Point: Caroline Lowe
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: prom season. As our Instagram feeds are flooded with pictures of cute couples and friend groups all dressed up, it’s hard not to judge what people have chosen to wear on what’s widely considered one of the most memorable nights of high school. In recent years, many are trading in over-the-top ball gowns for more understated, Sunday-best dresses, prompting mass amounts of online commentary. Many people have taken to social media platforms, like TikTok, to share their opinions on both sides of the controversy.
People are outraged that girls are wearing less formal dresses, going as far as even directly commenting on TikToks of girls’ prom dresses. I completely understand this perspective, as the new trends of floral patterns and more casual styles aren’t normally what people visualize when they think “prom.” Still, commenting on someone’s post about it is completely unnecessary. Truthfully, it isn’t that deep and what someone else chooses to wear to prom does not impact your life in any way, so there’s no reason to be hateful.
Prom is a night where everyone should feel like the best versions of themselves, so why do you care what dress someone feels the most confident in? Everyone has different opinions of what style makes them feel their best and, even if it isn’t what you would’ve personally picked, there’s no reason to tear someone else down. Besides, I’m not the fashion police, and neither are you.
Another benefit of opting for a more casual prom look is affordability, as the price tag on many over-the-top, typical prom dresses is far more than what many people are willing or able to spend on a dress they’ll realistically only wear once. The cost of a dress, paying for a professional to do your hair, buying flowers and going out to a nice dinner can add up very quickly, so I can’t blame those who choose to cut costs by choosing a simpler dress.
Although my own dress is a sparkly ballgown, I find the tea party-esque style adorable and think the girls who wear them look stunning. So, before you post that comment saying that a girl’s dress isn’t a “real prom dress,” stop and ask yourself, who are you to say what a “real prom dress” is anyway?
Counterpoint: Sydney Davenport
Going big or going home should be the mindset of all of those going to prom this year. However, Sunday’s best, floral brunch dresses are making waves onto the dance floor this year. Has the idea of getting dressed up and all glamorous left the minds of many?
Don’t get me wrong, the softer look is absolutely beautiful, for going out with my grandma’s church group or sitting as a guest at a wedding, but those dresses do not belong at prom. I think a laidback look is only holding yourself back from looking elegant.
The idea of prom and getting all dressed up and going all out for prom is because you’re going to get at least two chances while in high school so use those chances to get all dressed up. The hair, the sparkly dress, the makeup and the shoes, are all part of the fun.
There is nothing stopping you from having an extravagant look. No one is going to look down on you for wearing a big poofy dress, or a completely sparkly dress because that is what is more formal for a prom setting.
When I was young I always dreamed of wearing a sparkly dress and some pretty shoes to create the ultimate look for prom. With this new trend of less formal dresses, prom doesn’t feel like such a big deal. I can see the draw to those dresses for sure, but they aren’t prom dresses. I can shop for dresses in person at prom shops, but some of these less formal dresses I could find online and have it shipped to me. I think that takes away some of the fun of prom too. While I know that you can do the same for the fancy prom dresses, it isn’t as often you order your ball gown online. Shopping for the dress can be a fun experience and buying dresses that you could buy at the mall or online is way less fun.
You can never do too much. Go big or go home because it is so much more fun to go shopping for a big sparkly dress and create this amazing look for a night of nights like prom.
