About Prom Dresses

Aside from a wedding dress, one of the most important gowns a girl will wear in her lifetime is a prom dress.
A hallmark event in a teenagers' life, the prom has gone from a sweetheart's soiree at the local high school gym to an over-the-top bacchanal often hosted at high-end hotels or in school gyms that have been transformed, using elaborate and expensive themes.
And yet, as the years go by, the crucial element of the prom remains the same: the prom dress.

Significance

A prom dress is a status symbol and a way to express individuality.
A one-of-a-kind, custom or designer dress announces that the wearer sits at the top of the social ladder.
Dresses also signal what 'clique' a person is in, whether it be a black, vampire-like gown for the Goth girls or a Jessica McClintock strapless number that is the choice of many girls in the popular posse.

History

While some researchers pinpoint the first prom as early as the late 1800s, they became an official stamp on American culture in the 1950s.
In the Eisenhower Era, prom dresses were designed to accentuate a girl's hourglass figure. Ballerina-length skirts, usually made from tulle or lace, fanned out from nipped waists. Heart-shaped bodices brought the breasts front and center while swan-like necks were usually left bare. As for the dresses themselves, the palettes leaned towards pastels, making the dresses symbols of innocence.
A perfect example of the quintessential prom dress of the 1950s was inspired by Edith Head's strapless gown that Elizabeth Taylor wore in "A Place in the Sun." The boned bodice and white tulle skirt with green satin became the prom inspiration for teenage girls everywhere.

Time Frame

The Ladylike Look of 1960s Proms

The prom dress of the 1960s were slimmed down a bit. No longer were skirts billowing tulle and satin creations. Dresses were often straight, making the body look slender, with fabrics that ranged from taffeta to satin. Necklines were rarely low and there was a monochromatic look that added to the natural elegance.
The prom dress of this era took a cue from Jackie O and strove toward ladylike silhouettes. Despite the revolution that was boiling under the surface of the youth culture, prom dresses continued touting the feminine.

Identification

The 1970s prom dress deviated slightly from the look of the 60s, with less emphasis on elegance and more on a sense of bohemian casualness. Monochromatic dresses were still popular, and skirts were still often long and billowy to complement the Farrah Fawcett hair.
To get a picture of the 1980s prom dress, one need look no further than the Molly Ringwald film oeuvre.
Scanning the prom scene in "Pretty in Pink" shows that the prom gown of the 80s was sometimes short and sometimes long, but almost always with puffed sleeves, sweetheart necklines and bright colors.
The dresses of the 80s correspond with the cultural mood, as proms took on a larger-than-life status and became the set piece of many teenage movies. In some ways, the ruffled shoulders and necklines of the grandiose dresses reflect this trend.

Types

A Modern Take on the Empire Waist Dress

Today's prom landscape is harder to define. Some fashion soothsayers predict there will be a return to the Elizabeth Taylor hourglass look, others declare that the 1980s over-the-top fun will be reintroduced into the mainstream. Regardless of what the style oracles think, the prom dress of today is a versatile creation, with a few simple guidelines that differentiate the cuts.
"Empire Cut" Think Jane Austen. A dress with an empire cut has a high waistline that generally cinches just below the bust.
"Sheath" This is a dress for the daring and the confident. (Think of the ivory snug number that Angelina Jolie wore when she won an Emmy for "Gia.") This dress is ideal for tall and slim figures, but might not make the best choice for girls who want to dance.
"Tea-Length" A throwback to the 1950s ballerina look, this is a knee-length or shin-length gown for girls wanting to show a little leg on the big night.
"Bouffant Gown" The name says it all. This type of prom dress has a Cinderella flair to it, with a rayon or silk skirt that reaches the floor. The bodice is a snug corset.

Theories/Speculation

What will the Prom Dress of 2009 look like?
"Daring Prints" Not for the wallflowers, (unless the wallflower is looking to make a splash), but one trend is prints. Nothing subtle---cheetah print dresses offset with rhinestones or wild floras paired with glittery eye make-up.
"Short Not Long" Perhaps inspired by the wardrobes found on the Gossip Girls, 2009 is gearing up to be the year of the flirty, fun and sassy dress, one that is comfortable for dancing.
"Celebrity Inspired" While channeling celebrity style is nothing new, the upcoming year promises to be particularly in tune with Hollywood red carpets. The lemon-yellow cocktail dress Reese Witherspoon wore at the 2007 Golden Globes gives the appropriate "girls just want to have fun" vibe.
On the opposite end, the waterfall-length silk satin dress Kate Hudson wears on the poster for "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" is another inspiration for those who appreciate its long, elegant Grecian look.

Resources

• Prom Dresses for 2009
• History Prom Dresses
• Guide to Prom Dress Styles and Cuts