You recognize her last name, since she's the niece of Tommy Hilfiger, and probably her face as well, since she's a well-known fashion model. But you may not know that Jaimie Hilfiger is also a trendsetter who keeps her finger on the pulse of celebrity style, runway trends and everyday fashion. We caught up with Jaimie in between one of her regular trips back and forth from New York to LA, and she gave us the scoop on what's hot for prom in 2012.
Photography Credits: Photographer: Chiaroscuro Fotografia; Hair: Marshall Bang; Makeup: Alyssa Anderson; Style: Joey Thao
Kidzworld: What fuels your passion for prom styling?
- Jaimie: I love talking about prom style because prom was such a fun time for me. I loved helping other girls come up with their prom look, even with girls older than me. Prom seems like the ultimate opportunity for the runway trends to end up on your average everyday teen's back.
Kidzworld: How do the runway and red carpet trends translate to prom and event wear, especially for teens?
- Jaimie: On the runway this year in NY's fashion week, we saw a lot of the "ladylike" trend -- especially the Louis Vuitton, Prada and Jill Sander collections. . The trend uses colors like light pinks and champagnes, and ladylike lace, beading and detailing. "Ladylike" is a great trend for prom, because we don't want teens to go to prom in risque outfits. Taylor Swift always dresses ladylike.
Kidzworld: What are some trends you are looking at and what's your favorite designer for prom-style?
- Jaimie: I wear Jovani collection dresses on the red carpet a lot. They started as a prom and pageant line but now they're more mainstream. I see a lot of SHINE and a lot of beadwork. You can see that from the Oscars. We see a lot of beading, shine and metallics. Last year we saw the minimalist approach on the runways. This year, people are adding a little pizzaz to their dresses.
For prom now, most girls wear short skirts. Back in 2005 when I went to prom, everyone wore long dresses. Now, everyone is wearing short dresses. That's just a trend that goes straight across the board. If you wear a long dress, it may look like it's "too much", but it does go by school.
Kidzworld: As a fashion model with a lot of experience wearing all types of dresses to formal events, what advice would you give girls when selecting the perfect prom dress, especially when it comes to style, fit, comfort and looking your best?
- Jaimie: A lot of girls like to wear strapless dresses. You have to get the right fit and you need the right things to go underneath it. If it's too big you'll be pulling it up all night, or it might be low in pictures, or you'll be caught on camera pulling it up. If it's too small, you'll look larger than you really are. For strapless you need something that fits really well.
Also, go by your body type. For example, for people who are smaller up top, the halter style will make you look a little bigger. Or a sweetheart style, which always comes out good in pictures.
Make sure the length is appropriate. You don't want anything too short or too long. When you have it on, you may not think it's too long, but when you look at it afterward, you're like "OMG!" For example, I should have hemmed a dress I once wore on the red carpet, but didn't realize it until I saw the photos afterward. Adriana Lima (the Victoria's Secret model) wore the same dress to a different event, but she hemmed the dress a lot and it made the dress look even more beautiful.
And finally, go by your own style but think about making your look timeless. Personally, I always like sparkle and a lot of beading. My style is very glamorous. I like a lot of glamour. For me, that's always going to be timeless. I know a lot of teens and people my age (24), really copy off celebrities like Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj, and their style is very 2010-2012. Their neon colors, mixing and matching of patters are fun and trendy, but just to follow the current style would really date them and make the photos look so 2012. If you follow celebrity style while matching it to your own individual style, it's even better. You're always going to look back on your prom photos and see the trend of the moment, even if you're trying for a classic look, so it's best to pick a timeless, relevant style. At my prom, I picked powder blue because I liked the color (my friends wouldn't have expected anything less). But looking back I wish I had done a silver, white or black because that's what I wear now. All the styling that I chose -- like my hair and my makeup, was classic enough that it doesn't scream any particular trend or year.
Kidzworld: What would you recommend girls carry in their prom purse?
- Jaimie: It's a good idea to be prepared for any emergencies. It's good to carry a few safety pins in case a strap breaks or a wardrobe malfunction. Bring a few Q-tips for makeup, some band-aids, and a little lip gloss. I always bring touch-up makeup wherever i go. You want to make a good lasting impression, so check your look and touch-up your hair and makeup during the evening.
Jaimie is wearing a ladylike fitted embroidered bodice in a classic but updated Victorian Style
Kidzworld: Talk to us about must have accessories for prom...
- Jaimie: Since most girls wear their hair up for prom, I would recommend a nice earring. Most girls wear their hair up for prom. I always say the more the better when it comes to accessories, but it can be overdone, too. Prom is the time to go a little over the top. Nowadays, many schools have certain rules. At my school we had to wear uniforms so prom was my time to go all out! It's your time to shine. Most people only get to go to prom once (or twice!) so play up the accessories. My dress was strapless and it was hand-beaded up top and it went down. I didn't wear a necklace but I wore big chandelier earrings. Recently I was on a business trip and I didn't bring any of my accessories and I really felt lost without them. I had great outfits picked out but I was like "where are my rings?"
Kidzworld: Eco-Fashion is a cause very close to your heart, as it is for many teens, especially when they're looking to make their mark on the prom scene. Which celebrities can we look to for eco-style?
- Jaimie: Blake Lively, when she was dating Leonardo Decaprio, adapted an eco-friendly approach. Alicia Silverstone and Pamela Anderson also go green with their choices. I also heard that Miley Cyrus traded in her Porsche Cayenne for a Prius.
Have Your Say
What's your favorite prom trend this year? Who is your favorite designer? Have your say here!
