Nip, tuck - you've got a 'new' prom dress

NEW YORK -- A snip here, a tuck there might be all it takes to give a makeover to a prom dress sitting in the back of a closet somewhere. And we all know there are many prom dresses jammed into the back of closets.

In this tough economy, maybe it's time to breathe new life into that black strapless or frilly fuchsia frock. Just because an older sister or a cousin wore it once before doesn't mean someone else can't "own" it if she adds touches that reflect her own personal style.

"It comes down to creativity and accessories. We're celebrating creativity now: Sew rosettes to the waistline or the straps of a dress, add ribbons," said Tammy Tibbetts, editor in chief of MyPromStyle.com. "Be ambitious, go to craft stores."

The average cost of a new prom dress last year was $236, according to Seventeen magazine, but it expects that number to drop this year judging from buzz from its online teen network.

Formal dresses tend to have long shelf lives because they aren't usually quite as trendy as school clothes and they certainly aren't getting worn out from use. But girls are reluctant to wear the same one in consecutive years.

So why not wear someone else's?

Ashley Greene, star of "Twilight," gave several of her party dresses, including a gold goddess number and a bright blue cocktail dress, to DonateMyDress.org because she wants them to see the light of day again.

DonateMyDress.org is a national network of dress-drive organizations that collects and distributes special-occasion outfits for prom, Sweet Sixteens and quinceaneras. Other celebrity donors include Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato.

Tibbetts, who also oversees the DonateMyDress website, said bridesmaid dresses -- which are typically longer-length, solid-color dresses -- are good candidates for tweaked prom dresses. They're almost a blank canvas, she said, but they still give you "that red-carpet moment."

Adding crinoline to the underside of a dress is a big trend in the prom market this year, and colored crinoline makes a bold 1980s-inspired statement, said Gina Kelly, fashion director at Seventeen. It's an easy, inexpensive trick that really changes the look of a dress.

Other transformations can come with adding a collection of brooches to either the neckline or waistband, or adding a belt to change the silhouette of a flowy bohemian style. Changing the hem length, piling on necklaces or wearing bright shoes also change the focal point of the dress.

But, warns Kelly, don't take on a big alteration project if you're unsure exactly how to do it.

"A lot of girls don't know how to thread a needle, so only get the hot-glue gun out to add sparkles if you know what you're doing," she said. "Otherwise ask mom or try a local seamstress."

-- Associated Press