How to Dress Punk for Prom

If you’d like to attend the traditional high school dance but don’t really want to look traditional on the dance floor, consider spiking your frilly prom gear with a dose of punk. Even if you’ve never endeavored to tailor your own clothes, it’s simple and almost fool-proof to punk up your soft and pretty prom dress with some rough edges, wild colors and punk accessories, making sure you stand out on the dance floor.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Prom dress
• Scissors
• Fabric dye
• Safety pins
• Fishnet stockings
• Platform heels
• Bold make-up

1. Disassemble your dress. Cut the dress apart at the seams where thee sleeves attach and also in the bodice if there is one there. Then reattach the seams with safety pins for a prickly and punk finish. Think about it this way, prom is “put together,” punk is “pulled apart.”
2. Roughen the edges. Slice the smooth ends of your dress. Cut off the bottom seam and the sleeve seams and if the material allows, throw it in the washer a couple of times to shred the ends.
3. Slash some cut-outs—Take a pair of scissors and create a few cut-outs on your dress. Try slashes up the side of the leg or diamonds on the back.
4. Liven the color. Buy a punk-colored dye at the craft store and dye your dress in the washer. Bright, neon pink screams punk. Follow the directions for the dye carefully so you don’t ruin the washer or the next load of clothes you launder.
5. Accesorize. Pair the now punked-out dress with chunky, platform heels, black fishnet stockings and bold-colored makeup.