School Dance Fashion Through The Years

I did not attend Marlborough’s first-ever homecoming dance. I made this decision for two reasons: primarily, because it was my seventh week in a row of being sick, and secondly, because I did not feel like going through the torture of finding a dress. Between restlessly scrolling online through endless dress options and going in person to try on 12 dresses only to dislike them all, I decided to choose peace.

Though my approach is slightly dramatic, there is truly a culture behind school dance attire. Since the theme of the magazine is “Save the Date,” I decided to study fashion trends for teen girls in 2022 compared to the past. Considering the fact that I am 15 years old without access to a time machine, I will be basing my ”scientific” research off of movies set in the respective decade.

’90s

“Clueless” (1995) and “She’s All That” (1999) were both staple moments in teenage pop culture in the ’90s. The costume design of the two movies undoubtedly influenced the style choices of teenage girls in the past and today. During the party scenes, I noticed small details that made the pieces have more of a ’90s essence. At prom, most students, including the main character, wore straight neckline maxi dresses. The villain of “She's All That” wore a flashy, more iconic fit. There were plenty of girls in halter dresses, but she brought it to the next level by having a halter dress bedazzled head to toe. Some girls would try to add a little spice to their looks with gloves, but most were clean and simple.

2000s

While the ’90s favored simplicity, the 2000s were all about extravaganza. “Wild Child” (2008) starring Emma Roberts showcased the complex style of the time. Dresses often featured an illusion of layering by playing with different fabrics and textures. The silhouette of the dresses changed as well. A-line/pouf dresses accurately capture the carefree and childish energy of the era. More youthful elements like ribbon belts could be found in both “Wild Child” and in one of the most iconic teenage movies known to date, “Mean Girls” (2004). In the prom scene of “Mean Girls,” strapless mini dresses were showcased the most with the occasional plunge (imagine a V-neck but the “V” is going all the way down to your mid stomach) or halter necklines.

2010s

If you thought 2000s trends were a lot, the 2010s were like a glitter bomb. The minimalist aesthetic was a popular subculture in the 2010s, but there was always an excessive amount of accessories. “The DUFF” (2015) features intricate patterns and designs that carry the layered appearance into the new decade. Accessories like necklaces and bracelets were often layered as well. Skirts were much bigger with volume now being supported by tulle (tulle is like stiff mesh to give structure to skirts). In “F the Prom'' 2017), I saw an inappropriate amount of high-neck halters (my least favorite neckline). To make some dresses look more interesting, I saw some of that mesh, white, floral fabric that made me feel nostalgic for my preteen years. Lastly, lots of statement gem embellishments or rhinestones added a bit of excitement — or in hindsight, ugliness — to the look.

Conclusion

The general idea of “school dance” attire has remained relatively the same throughout the past few decades. When in doubt, go for a flattering mini dress and you cannot go wrong. Today the little black dress is feeling a bit overdone (I am a culprit of this), and I really want to see more show-stopping looks at these school events in the future.