1930s Prom Dresses
Every spring, high school teenagers across the country get dressed up to attend prom. Short for promenade, the prom tradition began as early as the 1880s and emerged in the pages of high school yearbooks during the 1930s and 1940s. It was during this time that prom began its transformation from a simple high school dance to a right of passage for high school students. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
1930s Fashion
-
The 1930s is known as an era of Hollywood glamor. With stars like Jean Harlow lighting up the big screen, 1930s fashion exuded a sense of glamour and sensuality. Evening gowns were generally full length, elegant and sleek in appearance. A distinguishing characteristic of 1930s evening gowns is that they were often designed to be backless.
1930s Shoe Fashions
-
Stemming from the popularity of flappers and dancing in the previous decade, the 1930s saw women's shoe fashions exhibit a flashier sense of style. With taller Cuban heels, rounded toes and T-strap heels, women's shoes became an accessory instead of just footwear. When applying these shoe trends to prom dresses, teenage girls could accentuate their feet through the appliques and designs that were popular during this time. Glass paste gems and beads were popular embellishments for shoes during this era.
-
1930s Formal Accessories
-
Just as teenage girls still do, 1930s high school girls added extra bits of glitz and glamour to their prom dresses with the popular accessories of the time. Fabric flowers were often worn on a shoulder, neckline or at the waist. Bows were used as decorative pieces on a prom dress. In case of a spring chill, fur capes, stole wraps and coats were popular formal outerwear.
Empire-Waisted Gowns
-
In addition to sleek backless dresses, empire-waisted gowns were also a common choice for prom dresses during the 1930s. Typically, this style of dress had ties in the back. In the style of butterfly sleeves, the shoulder region of these gowns tended to be large and puffy. Empire-waisted gowns generally had hemlines that skimmed the ankles, which allowed shoes to peek out while walking.
-
References
- Photo Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
