Suit for Daughter's Year 11 Prom

[Simplelobsterhat]

I'm pretty clueless about style and fashion and my 16yo is even more clueless, so hoping to pick up some tips! My daughter is thinking of wearing a trouser suit for her prom.

I'm just not sure where to start getting one, what to look for or what to wear with it. Obviously you can get women's trousers suits loads of places, and they seem to suit her. But how do you make it look like she's going to a prom not an office?

Any tips, ideas etc for those whose daughters wore trousers, or just those with more fashion sense than me, gratefully received.

She doesn't like shopping and wouldn't want me to spend a small fortune, as it just isn't important enough to her, but I'd love her to look and feel good, as she's not the most confident and I know some of her friends will be on beautiful dresses.

If you have time for trawling through vinted, a few years ago River Island had some really good trouser suits and blazers. This for example (I know it's a 10 rather than 8 but you get the idea) would work with black trousers and either a cami top or whatever your daughter feels comfortable in underneath.

Hey op I don’t have any answers for you but following this thread as our daughters sound very similar and we need to find a prom outfit!

This is it, she is so uninterested in style she couldn't tell you whose style she likes or which shops. But she does know she hates the idea of wearing something 'because everyone else is' or because it's trendy. She wears jeans, t shirt, hoodie or cosy jumper. Cargo or wide legged trousers in summer. Trainers at all times out if school. From Primark, h and m, new look mostly. She's very 'sensible' eg wears the warm waterproof coat i thought she'd only wear for d of e and walking, because it looks so middle aged, all the time. Hates tights so has only ever worn a skirt in very hot weather.
Musically she's an odd mixture of 90s indie / rock and musicals (ie same as me!).

Just wanted to say my DD’s friends did not wear anything similar, she’s got a mixed group of friends, boys wore suits, girls wore dresses, DD wore her ‘fit and no one batted an eyelid. With the advantage that she has since worn the outfit, all together and the separate bits with other clothes. It would definitely work for a wedding too, @Simplelobsterhat!

I think it's really hard when they have absolutely no idea what they want to look like. Ds must be one of the few kids in the country who genuinely doesn't care what brand coat/ trainers he wears. He won't even tell me when he's outgrown his existing trainers in case I make him come to a shop with me.

I just want a suit.
What kind?
Dunno. Just a suit.
What colour.
Dunno. What colours are there?

Okay.

It sounds like slightly flared black trousers, fitted plain T-shirt, waistcoat and some new/clean/bright trainers might work? Or a fairly fitted shirt (my head is saying bright red plaid but that’s because I’m stuck in the 80s) over a waistcoat????? Her hair and the trainers will be the things that stand out.

@Simplelobsterhat my dd hired a men’s tux, she looked great!

Ha, the refusing to admit she's grown out of things because she doesn't want to go shopping is so familiar! They sound made for each other (or not because they'd both be walking round in rags!)

Does a 16 year old really want their mother picking their prom outfit?
I would leave her to it unless she’s asking for an opinion. You don’t need to do it for her though.

Maybe something like this, but with a white shirt instead of the polo neck? For a June ball a waistcoat rather than long sleeve jacket is better.
https://www.marksandspencer.com/slim-pinstripe-waistcoat/p/clp23047669?color=BLUE#intid=pid_pg1pip28g2r9c2%7Cprodflag_Online%20Only

Check out Wildfang - Wildfang - sounds like it would be the kind of thing she's looking for.

I've given up on dresses at formal events now, I got a really nice tux (from Zara) and wear a white open collar shirt with an undone bowtie and very low key delicate gold jewellery to soften it ever so slightly. Also killer heels.

I don't know, dd1s prom outfit cost about £20!
Trousers from Vinted
Waistcoat was from a boys suit, which she took in to make it tighter around the waist.
Converse, she already had
I think the lipstick was the most expensive thing!

I don't think it's about picking their outfit, but helping and enjoying looking together.

For her y11 prom, DD wore a suit with a band t-shirt and converse. She was very alt at the time so had lots of piercings and shaved hair.

I love hearing about teens who have their own style

As I've explained she doesn't like shopping and doesn't know what she wants or anything about what ships stick what, sites to look at, so yes she does want me to help her know where to start. I certainly wont be picking for her, just making suggestions. She'd be in a dress if I was picking!

Sounds great. My DD isn't very 'alt'- she's not interested enough to be if you see what I mean. She's sworn she'd never get piercings as she doesn't see the point, for example. A lot of the examples do seem more alt than i think she'd go for, but there are some nice suggestions I think she might consider too. Thanks all!

I am also wondering about the white shirt suggestions as I can see that looking effective with a waistcoat but that's what she has to wear literally every day for school. Although again I suppose the boys have the same issues.

I have just bought my daughter’s prom suit from next men’s section. It’s what she wanted and lots of girls seem to do this every year. We will jazz it up with some nice trainers etc

As it was Summer, dd just wore a vest (which couldn't be seen) under her pinstripe. waistcoat, and took in the waist part so it was quite fitted. It didn't look in anyway officey or schools.

I found my style at 15 and love clothes/ different looks. I married a dandy. I think ds is rebelling by not caring about clothes, hair.... He is the only kid i know who doesn't mind school uniform.

Looks like he found it under a hedge, mind.

Boden have a pink suit in petite.

My androgynous girl wore summer weight navy blue suit trousers and waistcoat with a bright pink long sleeved shirt with cuff links. Def do not need a suit jacket as too warm and not worth buying one. She wore converse and was one of the few girls able to keep dancing with shoes on. She also dyed the front of her blonde hair pink.
Overall this kind of look is often ace on girls/women. If your DD wears earrings then some larger studs could go well too.
Trousers M&S and will do for any formal event/interview, waistcoat and shirt charity shops - size of these less important as tucked/cinched in.

Absolutely no to a white shirt! Far too school uniform/waitress. Fine when she’s old enough to have not been to school or done part time waitressing for at least five years, but not now.

https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/helena-military-moleskin-jacket-wj709#colour=244
https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/lottie-printed-moleskin-trousers-wb680#colour=244