As their high school journey ends, seniors experience the excitement of prom dress shopping
for their special day. With the world of colors, fabrics, and styles, each girl anticipates finding
the perfect dress that shows their unique personalities. There are many memories created and
challenges faced in the process of preparing for a moment every high school senior will
remember forever.
Within the world of prom dress selection, a specific style or design helps guide girls through all
the different options. Each girl is drawn to their own unique dress to lead them into an
unforgettable prom night.
“When I got my dress, it was not even what I was looking for in the beginning. I just tried it
on, and I liked the way that it made me feel and the way it made me look. Especially since it was
different from what everyone else was getting, it made me feel a lot more unique,” said Olivia
Miranda (12).
To steer away from traditional retail stores, many high school seniors search for their dream
dress at a thrift store. Thrifting has become a popular choice because it satisfies the idea of a
one-of-a-kind dress that meets their unique fashion needs and supports the cause of being
environmentally friendly.
“I like the look of vintage dresses more than more modern ones. I feel like when I buy dresses
from retail stores people might have the same dress as me, so I just wanted to make sure mine
was unique,” said Averi Millward (12).
To encourage inclusivity, there is an Instagram account that invites senior girls to submit their
dress. The account promotes anticipation for prom and the excitement of seeing what other girls
might be wearing, while also eliminating the risk of repeating dresses.
“I have encouraged people to send their dresses by trying to create a safe ‘girls support girls’
type of environment by being nice and complimenting everyone’s dresses,” said
the owner of the Instagram account for dress ideas.
Navigating the world of shopping, there can be complications along the way. From sizes to
repeats, the task to find your perfect dress holds struggles because of societal expectations and
even personal comfort.
“I tried to take into consideration what colors my friends were already wearing and just
thinking about how if I’m going to be wearing this dress the entire night, I want to be
comfortable and make sure that it’s easy to dance and move in,” said Miranda.
“There were setbacks because when looking for a dress, especially second hand, it’s hard to
find something that’s your size or that fits you exactly, so sometimes you have to get it altered,”
said Millward.
With prom dress shopping, each girl expresses her unique personality through a dress even
with the occasional setbacks. As these girls prepare for their special night these dresses help
them create memories and help them close out an important chapter in their lives.