The Horizon Foundation and Monte Durham of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress collaborate to inspire.
By Anna Storm
Monte Durham (far right) and The Horizon Foundation's 30 girls in full prom attire. (Photo courtesy of Katherine Delmonico)
When it comes to prom night, the decisions are endless: Hair up or down? Peep-toe or wedge? Match your nails to your dress, or not? With so many details to consider, no girl should ever be stumped by the question: Can I afford it?
Thanks to Discovery Communications (the company behind The Discovery Channel), 30 local girls from The Horizon Foundation in Howard County were treated to a free night of primping, pampering, and all-out princess styling on April 10th. Each teen was assigned her own personal shopper, who helped her select the perfect “it” dress from among 300 gowns culled from the Discovery Communications offices. Monte Durham, a West Virginia native and host of TLC’s reality bridal show Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, was also on hand to dole out the kind of head-to-toe style advice that makes a lady in the details.
For Durham, the night was more than just another fashion fete. “I grew up in rural West Virginia and went to class in a one-room schoolhouse,” he said. “I know what it’s like to come from a humble place and aspire to impress your peers at a big event.”
To that end, Durham shared his tips for making a grand entrance on a budget that’s less than wow-worthy. For those young women unable to snag their own personal shoppers, Durham suggested skipping the prom department altogether and looking in the “social occasion, evening wear, or even bridesmaids” sections instead, where dresses tend to be less expensive than prom gowns during the spring season.
But, the style guru cautioned, “a dress does not a lady make.” Durham’s most important piece of advice for the evening was all-encompassing, a universal answer to any style question: “Be the whole package… [Gracious] behavior will take you a long way – through prom night and beyond. If you act like a lady, you’ll be treated like one!”
For even more fashion do’s and don’ts, don’t miss the premiere of Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids, airing April 13th at 9/8c on TLC.
Monte Durham (center) offered style tips and advice to The Horizon Foundation's 30 girls. (Photo courtesy of Katherine Delmonico)
