Prom is a great opportunity for students to get decked out in their best attire. While only upperclassmen are invited, the excitement and prestige surrounding the event keep underclassmen interested and anticipating their own chance to attend in the years to come or as a hopeful plus-one with a junior or senior.
“Prom is something I’m looking forward to next year because the whole thing looks so cool. Picking out a dress and getting ready, having fun with friends…I’m just really excited to have my own chance to go and see what it’s all about,” sophomore Kaitlin Leese said.
According to History.com, “Prom, an iconic rite of passage for many teenagers, has been a tradition celebrated by students since the late 19th century. Short for ‘promenade,’ proms are modeled after the debutante balls of high society and have evolved from semi-formal end-of-the-year dances held in school gyms [into] a billion-dollar industry.”
According to ELLE, prom styles have changed over time from the velvet dresses of the 1930s and the full-skirts of the 1950s, to the ruffles of the 1980s and shiny satin of the 2000s.
Business Insider states that present day prom dresses tend to be much more bold, with students preferring to choose flashy colors over other styles that were trendy in earlier decades.
As of 2024, florals, metallics, and vivid shades have started to dominate the prom fashion scene. Furthermore, tiered ruffle dresses and shimmery fabric, once popular in previous decades, seem to be gaining a lot of attention too.
While there are so many different styles to choose from when picking out a prom dress, in addition to the countless accessories to match, guys have a little less flexibility when customizing their outfits. Most of the time, boys show up in suits with hues varying between shades of blue and black. However, maybe someone will be daring this year and stand out in a brightly colored suit.
While many of our seniors already have their own outfits and plans for prom ready to go, some juniors are still unsure of what to wear or if they are even going to the dance in the first place.
“Since I’ve never gone to prom, I have no idea what to expect or what to wear. I’ve gone to Homecoming, but people say prom is a much bigger deal, which makes me confused on how my outfit should look in comparison. And will it even be better than Homecoming? If it’s not that much different, I’m not sure I would even want to go,” junior Alaina Garcia said.
Prom this year will be held on April 13 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the John Marshall Ballroom in downtown Richmond. The theme is “Red Carpet & Roses,” so keep an eye out for any outfits befitting the glamorous occasion.
