May 2009 Archives

Everyone who's anyone knows Sherri Hill designs crown-winning gowns. Across the world (and universe for that matter), Sherri Hill's dresses have captured judges' attention and scored tens across the board. 2007 Miss America winner, 2007 Miss USA Rachel Smith, and Top Ten Miss Universe pageant winner Zana Krasniqi, Miss Kosovo topped the gold list in the past few years.

This year, you have the chance to wear a gown especially designed by an award-winning designer. So what's your style? Miss Universe? Miss America? Maybe Miss Teen USA? Whether you're entering a major pageant or going to senior prom, choose the Sherri Hill dress that will turn heads and shower you with petals.

Every detail counts when it comes to entering a beauty pageant. Right down to your rhinestones. Make up and jewelry can make or break your overall appearance onstage. So let's find out how to polish your self to pageant perfection.

With base and powder, match your skin color. You'll feel confident with an even skin tone under the lights. Use a lighter color foundation below the eyes to accentuate your eye color.

On to the eyes. Color can be tricky. Remember that harsh lighting can make you look washed out. Use a few shades darker than normal, daytime wear. This will make your eyes shine from a distance. Gotta wow those judges. False lashes can emphasize the eyes, but make sure they stay in place. Mascara, liner--of course.

Blush should be in the same color family as your skin. If you're super dark, don't wear light pink blush. Bleh. Apply directly on the cheekbone, beginning at the ear and working toward the nose. Dab a little on the forehead and nose. Think about wear the sun hits your face--that's wear blush belongs.

Choose a lip color that isn't too bright so not to make your lips appear thinner. Don't try to match your dress if you're wearing pink or red. No one's filling you in with magic marker here. Lip gloss, and you're set!

Jewelry should be minimal. No necklace needed in most cases. This keeps the attention on your eyes and draws a smooth, flowing line down to your dress. Nobody will count the karats in your rocks. Fake crystal and rhinestones work just fine. Basic, elegant stud earrings will do with an elaborate dress. Keep in mind jewelry should never outshine your smile.

Now that you've entered the perfect pageant, let's start from the top and make sure everything is picture perfect. Beginning with your crowning glory--your hair.

First, when choosing a style, remember that appearance is the first things the judges read. So what do you want your hair to say before you speak? You want to choose a hairstyle that you're comfortable with. Length is important. Too long hair is hard to deal with between rounds and won't hold shape easily. For flowing, perfectly bouncy locks, keep it medium to medium-long in length. If your face shape allows, you can go chin-length. But keep in mind more attention will be drawn to your frame.

Keep your hair out of your face. This is vital. You want everyone to see your smile. Also, keep your dress in mind. Your hairstyle can accentuate or easily class with the shape and overall attitude of your dress. Discuss this with your stylist. Try different styles with your dress on. Take pictures from all angles--portrait and full-length. Lay them out on a table to thoroughly examine which style best fits your frame, face, color, and dress.

If you plan on dying your hair, keep your skin in mind. Don't go overboard on the blonde if you're super tan. No one is Malibu Barbie. If your hair is naturally dark, don't try for platinum. You'll look orange and fake. Play up your natural shades.

Warm/yellow/gold skin: try deep, dark browns and auburns. Highlight with copper or red.

Cool/Blue-red skin: Try intense browns, reds or blondes. Highlight with wheat or honey hues that will warm up your skin.

For red skin: Avoid red dye. Highlight with beige, honey brown or light coffee colors.

Be prepared. A cordless curling iron can whip those crazy curls back in shape when you can't find a plug backstage. Make sure to have a handheld mirror and hairspray handy, as well. You never know how crowded the dressing area will be.

Get a winning style with these hair do's and don'ts and you're sure to hit the stage with confidence.

Seems obvious, but when trying on dresses, many forget to ask a key question: can you walk in your dress? No need to tug at or trip over that fabulous fabric. Your evening plans could determine what kind of dress would be best for how you'll be moving and shaking.

For pageants, the more glam the merrier. You'll have tons of time to practice walking in your gown, so bring on the layers and long trains. But for prom, a dress that lets you let loose is the best choice.

A long, tight dress will obviously inhibit movement, so consider a slit to give your self some leg room. Otherwise, save the jumping jacks for the after party.

If you're wearing a short dress, make sure it doesn't ride up when you walk. You'll want your arms free for flailing on the dance floor. Your legs will be free to move about as they please, but consider dress length when bending over. That's something you'll want to check on in the safety of your bathroom mirror.

