Prom is the most anticipated school dance for juniors and seniors, as it has been a long-lasting high school tradition. It takes a lot of prior preparation, such as figuring out a place to take pictures, where to eat, who to go with and most importantly, finding the perfect dress for this special occasion. A new year means a new selection of prom dresses to choose from, so it is important to choose the right dress for this year’s prom.
Some in-person and online places many students purchase dresses from this year are Windsor, House of CB, Lulus, Oh Polly, Beginning Boutique and Lucy in the Sky. All of these stores offer a variety of dresses at many different price ranges, so one store may be more suitable than the other depending on location or budget.
Corsets have been a common appearance on many dresses from homecoming and winter formal and are still widely popular on prom dresses. Typically, a corset allows for a flattering fit, which is what many girls are looking for, but many people also look for a dress with a corset just because they like the style of it on dresses. Each corset has its own unique details, such as lace or beaded flowers, to fit the taste of the wearer.
Rose Tabatabei (12) speaks about her prom dress this year: “My top dress option right now has a beautiful lace corset and it really makes the dress special. The corset was also so flattering when I tried it on, which I also really like about the dress.”
Many prefer the look of a simple dress, but with unique straps or necklines to make the dress distinct. For example, popular strap choices on prom dresses are halter, thin spaghetti straps and strapless, and popular neckline choices on prom dresses are v-neck, sweetheart and square. Even just these small details grants dress wearers the opportunity to choose the dress that speaks out to them and make them feel special on such a special occasion.
Mermaid dresses and ball gowns are timeless styles for prom, and they never fail to be trending. Unlike other typical dress styles, these styles of dresses truly pull together the prom look. Plus, prom is one of the few occasions to wear a big, special dress, so might as well take advantage of the event to go all out on a dress.
For a while now, ruffles have been trending on dresses and are very popular for prom this year. There are two main styles of ruffled dresses: ruffles that are diagonal or vertical that go across the entire dress and ones on ball gowns that follow the dress from the hip down. These additions to dresses add volume to the dress and create a very feminine look, which is very suitable for prom.
Many students look for a vintage-looking dress, so thrifting a dress would be the best option. Although it may be difficult to find a thrifted prom dress that fits the exact vision one may have, it is worth giving thrifting a chance. Purchasing a thrifted dress is likely cheaper than purchasing a newly-made prom dress and decreases the chances of matching dresses with another person by wearing an older design.
Paige Bergman (12) says, “I decided to go thrifting for my prom dress this year, and I successfully found one. I was able to save a lot of money while also buying a cute prom dress for senior year.”
Nobody is obligated to follow certain trends for prom dresses, so it is best to choose the prom dress that provides one the most confidence and beauty. After all, choosing a prom dress is an opportunity to bring out one’s own creativity and personality through a dress.
