Whether it’s called prom or grad, for many a young woman the event is — aside from her wedding day— one of the most special occasions of her life.
From long to above-the-knee, heavy brocade or flowing chiffon, this season’s prom fashions are all over the map, giving fashionistas a chance to really showcase their individual style.
“It’s more about individual choice of style now, not about fitting into a particular trend,” said Susan LeBlanc, owner of Coco Rouge Boutique in Okotoks.
Short, shorter, shortest
Jill Patterson, co-owner of Cottonwood Bridal in High River, which also carries grad gowns, said many fashionistas are opting for stylishly short, above-the-knee dresses. Cottonwood Bridal carries dresses from popular U.S. designer Tony Bowls, known for designing gowns for Miss America and Miss U.S.A. contestants.
“The short dresses are a little fancier than a regular cocktail dress,” Patterson described the look.
For girls who can’t decide between long or short, Holly Lehbauer, owner of The Lily Pad in Okotoks, said some dresses even allow them to have it both ways.
“We have dresses with removable long skirts,” said Lehbauer. “It looks like a short cocktail dress and then it has an extra piece on the back, which gives an extra little flare to it.”
Lehbauer said the removable piece, also a Tony Bowls design, allows a girl to move around easily if she wants to dance.
“You have to think about comfort,” she said.
That doesn’t mean the Cinderella-style ball gowns have gone out of style, Patterson added.
“We’ve really seen a little bit of everything this year … But there has been a move to the more fitted down to the hips style of dress,” she said, comparing the trend to mermaid-style bridal gowns.
Patterson said lace-up backs and corset-style tops are also popular options for many in choosing their prom dresses.
Vibrant colours, bold prints
Kelly Reeves, manager of BCBG Max Azria in the Chinook Centre, said the season’s biggest trend for prom gowns is jewel-toned colours.
From emerald green to ruby red, topaz yellow and sapphire blue, the key is to aim for vibrant and deeply saturated shades, Reeves said.
“One of the really big colours for spring is cobalt blue,” said Reeves.
Patterson said turquoise blue gowns have been a hit with young girls in her store this season.
Purple, which dominated the runways, is also one of the “it” colours of the season, Reeves said. Many Hollywood starlets were visions in purple on the red carpet of this year’s Academy Awards, from Mila Kunis in feminine lavender to Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson in rich shades of deep aubergine.
“We’ve got lots of different shades,” Reeves said. “Anything that is on the runway, you’re going to see transpired into retail stores.”
Patterson said bold prints are making a splash this season on prom dresses.
“We’ve seen everything from abstract designs to floral prints,” she said.
This year’s prom fashions are also seeing the full spectrum of texture, said Reeves.
“We still have lot of satin finishes, but we’re definitely seeing more brocade fabrics,” Reeves said. “We’re also seeing a lot of chiffon, which, because of the drape of the fabric, is still so beautiful every season.”
Reeves said it’s all about adding visual interest for grad gowns this season, with embellishments, embroidery, sashes and beading.
“There’s a lot more detail in dresses this season,” she said. “A lot of designers are incorporating some jewelry into the dress, where one strap might be an actual chain.”
LeBlanc agreed girls like to have a little bit of sparkle on their dresses.
“Almost every gown we have has some beading, which is really popular with the girls,” she said.
At The Lily Pad, textured dresses with feathers attached to them are also a big hit for grad gowns, said Lehbauer.
With these types of dresses, Reeves recommended keeping other jewelry to a minimum to allow the statement piece to shine.
“Maybe just earrings or a bracelet,” she said.
Dressing for your body type
Striving for dress perfection is about more than staying on top of trends. Ensuring a perfect fit for your body type is key.
LeBlanc said it is important for girls to take both their height and body shape into consideration when choosing a dress.
“I had a petite girl try on a really large Cinderella-style tulle dress,” she said. “It was cute as heck on her, but she was so petite the dress kind of overwhelmed her.”
For girls with boyish figures, there are several dress styles to help create the illusion of curves.
“We have a lot of really great ruched cocktail dresses, which hides flaws if you have any but it also gives shape,” said Reeves. “Something that has rouching or draping effect also gives the illusion of some hip.”
LeBlanc said a skin-hugging dress with a curved bust line can also help to accentuate curves.
For the pear-shaped body type, Reeves recommended a dress with an empire waistline.
“It fits the bust and the smallest part of the waist, then falls away from the body,” she said.
Those with larger chests or broad shoulders should look for figure flattering dresses with straps, Reeves said.
“Because it’s hard for them to wear strapless, they could do a one-shoulder dress, a halter or one with two straps,” Reeves said.
Beautiful on a budget
With the economic downturn, the latest trend is fashionistas becoming recessionistas, looking for trendy outfits on a budget.
Coco Rouge Boutique in Okotoks sells many consignment prom dresses that are inexpensive yet stylish, LeBlanc said.
“Not everybody can afford to go out and buy a $700 grad dress,” she said. “Most of our dresses are under $300.”
LeBlanc urged past grads to bring in their old dresses. If sold, consignors get a 50 per cent cut of the sale. Dresses are kept at Coco Rouge until the end of May, and are given back to consignors if they don’t sell at the end of the season.
Ultimately, LeBlanc said the key is to just keep trying on dresses until you find the perfect one.
“It’s kind of like your wedding dress,” she said. “When you put it on, you’ll know.”
