By: Erica Peterson
With prom season approaching, let’s take a blast to the past and see where prom dresses started and how they evolved to get to where they are today. Prom was created by Otto Rohwedders in 1928. During the beginning of this time, prom events were held at senior classes in college gatherings in the gyms for a couple of tea and beverages, mostly for socializing, dancing in the eyes of chaperones. Once it hit the 1930s, prom was very popular all over America.
Prom dresses in the 1930s were very often made of velvet. It was huge during the time and brought a sleek and chic look to the party. The dresses were often drop waist gowns, which in short is when the waistline of a dress is placed at the hips rather than at the natural waist. Drop waist gowns were very popular during the flapper era and the colors were often more dark with a contrast of some brighter tones.
In the 1940s, long and slim dresses with full sleeves were very popular during this time. Due to the wartime fabric ration, a lot of prom-goers had to improvise with what they had. The slim-like fit also has to do with the fabric ration that was occurring due to war in this time (less fabric, smaller dresses). The colors were light and pastel-like.
The 1950s were the start of the Tea-Length Dress. This was good for women who were not interested in the slim look throughout the whole dress. The dresses often stopped about mid-calf or floor length. I personally love the mid-calf look, it had a very girly and feminine appearance, along with the innocent pastel color schemes.
In the 1960s, prom was known to be in a transitional state. The waistline was slightly raised, the skirts slimmed down slightly after the puffy Tea-Length Dress style, and the hair was a bit more voluminous. However, the color schemes are still in gentle and pastel shades.
During the era of the 1970s, long sleeves came into style. The sleeves were typically made out of sheer, and girls are also wearing long floaty gowns made of synthetics. Eyelet lace also came into the prom market during this time. Girls paired this material with off-the-shoulder sleeves and an empire waist.
In the 1980s, the start of metallic material and tulle skirts was becoming huge. Designers began to get more creative with excess fabric and structures of the dresses. The material of satin started to be used as well as some designers creating shorter prom dresses for those who wanted to stand out and be different.
The 1990s prom dress themes were very similar to the 1980s; although the side parts were deeper, the dresses were slightly tighter, and the waistline was higher. Besides that the colors were becoming a bit brighter and less pastel based.
The early 2000s in my mind was the most transitional phase in the history of prom dresses. From princess dresses, from halter tops, to two-pieces, prom dresses were changed forever in the best way possible. Colors from all over the color wheel were being used, especially the highlighter pinks and blues.
Now, in 2022 some prom-goers feel less is more, and some feel that the old traditional prom dresses are the way to go! With all types of cutouts on dresses and with sustainability becoming a foremost worry for most teenagers, both girls who want more skin to show and ones who like a more traditional and vintage look can be happy.
With all of the different eras being portrayed through prom dresses, it can easily be noted that women's rights become more and more prominent throughout the decades. From full coverage and slim dresses with plain color schemes, to extreme cut-outs and the boldest colors on the color wheel, women are now able to portray their personality and style through what they wear! Thank goodness for that, and remember, fashion is always more political than you think!
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