Prom is something most people think about as they get closer to the end of their senior year. Prom in itself is a very exciting time, but it can also be stressful with trying to find the date, the limo, the dress and the money to go to the dance in the first place. With senior weekend being right after, it is typically one of the most memorable events in a teenager’s life. For girls, one of the hardest things about prom is finding the perfect dress.

            Prom is said to have started around the late 1800’s and but did not become a well-known event until the early to mid 1900’s. Prom is taken from the word Promenade which showed off the young eligible guests throughout a party. Proms used to be seen as a cotillion, but now instead of being a coming of age ceremony, it is held as an after school event to celebrate the seniors completing four long years of their high school careers.

            Anything before the 1940’s that was even considered a prom was usually a simple dance that wasn’t as celebrated or recognized as much than a regular after school dance. Once the Great Depression was over during the 40’s, people started to take a little bit more time in planning the event, even going as far to decorate their high school gym in colorful streamers and toilet paper. The dress fashion in the 40’s was usually a slightly off-the-shoulder, floor-length gown, that was cinched in various places forming the ever so popular ruffles at the end of the gown forming a mermaid tail. Mostly the modest simplistic gowns that consisted of a tighter waist and fuller skirt were a light shade of champagne or even a basic white.

During the late 40’s and early 50’s schools started to theme their proms and it was seen as a bigger deal. Around that time schools also, if you were lucky, started to rent out halls, hotels, and event places. The cheesy all time classic prom themes also started back then—think “Dance Through the Stars”, “Stairway to Heaven” and “A Night to Remember”. The dresses were by far some of the more colorful ones. Pastel colors were big then and everyone who was anyone had puffed out ruffles upon ruffles. The hoop skirt style was a big thing or for some of those who like to entice the guys a little in their ever so modest decade, they showed a little shoulder skin and not only were their ankles showing but they shortened the skirts to barely cover their knees. Gloves were also used quite often like in the 40’s; however, the traditional elbow length gloves would occasionally be cut down to simple wristlets. The hair back then was more than likely in an up-do that was huge. The beehive was also widely popular for reasons unbeknownst to any sane person.

The 60’s and 70’s are already two very famous decades for obvious reasons, buzzing from the rich, new-wave of musical influence. The 60’s dresses much resembled those of the 50’s.  The only thing that made 60’s dresses so unique was the décor on the dresses. Instead of plain dresses in different colors, the dresses had some small sections either embroidered or beaded intricately. In the 70’s, although one would expect fashion to consist of tie-dyed dresses and ties, actually just consisted of dresses featuring a covered collarbone in a choker/ halter top style.

The 80’s had to be one of the raddest eras that existed. Short dresses were in, most all ladies were pretty in pink, and the hair was massive. For the first time in school dances were dresses allowed to be so short, above the knee dresses were common. For some reason most girls had an obsession with the color pink and most all dresses were some electric, regal, or pink color. The hair was not like everyone had seen, it was huge. Bottles and bottles of hairspray on 80’s prom nights can probably be one of the main contributors to the gaping hole in our ozone layer. The music was loud and eccentric with people dancing the night away in their now shorter dresses. The colors were loud, and the shoulder pads were big enough to match the hair.  

The 90’s came around and the prom dresses got on the skimpier side, spaghetti strap dresses that showed more collarbone, cleavage, and whole lotta leg. Dresses, however, weren’t very “wow” during that time; they either went on the more elegant side or were simplistic. Corset dresses that pushed up the bust paired with a full ballroom skirt was quite a trend. Some other prom-goers usually dressed it down with a simple, slim-fit dress matched with huge heels and a more up to date hair style.

The 2000’s (up until now) has consisted of some many various different designs, it would be impossible to name the trends. Open back dresses seemed to have trended last year and the year before that, high-low dresses made a big impression in the fashion scene.  Patterns and vibrant color also seem to pop back in and out of the picture every few years. Though that itchy, plastic-y fabric that made the infamous ruffles and mermaid tails are out (thankfully), the more modern styles can vary from long and elegant to glammed-out and party ready. Though some styles die for good, old styles always come back and new ones are just as common.