Long trains needs lots of love. Of course you don't want a dirty dress, so be prepared to carry your train everywhere you go. For an active evening like prom, a long train runs the risk of getting trampled on and may not be the best dress choice for a lively occasion.

Remember, if you're not comfortable, you won't have a good time, no matter how hot you look standing still.

When ordering online, remember to give yourself time for alterations just in case a few inches need to be trimmed away to let you glide in your gown and dazzle beneath those disco balls. Or chandeliers--wherever the night may take you.

Entering a pageant? Sick of running your self ragged from store to store looking for the right dress? Look no further. Tiza offers three outrageously gorgeous and dramatically different looks to fit your personality.

So you're about to enter your first pageant. Now that you have your gown and shoes from Tiza, it's time to keep your eyes on the prize and get down to business. Check out part two of our vital tip series for first-time pageant contestants.

Let's focus on formal wear. It's easy to feel gorgeous in a stunning gown, but when you're surrounded by a hundred other beautiful girls, nerves can get you down. So before walking onstage, focus on something besides other people. Pick an uplifting saying to chant to yourself while you wait for the escort to get you. And remember to lock that natural smile in place before the judges see you.

Speaking of judges, don't stare them down. But do make eye contact. This shows confidence. Also remember to scan the crowd, whether you can see them or not. Most likely, you'll be blinded by bright spotlights, so the audience won't be so intimidating.

If you have to be stage for a certain length of time, remember not to lock your knees. Remember Model-T stance! Practice turning and walking to the beat of music several times before the big night. Practice pivots in your gown until it feels natural--not too slow or too fast. You're not a robot, you're a beauty queen. So make sure the judges, the audience and--most importantly--you know it.

We'll be back with more pageant tips. In the mean time, scout out Tiza.com for your perfect pageant dress and shoes. We have a gown for every girl!

You love your dress, but mom says no way. Whether it's cost or cleavage keeping your parents from letting you get the gown you want, Tiza knows how to handle sticky situations with perfect poise and the politest of manners. Basically, we want you to get what you want. Here's how...

First, if your parents are buying the dress, it's best to respect their wishes by listening to their suggestions and wishes when shopping. Cut the attitude. They are your parents, after all.

If you think your parents are being completely unreasonable, maybe consider setting up a chat with a good friend's parent. This might shed some spotlight on the subject.

Parents can be tough, but with the right attitude, you can work the wrinkles out of any parental problem.

Don't think you have what it takes to compete in a pageant? Think again. Tiza did a little digging and found an extraordinarily wide range of competitions to choose from. That's right. You don't have to be Barbie to win a crown--check out the real world of pageants, from the weird and wondrous to downright wacky.

In 2004, China held a Miss Plastic Surgery pageant. The idea came from a previous pageant in which a contestant was disqualified for having had cosmetic surgery. Can't beat them, join them, right?

Ms. Pregnant pageant. Yep. Bare your belly bikini style. From the looks of it, we can only guess being in your third trimester is a requirement.

The annual Ms. Landmine Pageant, held in the country of Angola, created by Norwegian artist Morten Traavik, celebrates physical imperfection caused by wartime landmine explosions. Tiza applauds this pageant for its humanistic approach to real beauty.

Prison Pageants are apparently all the rage all over the world. In Bogota, Columbia, the incarcerated can be crowned Miss Prisoner--if they have what it takes. For some, it means freedom, as the parole board takes into account prison community involvement.

Miss Jumbo Queen is the brainchild of an elephant conservation project in Thailand. Though the last Miss Jumbo was crowned in 2005, we're hoping more philanthropies will hop on this grand idea.

Every girl dreams of being Miss Worm Gruntin' Queen or Miss Meat Pie, right? Harvest Festival Queens certainly hold the most...interesting titles. Personally, we're rooting for Miss Garlic Girl, 2009.

Exotic animals and pumpkins aren't your thing? The pageant world doesn't stop there.

How about the Zombie Beauty Pageant. More gore more gorgeous.

Not quite feeling up to Miss Universe this year? That's okay. Tiza's found a few alternatives to choose from...choose your platform wisely.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, what's the best hairstyle of all? For every facial shape, there's a perfect cut. Let Tiza help you decide on the best hairstyle for your face shape.

Round

A round face gives you an innocent look. Avoid cutesy bobs and going too short. To elongate your face, sport long bangs that sweep over your forehead. Think heavier on top and thin on the sides of your face. Go for a deep side part. Stay away from big earrings that draw too much attention to the width of your face. Instead, try a funky rhinestone clip or elegant drop necklace.

