https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:33:08 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-359813 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:52:22 +0000 catgirl 359813@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Didn't go to prom. :(</p> <p>Kari, you look stunning! Jyoti, ditto! Love seeing photos and hope to see more. </p> <p>I want to burn all the photos of me from high school but I have to just look and laugh... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-359806 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:45:18 +0000 Sarah 359806@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh Prom! The first 2 pictures are my Senior Prom. I inexplicably became prom queen, I was super unpopular in high school, so I fully expected some pigs blood.</p> <p>The 3rd picture is my junior prom. That dress was actually purchased in France. I felt so fabulous! I was an exchange student in France the semester before and that was my big purchase to come home with, a prom dress. LOVED IT.</p> <p> I have and can still wear both dresses still! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-359798 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:35:20 +0000 Anonymous 359798@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not sure if any pictures still exist of my prom outfit. I just realized that it was almost 50 years ago! It's amazing how much the dresses didn't change.<br /> I was dating a steady boyfriend but hadn't planned to go to prom because of the expense of a dress. My mom, sho really liked the boyfriend, conspired with an aunt to have her make me a dress, then surprised me with it. It was a long simple strapless gown of pink satin..unfortunately not a good color for me or a good style on a flat chested string bean but she meant well and I wore it. One difference then was that we wore long over the elbow white gloves. No restaurant dinners (no nice restaurants or hotels in a small town) or after parties back then. You would "drag Main Street" and have a soda at the drive-in. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-359777 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:58:20 +0000 Ornella 359777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Bumping the thread, so interesting... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-359309 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:53:24 +0000 san 359309@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh! You are so beautiful Kari. It's hard to believe when you say that you didn't have confidance back then. Stunning! </p> <p>I will have to find my prom picture and scan it because it was way before digital cameras.</p> <p>I also made my own prom dress, a purple Grecian style gown with pearl trim at the V neckline. Wish I still had it for memories sake. Maybe I do have it in the hope chest. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-358558 Mon, 30 May 2011 18:55:03 +0000 RandomThoughts (Andrea) 358558@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>There's a pic somewhere of me. I went to a friend's, rather than mine circa 1988. Black dress, kind of slinky, long sleeves, boat neck, flared skirt, short in front, longer in back. I'll see if I can get a photo posted. (I'll have to steal one off Facebook.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-358524 Mon, 30 May 2011 17:49:20 +0000 Kari 358524@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, drat - Kate, I'm sorry for stepping on your toes. I had actually searched the forum to see if a duplicate thread on this topic had already been posted this week, but apparently didn't look far enough. (Funny that it didn't turn up on the first two search screens!)</p> <p>Thank you for stepping in to share your memories regardless. How fun!</p> <p>After reading Angie's blog post, I do kind of want to buy a formal gown again (for Scottish Country Dance formals - a gown would not be out of place, but usually I just wear something semiformal because that's what I already have in my closet.) It's fun to very occasionally have a reason to dress to the nines when most of the time, my lifestyle doesn't call for anything above business casual wear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-358223 Mon, 30 May 2011 00:53:35 +0000 lyn* 358223@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>lol; I didn't go to my senior prom due to the expense and my family's financial situation at the time ...</p> <p>:) Seems like blue is a popular colour! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-358217 Mon, 30 May 2011 00:44:46 +0000 Michelle 358217@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh Oh Oh!! These great stories are bringing back so many high school memories! It's welcome, because high school was undoubtedly one of the happiest times of my life (I know, I'm odd).<br /> I went to a pretty preppy high school, and prom, or "Formal" as we called it, was a highly anticipated event all through our final year. At that point in my life I had the best body I ever had -- size 29 waist, still very busty, hair just past my shoulders. For the first half of the year I had my heart set on a sapphire blue dress, for some reason, but then circumstances took over. I was a pretty serious pianist during that era, and I had to give a major recital in January. My practical mother quite rightly decreed that one long dress would do for both the recital and formal. I was actually totally okay with this, though I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find anything concert-appropriate in a colour. As it turns out the perfect dress wasn't blue. It was black, with a velvet top covered in self-coloured sparkly beads and a full satin skirt, complete with crinolin. It swept the floor when I wore it with my strappy silver sandals, but didn't interfere either with dancing or pedalling (you have to consider interesting variables when dressing for a piano recital)! The dress had a very low neckline and