A high school student looks into the mirror in the bathroom at her school’s prom. She wears a long cocktail dress and accessories that perfect the formal outfit she spent months planning.
Next to her stands a girl with a floral, semi-casual dress, and sandals that resemble an easter brunch outfit. The two girls stand side by side, dressed for almost opposite occasions.
A general level of formality is required at many high school proms across the country. Some argue that these boundaries are being pushed more and more each year that passes.
As outfits for prom expand and grow beyond what is commonly worn, concerns are raised. Alongside these concerns is the argument, whether the level of formality at prom should be more strictly upheld to enforce the idea of prom being one of the best high school nights.
Prom is one of the most anticipated nights in many students’ high school “careers”. Groups of these students fear that loosening the grip on the dress code for prom may lessen the importance of this night.
Freedom to choose the overall outfit is a very important thing, allowing students to feel best on the important occasion. Yet, anxiety that prom will lose its status goes hand in hand with these “easter brunch” dresses that have been rising in popularity and fashion.
These floral and flowy dresses have gotten the attention of many young girls. The easy-going and casual look brings an effortlessly beautiful take on traditional prom dresses.
Picture a flowy white dress with soft ruffles around the bottom, and maybe some strappy sandals. Is it a good fit for prom?
“No, it looks like you’re going to dinner with your grandma,” Morgan Porter said. “I feel like prom is an opportunity to get dressed up and wear something sparkly and nice.”
On the other hand, trends come and go, but prom does not. Schools have seen all sorts of dresses walk through the doors to prom over the years. What is more important than this micro-trend is the student’s ability to feel beautiful on such an anticipated night as prom.
“I think it just adds uniqueness to the people,” Maddie Woods said.
Regardless of both arguments making strong points, tension around these micro-trends still skyrockets each year during the spring as prom approaches and is on the minds of all junior and senior students.
“I see tiktoks of like “Utah girls”, and I just don’t think it’s my style,” Woods said.
Length also comes into questions when picking a dress.
“I don’t like short dresses. I feel like prom is for floor-length dresses.” Libby Hatcher said.
While easter brunch dresses are just one example of informality at prom, many trends similar to this have provoked students who prefer a more formal outfit.
What will make the longest impact on the students who attend prom, is the overall enjoyment of the night. Boosting these levels of happiness is rooted in how the student feels about their prom outfit.
This outfit will be shown in pictures to future generations and will be looked back on by sentimental, nostalgic eyes for many years.
Whether that picture shows an “easter brunch” dress, or cocktail dress, the memories it holds will always overrule the trend. What matters most is how that girl in the mirror feels about herself, not how the person next to her feels about it.
