Styles
Prom Trends over the years
We are delighted to show you prom dress trends over the years. Prom season is about having a fabulous time helping the prom girls pick out their prom dresses and accessories for their big night. As ever, we like to do our best to be helpful.
Red Backless Prom Dress
Backless prom dresses
Backless dresses have always been particularly popular on the red carpet, and over the years this style has trickled down to prom. The back of dresses have been dipping low, low, low at prom. If you want to keep an elegant air about you when you wear a backless dress, make sure that you have a high neckline, and you don’t over do it with the accessories; remember that the back is the key feature of this dress, so don’t make your back compete for attention. This particular style lends itself easily to the classic up-do hairstyle as it keeps the back clear and draws attention to the hair. The key issue with backless dresses is to make sure that you don’t have your bra on show. If you are not confident enough to go braless, go for a stick on bra which will give you support whilst giving you the ability to wear your backless dress with confidence.
This elegant red backless prom dress has a classically high neckline and a low, dipped back with gorgeous sparkles encrusted at the base of the back, neckline and straps. The train offers that little bit extra so you can feel like a Hollywood starlet when you go to prom.
Crystal Encrusted Gold Prom Dress
Eye-catching crystals and sequins
Whether it is all encrusted or a light scattering of crystals, bling is big for spring! Bling bling dresses have gained almost iconic status on the red carpets, and again, you can expect to see dresses twinkling and shining at Prom. Dresses with crystals and sequins look and feel glamorous and are a super way of grabbing attention for that ‘all eyes on you’ grand entrance. If you are going to be wearing a dress with fully encrusted crystals, be mindful not to go OTT with the accessories or you may run the risk of ‘over-bling’. Instead opt for subtle pieces of jewellery which compliment the dress, not compete with it. If you are going for a light scattering of sparkles, you can wear slightly heavier jewellery to bring out the shimmer and shine of the dress. As with all accessories, go for the same shade of shine as the crystals or sequins to accent the dress.
This truly enchanting, blingy fishtail gold princess dress (pictured left) is the epitome of ‘look at me’ glamour, wear this dress with simple drop earrings and a simple and elegant bracelet, let the dress to the rest of the talking!
Sheer Mesh Fishtail Prom Dress
Sheer mesh
These dresses are daring, yet safe, see through, but kinda not! In short, these dresses add a touch of the risqué whilst remaining oh-so-elegant and sophisticated. The beauty of these dresses is that they tend to utilise that special illusion panel well and you will usually find that these dresses are embellished with embroidery or sparkle on the see through tulle. These embellishments give people the illusion of a decorated second skin and allows you to stay modest with a peep of skin.
This stunning taffeta mermaid sheer mesh prom dress pictured to the right has the most beautiful embroidery creeping up the back with sparkles. This is ideal for those prom queens who want to do those much sought after ‘over the shoulder’ photographs for prom.
Do contact us with any questions about your prom.
Prom 2014 trend focus: the high low dress
The high low dress has also been aptly named the asymmetric dress, the mullet dress, and, if you’re really really funky, the hi-lo dress. Regardless of what you call it or how you spell it, the one thing that is agreed is that these dresses are burning up the red carpet and are set to be a really big hot trend for prom 2014.
So what exactly is a high low dress?
Well, it’s exactly as the name suggests: a combination of a long and short dress. Although high low dresses have been around for a few years now, each year they have increased in popularity. At the recent Golden Globe Awards ceremony, celebrities such as Sandra Bullock were spotted wearing glamorous high low hems, so if you do decided to sport a high low hem dress to prom, you will certainly be in good company!
What’s so good about a high low dress?
The first great thing about the high low dress is the drama and impact of having a long back skirt wafting and billowing about behind you, making you look every inch the Hollywood starlet! With their long and elegant back skirts and shorter front hems these dresses are particularly suited to young ladies attending their prom night as these dresses simply scream ‘I look elegant, classy, grown-up and sophisticated, but I’m young and sassy too!’
If you have read my posts before, you are probably aware that I am slightly challenged in the height department, and so I can feel a little swamped in long dresses sometimes. The high low dress really has been a fantastic alternative for me, giving me the chance to enjoy the full on glamour of wearing a long evening dress whilst retaining the style I feel most comfortable in – a short dress. The high low dress also gives me the chance to show off my pins and a fabulous pair of shoes, as well as giving me the opportunity to dance the night away in comfort (heel height permitting!) and style.
