, is absolutely gorgeous.

Next up is a stunning black prom dress that makes me feel like a total princess. It's honestly just a classic in every way, and black looks good on just about everyone. The off-the-shoulder look really highlights my collarbones, which is quite an odd area to highlight but it does work well. One of the things I love about this dress is that it has built-in padding, so no bra is necessary – a total bonus.

Last but certainly not least, let's talk about the final dress in this collection. This soft gray-blue color looks really pretty on me, and I'm pairing it with the same pearl purse that I've worn with my previous dresses. The details on this top are absolutely stunning, and I feel like I'm glowing when I put it on. The way the floral pattern shines through is one of my favorite things about this dress. Speaking of shoes, I didn't wear heels with these dresses – instead, I opted for gym shoes that don't show up too much in these photos.

Now that we've talked all about prom dresses and makeup, let's get to the fun part – showing you some affordable alternatives! In the next video, I'll be sharing my top picks for budget-friendly prom looks. Make sure to follow me on Instagram and send me any prom pictures you have – I love looking at people's problem looks, and it always makes me smile. Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already, and we'll catch up again next week!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhello and welcome to school dance season if you survived homecoming and are a senior or just one lucky gal who got asked by an older man then you're probably going to prom I'm Carly in college and prom really feels like a lifetime ago and looking back on it I honestly didn't do it right I think making scramble at the time was something like drama lies and tears cheers to the teenage years which is so 2016 tumblr and email abutted honestly unfortunately kind of summed up my prom nights I had a lot of fun once I got to the actual dance but I Stefan spent way too much money and got involved in way too much drama leading up to prom I am $600 on my prom dress yeah I know so take it from me when I say it was not worth it I'm going to show you guys some really affordable prom looks later in the video but right now let's talk makeup I do have to preface that I am by no means a beauty guru and admittedly entirely wing to this look but I went for even single soft smokey eye and pretty pale so I think a dramatic eye look does not look good on me I did do a little bit of under eye shadow to spice it up and I was really scared I was gonna look like a raccoon but after putting on mascara I think my unease when we came together okay admittedly these nails look way less cool on camera but I promise in person they are everything silver and shimmery 18 year old who you could have ever asked for after frying my hair by straightening it I'm going to then double fry it by also curling it the reason I straighten it first is because I makes my roots look really smooth and gives my curl just a nice pretty soft finish that I wouldn't have gotten by curling my natural hair and I have no idea if I'm gonna put it up or not yet I might I'll figure it out when I put the dresses on later in the video I got these earrings from Goodwill and I love them so much I feel so fancy in them so that just goes to show that even your jewelry can be affordable all of the dresses that I'm gonna be showing you guys are from Jay Jay house they did a sponsored this video and send me the dresses for free so thank you so much to them and all the dresses are one to two hundred dollars which i think is really affordable especially considering how cute they are and then they also sent me a pair of shoes and a purse now this first dress oh my gosh I honestly felt the most saucy in this dress what I really really love about it though is that while it's still fancy it doesn't necessarily look like a typical prom dress which is perfect because it could definitely be reborn as an evening gown at a fancy adult event I am still used the word adult as if I haven't been a legal adult for literally four years it has of course a sexy leg slip just like a milena Jolie's iconic Oscar look who wore better I'll let you guys decide my only only complaint with this dress is also something I really love about it but I'm currently wearing a major push-up bra however there is an open back which is absolutely gorgeous but that does mean no push-up bra or broad all for that matter now this dress dress number two just wow I honestly feel so elegant and almost dare I say powerful in this dress it's honestly just a classic in every way black looks good on just about everyone and the off-the-shoulder look really highlights the collarbones which is such an odd area to once a highlight but it's true and I have a literally no idea how to dance because I know it may be hard to believe but I was very awkward and quiet in high school and I had no date to prom so here is me trying to figure out how I would have danced had I been less awkward and a normal teen gal who had befriended someone in the male species in high school what is also very nice about this dress is that it has a built-in padding so again no bra is necessary and it provides support which is a bonus okay call me Cinderella because I honestly feel like a princess in the stress the top is so detailed which I absolutely love and floral is one of my favorite looks ever like I honestly just feel like I'm glowing on top of that the color is this really pretty soft to gray blue and again I'm pairing this dress with the same pearl purse that I've worn with the previous dresses I think the details in the pearl purse work really well in kind of paralleling the details in the top I also wore heels with the previous two dresses but I honestly would probably just wear gym shoes with this dress since you can't see my feet anyway my actual prom was when my first times ever wearing heels and I was in so much pain I took them off and went barefoot like halfway through the dance which now that I'm telling this story sounds really gross and honestly it was pretty gross would not recommend anyway this is the last look now it feels weird that I ended on a foot story but we're just gonna move past that thank you so much for watching this video make sure to follow me on Instagram and send me like any prom pictures that you have I like love love love looking at people's problem looks okay anyway I'll stop talking your ear off make sure to subscribe if you haven't already and I will see you guys next week\n"