Whether you’re dressed for Easter Sunday or the big ball, prom season is in style. Prom trends are ever-changing – whether it’s sparkles or flowers, prom sweeps the fashion world year after year as students dress to the nines.
In the latter half of the school year, high schools across America celebrate their upperclassmen with one last dance at prom. The main attraction of the night, however, is not always the dance floor, but rather the attire.
Since the dawn of social media, different trends surrounding prom dresses and the event itself surface annually in the spring months and dominate platforms. From short to long, or even slits, students were split on what to dress in. The latest controversy of this year has been the Easter or Glam, where people praised and criticized floral spring dresses, opposed to strong colors and sparkles.
In the latest debate, some attendees of the event, such as junior Isabel Santamaria of Spring Lake Heights, deem the more casual and floral “Easter” dresses to be informal for such an upscale event.
“Wear that Easter dress for a vacation or a nice dinner, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to wear that style,” Santamaria said. “Full glam dress code doesn’t happen as often, so I think people should stick to that.”
In addition to the surge of “casual” looks, prom-goers have recently been challenging gender norms when it comes to their event attire. With more movement towards social inclusivity and self-expression, many utilize prom as a tool to present themselves in unconventional fashion.
Senior Molly Deming of Red bank sported a custom-made pleated skirt and matching vest as a unique alternative to a dress.
“I feel like there is a lack of gender “neutral” clothing for big events,” Deming said. “Opening up prom clothing to different styles helps people feel more comfortable in themselves and in their clothes, whether they’re queer or not. Plus, it’ll make seeing each other’s outfits a lot more interesting.”
Another factor in fashion choices is the price tag, as retail prom dresses can range from $150 to even $500, without the inclusion of additional costs. Senior Lydia Olivieri of Colts Neck was commissioned by Deming to create a custom outfit perfect for the night. As a fashion aficionado, Lydia has created her own pricing system to go along with the year’s latest trends: similar to retail pricing, but with the money going to a different source.
“My prices are pretty reasonable and similar to retail dresses, but the profit goes to a personal commissioner rather than a corporation,” Olivieri said.
With the incorporation of different patterns and personal style, prom provides a multitude of opportunities for individuality and debate. Ultimately, many believe that feeling fulfilled in their choice of prom attire supersedes all controversy.
“I’ve learned that you need to dress to make yourself happy, not others. It should not matter if someone is wearing an expensive fluffy gown or something they got at Macy’s. The only trend or style that matters is the one that makes the wearer feel beautiful,” Deming said.
