Be crowned winner of the women's evening gown competition in a glamorous long formal designed just for curvy contestants by Johnathan Kayne for Sydney's Closet.
Of course, all the judges' eyes will be on you as well as that of the audience and your competing contestants. Getting ready for the long-anticipated evening gown competition at the beauty pageant takes time and tons of thought.
The stylists at Sydney's Closet put together these tips to get you started on your journey to being crowned winner of the Plus-Size Pageant Evening Gown competition:
Plan Ahead:
The secret to getting crowned is getting started in plenty of time to avoid being rushed in making a decision about your gown.
Do you homework by taking a close look at the history of the pageant you will be competing in. What style, color and fabric dresses did the previous winners wear. Find that out and you'll have a head start and edge in narrowing down your choices of what to formal wear works - and what doesn't!
Money Matters:
We know it's hard, but you must set a budget. A red-carpet look glamorous enough to capture a crown can cost a King's ransom. So set an amount or a dollar range that you are comfortable spending on a plus-sized evening gown for your pageant.
Keep it Simple
Select an evening gown that plays up your curvy assets and plays down your figure flaws. Not every style may work for your dress. If you're an hourglass or Pear shape a well-constructed and sexy, plus size fitted Mermaid formal dress shows off your curves. If you opt for a ball gown, be aware that the voluminous skirt can be heavy to walk in and turn on the runway.
No matter what silhouette your select, make it your goal to always look elegant on the runway. You also want to be very confident as you walk so if you want to cover your arms it is best to shop for plus size pageant dresses with sleeves.
Color
There are almost endless color choices when it comes to picking which color gown you will wear on stage for your competition. The best place to start? Identify the colors that don't work for your skin tone and hair color.
Take a color cue from the past. Did you know that historically contestants in the Miss America Pageant and Miss USA pageant systems consistently win wearing white, black and red.
Monochromatic always makes you look taller. One color from head to toe. Opting for two forces the eyes of the judges to cut your body length in half.
Be on Trend
You can't win wearing a formal beauty pageant dress that looks dated because of style, color or detail. Drama plays a key part. National winners stand out with long sheer trains and embellished necklines. Glitzy gowns promise to be appropriate at pageants.
Some classic silhouettes never go out of style including the regal ball gown or flowing A-line designs. For a contemporary look and oh-so feminine look, consider a body-fitting Mermaid gown in multi-color sequins with a dramatic long train. You're sure to stand out on the stage!
Girls and women of all sizes and ages compete for titles. Be sure that the style and design of the gown you select suits your age division. You don't want to look like you should be entered in a division that is older or younger than your actual age.
Fit Matters
You can find the most perfect gown, but if the style doesn't fit you perfectly you will definitely loose points when the judges score your walk down the stage.
You want a dress that fits and flatters your figure type not the body shape of the contestant before or after your appearance. This is your chance to show off your fabulous curves!
Go to great lengths to check the requirements that your competition has set for the length of the formal dress you will wear for the evening competition. Some can require the hemline of the evening skirt touches the floor. On the other hand, teen pageants might allow you to show off your sexy legs but the hemline could disqualify you from the contest.
We love the Miss United States organization and are proud to be sponsors for the 2020-2021 season.
Read Less