2023 Prom dress season trends
Senior Emi Watanabe looking through racks of dresses at Starlet Boutique. (Photo: Rebecca Almendra, The Puma Prensa)
By Rebecca Almendra, staff writer
Glitzy, glamorous, and bejeweled: Maria Carrillo’s 2023 prom theme has been revealed as the Golden Gate Gala. Set for April 29 at San Francisco's City Hall, the location is undoubtedly spectacular and dreamy for a high school prom. Its elegant Neoclassical architecture and dramatic interior has set ambitions high for the student body in becoming best dressed.
Across the nation, prom season always generates excitement for formal wear shopping. This classy and elegant location has only set expectations even higher. For dresses in particular, the process is tedious to pick out the crown jewel from the wide array of designs, colors, shapes, and sizes. Although a tedious and nitpicky process, many of us upperclassmen must eventually say yes to a dress.
As we enter the prom dress season, it’s good to know what and where to look to find the perfect match. This year's trends are quite different than last year’s green and neon art deco beaded sequins and leg slit tight fit looks. Taking nearly a whole 180, 1950s tiered bright tulle and 1970s flowy satin length seem to fill boutiques and online stores. As we leave behind last year’s lingering green and flashy beads, retro with a modern twist has risen to the top, with glamorous, femme, chic, dramatic, and bold trends encouraging a fit for just about anybody.
Tulle, tulle, tulle! Big and bold, and seen at just about every dress store you go to, the lightweight netted fabric is perfect for the individual who prefers a loose, grand fit of a ballgown. Tulle brings the princess dress to life. Although this style might seem dated, dresses this year have made it more of a renaissance. The traditional tiered look is maintained; however, the overall silhouette and fullness of the dress is much different than what previous generations might have worn to prom.Varying hemlines, necklines, and ruffles transform the classic look into something more modern and sleek.
On the other end of the spectrum, timeless satin can do you no wrong. This simple, clean, yet elegant look proves flexible and easy to style. With a tighter bodice and lengthy flow, there’s room to be creative. With bright pink color, patterned prairie florals and some detailed intricate lace, the possibilities are endless. The simplicity allows a great deal of freedom with hair and makeup styles. Some Hollywood glam waves or big 90s updo would be a perfect match.
When shopping for your perfect gown, Sonoma County has a handful of options. A popular shop among MCHS students is Starlet Boutique, located in the Windsor Town Green. Half bridal and half prom, it’s a rather small dress store in comparison to others. However, with its required appointment set up, it makes the dress fittings a lot more personal and comfortable. If Starlet’s selection doesn’t fit your taste, Bliss Bridal and Black Tie located in Downtown Petaluma is a bit larger than Starlet, with much more variety and size options, not to mention a much wider price range as well. Department stores like Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Macy’s, and Dillard’s also carry an assortment of striking dresses.
Prom dresses are expensive, there’s no doubt about that. Don’t let a price tag get in the way of feeling beautiful on your prom day. There’s a variety of resources and options for cheaper alternatives. Take for example, a local nonprofit called Princess Project is dedicated to providing free, new, and gently used prom dresses and accessories to any high school student who is in financial need. All you have to do is text “dress” to (707) 708-4185 to schedule an appointment. If you’re looking for something new and still budget friendly, the Windsor store (located at the Santa Rosa Plaza, not Windsor), has a large selection of trendy dresses for a mid to low price range starting at $40. Online stores like Lulus, OhPolly, Showpo, and Lucy in the Sky, all have trendy stylish dresses at a reasonable price. Other online options like Depop, Redbubble, and Mercari are great for finding gently used or vintage at affordable prices. Expensive dresses don’t always mean best dresses. These options have several styles and designs that are just as spectacular and beautiful as others with heavier price tags.
Long, short, crazy or simple, we are all looking forward to the array of dresses on display later this month. Prom is a big day within the high school journey, and making a great deal of wearing the perfect attire makes it all the more special.
Our Golden Gate Gala will surely be a memorable night for our upperclassmen, and even more exciting with hundreds of Pumas dressed in our absolute finest wardrobe.