What A Real High Schooler Wants To Wear To Her Prom
We were swapping our own prom stories the other day, and—even though most of us looked fairly ridiculous in our corsages and swaths of tulle—we were glad that we stuck to our own teenage sartorial convictions, forwent suggestions from adults, and rocked those vintage scores/outrageous prom dresses/plastic accessories with all the zhuzh we could muster. So, when we were thinking about how to go about doing a prom dress feature for you, we thought it'd be best to go straight to the source. Introducing, Sophomore high school student from NYC, Emma (who blogs at The Emma Edition), who was kind enough to let us in on what people who are actually going to prom want to wear to it.
Because I’m in high school, the prom is an inevitable brouhaha that affects everyone, whether they go or not. So when thinking about what to wear, I look to movies like Pretty in Pink, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Never Been Kissed, and Grease because not only do all of the above movies feature iconic prom scenes, but also have leading ladies with nonconformist sartorial choices. Andie, Romy, Michele, Josie, and Sandy each were outcasts at their prom, yet weren’t afraid to let their fashion sense shine through. So for this post, I’ve selected items that would do these female heroines justice if they showed up to my high school’s 2011 prom. Read on for some inspiration for what to wear to your own prom as well!
Andie Walsh in Pretty in Pink (1986)—Andie Walsh is an obvious style icon. She loves wearing Peter Pan collars, boat hats, and piling on the pins (a trend that seriously needs to make a comeback). Pretty in Pink is a West Side Story-ish tale of teenage love and general angst. Andie isn’t one of the wealthy, preppy kids, but she doesn’t let that suppress her stylish spirit. Instead, she makes her own clothes and shops at thrift stores. While the other girls at her prom wear frumpy gowns, Andie dons an Audrey Hepburn-with-an-edge, bubblegum-pink frock, which she handcrafts herself. However, if Andie went to prom today, she would probably wear something more like this pink ASOS dress. It’s still reflective of her eclectic vibe but brings her '80s look into 2011. I paired it with these kitschy jeweled heels because they look like some rad DIY project Andie could have taken on. And Voila! Andie is ready to dance the night away.
Above, from left: Haus of Price Multi Gem Arch Heel, $239.95, available at Solestruck; ASOS Premium Floral Applique Silk Organza Shift Dress, $152.41, available at ASOS; Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil (in Barracuda), $20.00, available at Sephora.
Because I’m in high school, the prom is an inevitable brouhaha that affects everyone, whether they go or not. So when thinking about what to wear, I look to movies like Pretty in Pink, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Never Been Kissed, and Grease because not only do all of the above movies feature iconic prom scenes, but also have leading ladies with nonconformist sartorial choices. Andie, Romy, Michele, Josie, and Sandy each were outcasts at their prom, yet weren’t afraid to let their fashion sense shine through. So for this post, I’ve selected items that would do these female heroines justice if they showed up to my high school’s 2011 prom. Read on for some inspiration for what to wear to your own prom as well!
Andie Walsh in Pretty in Pink (1986)—Andie Walsh is an obvious style icon. She loves wearing Peter Pan collars, boat hats, and piling on the pins (a trend that seriously needs to make a comeback). Pretty in Pink is a West Side Story-ish tale of teenage love and general angst. Andie isn’t one of the wealthy, preppy kids, but she doesn’t let that suppress her stylish spirit. Instead, she makes her own clothes and shops at thrift stores. While the other girls at her prom wear frumpy gowns, Andie dons an Audrey Hepburn-with-an-edge, bubblegum-pink frock, which she handcrafts herself. However, if Andie went to prom today, she would probably wear something more like this pink ASOS dress. It’s still reflective of her eclectic vibe but brings her '80s look into 2011. I paired it with these kitschy jeweled heels because they look like some rad DIY project Andie could have taken on. And Voila! Andie is ready to dance the night away.
Above, from left: Haus of Price Multi Gem Arch Heel, $239.95, available at Solestruck; ASOS Premium Floral Applique Silk Organza Shift Dress, $152.41, available at ASOS; Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil (in Barracuda), $20.00, available at Sephora.