spaghetti straps that were broad enough to go over a regular bra. I was classic even then and wore all silver accessories (sparkly pendant and matching earrings that my brother dubbed "disco balls," inexpensive silver satin clutch). My date brought me a white bracelet corsage to finish it off. I felt great all through the loooong, party-filled night (pre-party where the host had pressed the girls in the grade below us into service to serve us all champagne, dinner and dance, two after-parties at different hotels). I was one of only two people wearing black, but we were pretty much all in long gowns so I felt entirely appropriate. </p> <p>No pictures available at the moment, but I'm still buddies with my date, so I can see if he has any! He was part of why the night turned out wel for me, actually. I was coming off an upsetting breakup at the time, and going with someone who was just a good band/writer's craft pal took all the pressure off. We ran with similar circles, too, so we could party hop without a problem. Good times! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357979 Sun, 29 May 2011 13:19:38 +0000 Laura 357979@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kari and Jyoti, those photos are beautiful! You both chose strapless blue dresses!</p> <p>For my junior prom, I went with my HS boyfriend and while Gunne Sax was in at the time I wore a white eyelet Lanz of Salzburg dress with two grosgrain ribbons around the waist - one fuschia and the other kelly green. Yes, I am a recovering prep.</p> <p>For senior prom, my HS boyfriend was already in college, and my friends and I hosted an anti-prom with the theme "question authority." We made flowers from tissue paper and those were our bouquets. The people receiving the least amount of votes were crowned the anti-king and queen. I dressed punk, of course. Things change fast </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357946 Sun, 29 May 2011 05:17:15 +0000 Jyoti 357946@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had to dig out a grad photo for this. xD</p> <p>My grad was fairly recently I suppose, in 2006, and I wore a sort of midi blue chiffon dress. It was plain and had nothing but ruching on it, but it came with a flower which I put in my hair. The tradition continues to this day!</p> <p>Anyways, I did not have a date, BUT I did had a silver sparkly purse with matching shoes and earrings!</p> <p>I look so serious. xD </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357939 Sun, 29 May 2011 04:38:16 +0000 Jenava 357939@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I went twice because I dated a boy who was a year older than me; so we went to his then to mine. At the first dance I wore a slink black dress that was velvet to the bust and satin for the length and laced up the back (my bust was a bit smaller so no bra). For my second I went untraditional and I wore a vintage bridesmaids dress that was yellow with a lace overlay in a daisy pattern...and my date wore yellow vans! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357923 Sun, 29 May 2011 03:37:01 +0000 anne 357923@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You looked great Kari!</p> <p>I wore an electric blue dress with a princess bodice, full skirt (just below knee length) and little fluttery sleeves that were supposed to go on the shoulders but I liked to (unflatteringly, I now see) pull down off the shoulder.</p> <p>My Mum made it for a fabric cost of about $60 AUD when I was invited to a boy's school ball when I was in year 10. I wore it again for my year 12 ball and then to at least 2 times to other balls when at university. I also lent it to a student in about 2000 to wear to an "op shop frock ball"</p> <p>I think it was quite pretty but definitely of it's (80's) time</p> <p>Oh, and our balls always included dinner. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357691 Sat, 28 May 2011 19:50:01 +0000 Maya 357691@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You looked gorgeous Kari.</p> <p>I didn't go to prom so I have no stories to tell, but if I did I would have worn something very nontraditional... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357686 Sat, 28 May 2011 19:47:31 +0000 Kate 357686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kari, you looked great! You can find some more stories and pictures in this thread I started earlier this week: <a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tell-us-about-your-prom-or-other-fancy-dance-outfit" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....nce-outfit</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357651 Sat, 28 May 2011 19:16:00 +0000 Mamapicklejuice 357651@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kari - you _do_ look like a movie star! (But even so now... ) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357648 Sat, 28 May 2011 19:09:57 +0000 RoseandJoan 357648@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kari you looked stunning, those diamante hair clips were everywhere at the time. No prom but for my 6th form dance (18 years) I wore a floor length blue velvet gown with spaghetti straps and a pleated ribbon detail at the empire seam. I felt amazing and was the only girl wearing a gown. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357639 Sat, 28 May 2011 18:41:35 +0000 Kristine 357639@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You look gorgeous Kari! </p> <p>Unfortunately I don't have photos readily available, there was no such as thing as digital cameras back then! This was 1988 I think. My step-mother was sweet enough to make a dress for me. I chose a black satin strapless dress with a mermaid hem, slightly raised in the front. I had no idea how complicated it was and how much I asking from her! She did a beautiful job! I was into theater so I wanted something dramatic and, in my mind, sophisticated. Always in a hurry to grow up! