Prom Trends - YouLookFab Forum

I was out today in a Target of all places, and I saw a group of about 8 young ladies dressed to the nines. I have to assume that at some point this evening they were headed to Prom, as it is that time of year.

But I am slightly saddened (not really, as what the high school set wears doesn't really matter, but kind of for nostalgia's sake) that it appears that Prom trends are running toward short and glittery. At least 6 of the 8 young women were wearing dresses several inches above the knee, with one other wearing a sheer overlayer, and three or four were wearing sequins.

Last year DH and I were out to dinner around the same time, and a group of high school boys and girls came into the restaurant and all the the girls were wearing short (some VERY short) dresses.

Oh, and most of these young ladies had LONG hair, down to their bums or farther, and they were all wearing standard pumps of platform pumps - no heeled sandals at all.

Anyway, this post is just for fun. Has anyone else seen high schoolers out for Prom, and what were the trends you saw? Are longer dresses still in fashion anywhere else?

11 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Nope, here the trend is short and glittery and poofy and expensive.

I don't think my parents would have let me out of the house in dresses like the ones that girls these days wear! I also wonder how they walk on their very high pumps!

I remember in my prom days (about 10 years ago), length was definitely in - I guess; I couldn't afford to go to prom, so I don't know what it's really like. :p

Diana

We were at Men's Wearhouse a couple of weeks ago so J could get fitted for his tux for his brother's wedding, and the place was swarming with boys getting fitted for prom. Apparently the big trend is that you have to match your tie/cummerbund/vest to your date's dress. Like, as exactly as possible. They were also showing tuxes styled with Converse. Some kid rented a top hat and cane.

Also, apparently formal wear rental places now have "prom reps" that go around to the schools with samples and info. It's a big business.

I didn't go to my prom, so I have no idea what it was like in 1997.

Jeanie

Funny you mention this topic. I was at my alterations shop a couple of weeks ago. I hadn't been there in quite a while and when I walked in there were all these formal dresses in hideous bright colors and sequins with tons of poof and ruffles. I thought I had been transported to New Jersey! I realized that the shop owner must have taken up selling prom dresses. Her college age son was at the register and I asked him if this is what the girls are wearing to prom these days. He said "much to his dismay, yes"! I cracked up. I am guessing that TV or pop culture is leading the foray into sequins & poof but I am not up on what girls are watching since I just have boys.

CocoLion

I went shopping for a graduation dress (8th grade) for bf's DD. She headed straight for the prom dresses. Fortunately she chose a midi dress in sweet pink. But there was a large selection of dresses that were very short or short with sheer overlays. There were tons of sequins and rosettes and a neony salmon pink color.

What's with 8th grade graduations? In my day the first graduation was high school. You advanced from 8th grade (middle school ) to 9th (high school) but no graduation. I've also heard of elementary school graduations.

catgirl

Short. I have seen mostly bodycon thigh length dresses and lots of cleavage. Not that I want to see the return of the frothy meringue dresses of my 80s high school days, but a little less cocktail/clubwear and a little more formal would be nice.

Greyscale

In the mid 90s our prom dresses were short (not tight thought. Flared cocktail dresses). They got long again after that. I'm sure it'll swing back towards long again though I've also heard that prom is less significant these days?

jackiec

I really have no idea about current prom trends. I'm sure these kids will do as we do, and look back and laugh at what they were wearing, eventually :). I'm pretty sure you would mistake me for a clown in my graduation dress...

JAileen

We went out to dinner last night and it must have been Prom. We saw three girls dressed up in short dresses. They were very dressy, though, and not particularly tight. I thought they looked really nice.

Category