Oval

An oval face, while considered the prize face shape, still needs to be worked with. Pick your best facial feature and wear a hairstyle that accentuates that feature. If you love your bone structure, consider an angular bob that makes your chin the focal point of your face. Like your eyes? Go for blunt or side-swept bangs. You can generally wear any kind of jewelry. But make sure not to go over the top.

Heart

Full cheeks and a pointy chin? Draw attention to your eyes with bangs or brow-grazing fringe that shapes your face. For short hair, keep layers long. With longer hair, add layers that fall to your cheekbone. Stay away from short, blunt cuts and choppy layers. Your goal is to soften your face. Go all out with dangly earrings.

Square

Your strong, angular jaw line looks great with choppy, textured styles with layers or curls. Steer clear of chin-length, one-length bobs and straight bangs. You can wear short, spiky cuts, and long, sleek styles with layers that curve in and begin at the jaw. This creates a rounding effect that softens your jaw and chops up the boxiness. Think delicate jewelry. Focus on rings and bracelets if you want to draw attention to your arms and awesome French manicure.

"There's a girl at my school who isn't very nice, to say the least. One of my good friends is really pretty and always has the hottest boyfriends. She's really nice too, so you can't get mad at her. The 'mean' girl I can call J.

At a dance earlier this year at our school, my group walked into the gym and J immediately came over to my gorgeous friend--I'll call her S--and made fun of her dress. S has dark skin and wore this awesome goldeny yellow gown. J called S a banana. How dumb is that? S just smiled and said thanks.

Later on in the night, S won this prize we all voted on. Of course. It was kind of like prom king and queen, but small town style. The principal crowned S with a plastic tiara from the Dollar Store. When she stepped off the cinderblock stage, she walked right up to J and said, 'I guess bananas are in season.' We all nearly fell over laughing. J shut up and really hasn't messed with S since.

I can't wait to see what happens at the next dance when we're all seniors."

-Amy, The Middle of No Where, OK

The media's buzzing with new gossip about the lovely first-runner-up for Miss America, Miss California U.S.A. Carrie Prejean. Prejean's semi-nude photos may only be semi-scandalous or a gigantic beauty pageant blooper, but at least we know she has sophisticated taste when it comes to dresses.

How can beauty pageants expect girls to display their bodies on stage in bikinis and heels--not exactly modest--and not be a bit confused on what skin a camera can capture on film? Whether Prejean was 17 or not when the pics in question were taken, one thing's for sure: ladies need to process their pasts before entering a beauty pageant.

Here at Tiza, we believe in moderation. A little skin goes a long way, and modest can be dead sexy. So keep yourselves covered in the finest of fabrics and most elegant dress designs from Tiza.com.

Tiza fashionistas think the dress is where it's at. Leave the rest to tabloids.

"It's been a few years since prom, but when I think of prom, I immediately think of the boyfriend I had at the time. We'd planned to go together, but hadn't told all of our hippy friends because it wasn't the coolest thing to do with them. Then, he dumped me a few weeks before the dance. I was crushed.

I was hanging out with everyone on a front porch, just sitting there feeling sorry for myself. No one else was going to prom, but I really wanted to. It isn't just for preppy kids and cheerleaders, I thought, but for everybody. I had no date now. A beautiful dress I hadn't shown anyone and no date.

Then, one of my closer friends who knew what was up with me jumps out of this old wooden rocking chair and grabs my arms, flailing them around like limp spaghetti. She screams, 'Boys and men! Guys of all ages! Sarah has no date to prom! Who will be the lucky guy?!' Or something to that effect. I was petrified. I just put my head between my legs and squeezed my eyes shut.

Everyone laughed, in a nice joking way, of course. But one of my guy friends stands up and says he'll take me. Like I'm the last pick for dodge ball and he picked me as a joke for the team. I was mortified. But then everyone seemed to decide prom wasn't such a preppy thing after all and it would be fun to go. So everyone paired up. I half punched my new date in the stomach with a smirk and walked home to try on my dress again, not letting anyone see me smile.

Anyway, the day of the prom, he shows up at my doorstep with the group all wearing these tie-dyed retro vintage not typical prom clothes. He's in a lilac-colored tux, with a half-dead corsage and, get this--NO SHOES.

I was livid. I felt beautiful for once in my life in this awesome dress. I wasn't about to let anybody ruin it again for me. This was my night. So, I made the limo driver stop at Wal-Mart and we all got out and helped my date pick out the cheapest dress shoes ever. I made him buy purple socks to match his tux.

By the end of the night, everyone was happy they went and thanked me for making them go. I said I didn't do anything but get dumped."