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357633 Sat, 28 May 2011 18:25:53 +0000 sarah 357633@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Goodness, you are gorgeous Kari! I'm so glad that I *don't* have photos from prom - what a nightmare. That would have been 1982, and I sewed my own "gunny sax" style dress, complete with ribbons and lace down the front of the bodice and around the sleeves. It was probably my last ambitious sewing project. Now, if I could only find that dress, my daughter could wear it to play "Little House on the Prairie" dress-up! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357631 Sat, 28 May 2011 18:20:40 +0000 Kari 357631@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, I think I've said it before, but I would jump at the chance to see you blog about "Vintage Angie fashion" posts when you were at that point in your life of trying to figure out your own sense of style.</p> <p>Debora, you are incredibly sweet. Looking at those photos, I'm surprised at how pretty I actually looked compared to how awkward I felt. My self-esteem was terrible back then. Right now - in present day, and weighing a lot more than I did back then - I know that aesthetically I don't look as good as I did in high school, but I feel *much* more confident and attractive than I did back then. So funny the way it works. I wouldn't go back to high school for anything.</p> <p>Rosee, I love your story. What a sweet friend! Your dress sounds quite classy and fun. That's wonderful that your night ended up being very positive after initially not wanting to go.<br /> Thinking back, I wore black to several formal dances when I was a sophomore and junior in high school. (Both were long black gowns with spaghetti straps - one was very shiny fabric and the other hand tiny red roses embroidered on it.) I guess black must have not been than uncommon when I was in high school, although I'm sure it wasn't the best color choice for me at the time since the blonde hair kind of washed me out anyway.</p> <p>I remember spending a lot of money at prom between the dress, dinner, and photos, and nevertheless, my budget was a lot more limited than many kids who went to my school. (I'd usually aim to spend about $50-60 for a dress; my prom dress cost significantly more, but on the other hand, my senior homecoming dress was a whopping $16. We didn't rent limousines or hotel rooms like some of the other kids did - usually just ended up watching a movie at someone's house afterwards in our pajamas.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357621 Sat, 28 May 2011 18:04:34 +0000 rosee 357621@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>pretty pretty!!!</p> <p>copied from Nancylee's thread:</p> <p><a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/childhood-fashionista-moments" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ta-moments</a></p> <p>- high school grad (referred to as prom in the US) = didn't want to go b/c of school politics and I couldn't find a dress. An older friend from work (restaurant), who was also a part-time drag queen with great sewing skills, offered to make my dress for me for a very reasonable price. He practically convinced me to go, and gave me attitude pointers to boot. I ended up with a retro 50's style fit-and-flare dress with 3/4 off-shoulder sleeves -- in black!!! Very few girls wore black then to the grad dance, mostly pastels and jewel tones. I also had a cream crinoline with black satin ribbon on the edges and cream kitten heels. Classy, but I stood out. Then, my good friend, a very popular boy, asked me to be his date. Things were definitely looking up. My only regret is that I don't have a photo of that day or that outfit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357620 Sat, 28 May 2011 18:03:38 +0000 Debora 357620@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kari, you look like a fairytale princess, oh so beautiful! The blue gown is so lovely with your blond highlights, and your green top is also flattering with your complexion. I'm not sure where my old photos are...probably at my mom's in her attic. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's prom pics, though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357610 Sat, 28 May 2011 17:58:00 +0000 Angie 357610@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>BEAUTIFUL!! You look like a movie star, Kari. My dance was in 1987 and I designed my own dress which I had made - enough said :(</p> <p>If I can find my high school dance pictures, I will blog about them. They might be in the Netherlands with my Papa though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-did-you-wear-to-your-prom-or-equivalent-high-school-dance#post-357609 Sat, 28 May 2011 17:55:08 +0000 Kari 357609@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As a follow up to Angie's blog posts this week about her prom chaperoning experience, how about we share some of our own photos of what we wore back in the day at our own formal dances?</p> <p>At my own high school prom, I wore a very Cinderella-style chiffon strapless sky blue dress with a faux-diamond necklace and earrings and terribly uncomfortable silver strappy shoes that left my feet badly blistered by the end of the night.<br /> A hairstylist relative who was visiting one of my neighbors put my hair up in a gorgeous updo, my mom helped with my makeup, and I put little stick-on rhinestones in my hair. At that point, I was highlighting my hair blonde, and it was several inches below shoulder length. </p> <p>I attended the dance with a friend from my high school band. Our prom was held at a venue on the waterfront, and we had dinner with a small group of friends at a mediterranean restaurant.</p> <p>I'm trying to recall specifics about the evening, and although it wasn't terribly long ago, I really don't remember much except that we had a good time at the dance. My last year in high school was a pretty tumultuous point in my life, and I think I've deliberately let a lot of memories slip away.</p> <p>So - let's see your stories! </p>