Dress It Up! 12 DIY Accessories for Prom

By Alexandra Churchill of Martha Stewart Living

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For standout style that will have all your classmates oohing and ahhing, we've carefully crafted a dozen dazzling accessories that would go great with any prom dress. This will be one for the yearbooks.

Photography: Carter Berg

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Queen of the Night

Grab your shoes -- it's time to dance! For standout style that will have your classmates oohing and ahhing, we've carefully crafted a dozen dazzling accessories -- each one perfect for the prettiest girl at prom. This will be one for the yearbooks.

Dreaming of red-carpet-worthy jewels? Dust off your baubles and upcycle them to create a prom look that is uniquely yours: A necklace can be turned into a sparkly shoulder strap, a brooch into a bracelet, a pair of earrings into pins, and more.

See the Costume Jewelry Makeover Ideas
Photography: Bryan Gardner

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Ribbon Bow Belt

Top it off with a bow! Cinch in your waist with a bow-tied belt that coordinates perfectly with your dress in color and material.
Make the Ribbon Bow Belt
Photography: Bryan Gardner

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Floral Hairstyles

Embrace your inner bohemian -- these hairstyles have serious flower power. There are endless fragrant flowers and styles to choose from. Think: a crown of miniature blush-colored roses atop your curls, a delicate stem of baby orchids woven into a loose side braid, or a statement bloom pinned behind your ear.
See the Floral Hairstyles
Photography: Bryan Gardner

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Embellished Ribbons

Looking for an extra touch of glitz and glamour? A bedazzled strip makes an elegant headband, necklace, or sash.
Make the Embellished Ribbons
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Shoe Clips

With the right pair of shoes, a girl can conquer the world. That's the saying, right? We promise you will at least conquer the party. Dress up a pair of shoes with a few decorative elements of your choosing: jewels, bows, flowers, poufs, or pom-poms all work beautifully.
Make the Shoe Clips
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Photography: Johnny Miller

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Bows for Your Toes

Looking for something even easier? Start with a basic heeled sandal with an ankle strap. Take a 2-inch-wide ribbon, wind a length (each of these is 46 inches long) around your leg and through the strap on the outer ankle, and tie into a big beautiful bow.
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Spray-Painted Jewelry

Don't be fooled: A spritz of spray paint can turn affordable costume jewelry into elevated adornments that complement the colors of your gown. To paint, cover the clasps with tape and mist with Montana spray on newspaper in a well-ventilated area.
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Lace Clutch

So "clutch," right? A simple cotton clutch is elevated to look luxurious with nothing more than clip art and heat-transfer paper.

Make the Lace Clutch
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Velvet Hair Bows

Unruly bangs and loose strands of hair will only get in the way; you have a whole night of dancing ahead of you! These bow clips offer a chic solution, and they are smooth as, well, velvet.
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Sparkled Shoes

Or put a little sparkle in your step -- literally! With a basic pair of black patent shoes, a sprinkling of fine glitter works like magic to transform you into the belle of the ball.

Make the Sparkled Shoes
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Lace Corsage

A lovely lace corsage you made yourself will last a lifetime, and it stands out in a sea of traditional flowers. We printed clip art onto heat-transfer paper and ironed the design on to fabric for this sewing project.
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Paillette Flower Headband

You don't have to be prom queen to wear a crown. For this metallic accessory, you will need a headband (metal or plastic), a length of sequin trim, a paillette flower, as well as multiuse glue.

Make the Paillette Flower Headband