Designers have twigged on the increase in demand of high low hems, and have come up with many fabulous ways to incorporate a wide range of fabrics such as taffeta, chiffon and contrasting coloured lining for the back skirts. These fabrics come in a gorgeous array of colours, animal prints etc and many have been jazzed up with sparkles, sequins, bows and ruffles! Here’s a little peek of some of the styles we have in stock:
Lemon yellow high low chiffon prom dress
I can confirm to you that pastel colours are in again for the prom season, and you can expect to see at prom plenty of champagne, mint green and sorbet coloured dresses. This gorgeous chiffon floaty high low hem prom dress (pictured left) is simply stunning and, being lemon yellow, fits in perfectly with the summer colour scheme. This dress has darling shimmery rhinestones along the neckline and a low back. Simple, elegant iridescent jewellery are a perfect match with this dress.
Silver sequin high low dress
If you want something really jazzy and sparkly, this head-turning silver sequin high low dress (pictured right) by Dynasty is the one for you! This dazzling dress has whimsical organza skirts over it’s short, sequinned under dress and boasts a fabulously waist cinching band to give you a stunning shape. Don’t be tempted to over accessorize this dress, keep everything simple and let this dress do all the talking!
Forever Unique animal print high low hem dress
If animal print is your thing then why not try this stunning leopard print high low corset dress by Forever Unique? This dress is the ultimate in modern style with it’s body con mini dress top half and long flowing chiffons skirts behind. This dress looks fantastic with neutral accessories such as black, silver and gold.
Block colour high low hem dress
This beautiful high low hem taffeta dress (pictured right) is glamorous, fun and flirty with it’s contrasting blue colour lining to the underskirt. The bodice on this dress is fully structured and comes down a little lower than other high low hem dresses, giving it more of a mermaid shape than the others. This dress looks stunning with black shoes and accents of blue accessories such as our blue mini bangles.
Mermaid fishtail prom dresses at Walk in Wardrobe.
The silver fishtail mermaid prom dress just minutes after it arrived at the boutique!
I was in awe when I opened the delivery box the other day and found an absolutely gorgeous, shimmering silver fishtail dress. There has been a growing demand from prom girls for mermaid dresses, and it’s easy to understand why.
The mermaid gown typically has a fitted bodice, waist and hip to emphasize that gorgeous, dramatic flare at the bottom, coming out from either the lower thigh or knee. In return, the flare offers an undeniable emphasis to the nipped in waist, allowing you to show off your curves on prom night.
To me, mermaid dresses are the epitome of Hollywood glamour, are timeless classics and are exquisitely feminine. Here are just some of the reasons why I love them so much:
Head turning strapless fishtail prom dress
Mermaid dresses are suitable for all body shapes
If you are a curvy lady, the cut of these dresses emphasizes your curves and draws attention to the smallest part of your body – your waist. This is definitely one of the best dress styles for you if you have an hourglass figure.
If you are petite with a straighter figure, the bottom flare of these dresses appear to give a bit more shape and can give the illusion of a curvy-er figure and appears to elongate.
Fishtail dresses are undeniably glamorous
This style of dress has been adorned many times on the red carpet by celebrities, and they are timeless classics which will never go out of style. They give the most glamorous couture-style silhouette which is both sexy and classy.
There are so many different styles of the fishtail dress, we believe that it would be impossible not to be able to find one that you fall in love with……
Don’t underestimate the short prom dress!
Stunning short tutu prom dress
We usually have a 50/50 split when it comes to prom girls going for long or short prom dresses, but this year we have noticed that the majority are going for long gowns. Long prom dresses are undeniably gorgeous and stunning, but don’t underestimate the short prom dress – they can still make you look like a knockout on your special night! Don’t restrict yourself by thinking that long dresses are formal and that short are casual. Providing the dress is glamorous enough, and you feel happy and confident, a short dress would be perfect for your prom. Here are some of the reasons why I love short prom dresses:
Short prom dresses are versatile
Short prom dresses have the added benefit of being very versatile, you can dress them up for formal occasions such as prom, or you can dress them down for a more relaxed occasion such as a birthday party. With all the different events you will be able to wear your short prom dress to, you really would get value for money!
Short prom dresses are great for dancing in
Another great thing about short prom dresses is that you can dance the night away without the worry of getting your shoes caught in the hem of your dress. You also don’t have to worry about holding the front of the dress up when you walk.
You can show off your prom shoes with a short dress
Sparkly stiletto shoes for prom!
Less dress means more chance to show off your fabulous prom shoes. We recommend wearing wedges with long dresses to prevent the hem from getting torn, but with your short dress you have no restrictions! You can go for wedges, stilettos, or even little sparkly ballerina style pumps.
This blog post is not intended to deter girls from getting a long prom dress, all I’m saying is that prom girls should keep an open mind and should not restrict their choices. The key to choosing the right prom dress is that you love what you are wearing and you love the way the dress makes you feel when you are wearing it. You will have great memories of your prom, and you will keep the photographs of prom forever, so long or short, go for a dress you feel fabulous in!