--Sarah, Denton, TX

Have a crazy, embarrassing, wonderful or romantic prom story? Tiza wants to hear about it! Share your story. Send us pics!

To start off with a lovely story that will make you swoon, or gawk in disbelief, we travel back to prom season 2003...

"So I'm dating this super awesome senior. I'm a sophomore, so I feel ultra cool. It's my first prom and I'm going with an upperclassman, so I'm terrified. His friends asked all my friends, so that was cool. I got there in a really beautiful dress--red, slinky with rhinestones. I'm pretty pale so this purplish-red looked good. I did my own hair and borrowed jewelry. Mom bought me gorgeous clear shoes that go with everything. Still, I was nervous.

Anyway, he's standing there in his living room decked out in an all-white tux. We look like Christmas together, but I don't care. Once I see him, I can't stop giggling. Anyway, after pictures and dinner, we get back in the limo and my boyfriend says, "Okay, guys, we have to go back to my house." All the girls were like, what? But the guys were quiet, like they knew what was going on.

So we get there and he takes me by the hand and leads me to the garage. I'm kinda freaked out, but he opens the door and the whole garage is lit up with Christmas lights, white sheets draped on the wall. He pulls me to the middle of the concrete floor and turns on a CD. My favorite--really cheesy--songs come on. Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby", that Bryan Adams song from Robin Hood, and we dance for like 15 minutes. We were in a garage, but it felt like heaven! I was so thrilled and flattered that he'd thought of something so romantic--as an 18 yr. old high schooler. I'm about to graduate college now, and nothing like that has happened since. Yay for prom memories!"

There's more to your style than perfectly paired dress and heels. When it's time to prep for your big night out, will you be armed with the right gear? Tiza has the list of necessary items often forgotten at the store.

Strong, clear deodorant. No white smudges for the girl who thinks ahead.

The right underwear. What you wear under jeans may not be the seamless choice under a sheer gown.

Really awesome hairspray. Your every day product just won't do for a glamorous evening.

Extra bobby pins. Never go without.

Shoe inserts. Those stilettos may look fabulous, but after three hours, you'll be glad for the extra cushion.

Skin tape. Are you going braless? You may want to hold everything in place with skin tape.

A new razor. To avoid nasty nicks, get smooth with a brand new razor so you don't have to mow the same lawn twice.

The lip gloss aisle may shimmer and seduce, but make sure your basket's full of practical primping produce.

Smile for those flashing lights at your Hollywood-themed prom in a classic Tiza design that's hot off the red carpet--literally. Tiza knows how to dress celebs. Now we want to make you magazine cover material.

Now that you know your body type, it's time to find your dress.
Pear Shape--Draw attention to your upper body by going for an elaborate, embellished bust. Look for a flowing train. Glide across the floor in an empire cut, A line or ballgown that highlights your upper half and slides down your lower half.

Petite--Less is more on a dainty frame. Keep it simple in a clean cut design with little fabric. Show some leg and wear high heels if you're comfortable to add a little height. Avoid multi-colored ball gowns and bubble dresses that gobble you up . Avoid huge accessories. Instead, go for delicate stud earrings.

Hourglass--Anything goes for an hourglass. But what are you comfortable wearing? Slip into a corset or a two piece dress. Show off your curves in a fitted dress that flares at the bottom or try a slinky svelte gown that contours your body.

Slender--A curvaceous cocktail of a dress adds a bit of volume to your slender self. Try a gown that has that figure 8 shape while still on the rack. It's all about tricking the eye. If you want to add a little oomph to your bust or hips, draw attention to the areas with embellishments or a color shift. A dark blue dress that gradually morphs into bright sky blue at the bust will do the trick. Remember, lighter colors make you look fuller.

Fuller Bust--To avoid yanking up your dress all evening, look for full support. Wide straps diminish a busty figure, and a halter can keep everything in place. If you want to show off your assets, try a flattering V neck, square dip, or a wrap dress. Avoid ornate necklines and go for a funky asymmetrical train that draws attention to your legs.

Athletic Build--Think flowing prints and fabrics to soften your appearance. Chiffon and silk will enhance that feminine look. For broad shoulders, try an asymmetrical neckline that covers one shoulder. For smaller chests, avoid deep V necks and padded bras.

Apple Shape--Eliminate or lower the waistline in an empire or drop-waist dress, which hits somewhere by the hip. Draw their eyes to your face and fabulous hair with a
plunging neckline. Like your legs? Try a dress that skims your waist and falls at your knees to emphasize your calves.