Vintage Prom Dresses: Advice from Ryan-Nicole Vintage on Picking the Perfect Prom Dress
Spring Prom Season - The Perfect Excuse for a Vintage Dress!
Ryan-Nicole Model Chloe Warnock pictured in vintage dress
Spring season is upon us again, and that means it is high school and college prom season. With these come perhaps the best yearly excuse to go shopping for a vintage dress. If you really want to make a splash, going with a vintage prom dress is a way keep the cost down while at the same time finding yourself a truly unique and stylish piece for the occasion.
While all the planning necessary for a big prom night may be overwhelming - from the limousine service, to the shoes, to getting the right makeup and hairstyle - your prom dress is perhaps the most important item of the night. With that in mind, we've written a guide to vintage prom dresses and styles to help you make your choices of what to look for in a dress.
How to Begin Your Search
Throughout the years, there have been many various styles of prom dresses, all incorporating the fashions of their time. As a result each year has brought new trends to the prom scene. So the first step in picking a vintage prom dress should be to look at all these past fashions trends and figure out which styles that you like most.
Once you have reviewed past trends, consider how they can be incorporated with today's trends. Think about what type of look you want to go for, and how to achieve it, before you begin to search for the right dress. Once you have determined what you are after, you can narrow your search. Below is a list of the past trends and the years they were popular, to aid you in narrowing your search for the perfect prom dress.
The History of Prom Dresses and Styles by Decade
The 1940's
Vintage prom dresses in the 1940s tended to be tight-fitting often sleeveless garments. Because of the war and the lack of money and materials during this period the dresses tended to be simple in design. That is not to say they are not as nice however. Often simple garments can be just as elegant as more elaborate ones, especially with the right accessories and jewelry.
The 1950's
Vintage prom dresses from the 1950s are more ornamental, with a classic romantic style. Generally prom dresses from this era are full-length, or at least knee-length or longer. Also, dresses from this era often are tulle skirts with body-hugging bodices. Tulle is a lightweight, very fine netting, which is often starched. It can be made of various fibers, including silk, nylon, and rayon and is commonly seen on wedding dresses and veils.
The 1960's
1960's prom outfits became a bit more unusual, and marked the first years of formal pants being accepted as a fashionable alternative to formal gowns. Many of these era pieces go well with more modern mix-and-match outfits. 60's bolero jackets with vintage gaucho pants and modern accessories can be a hot yet elegant look. By the end of the 60's big bold patterns and colors were popular, along with floral patterns, sequins and "hippie style" dresses. In short, there was a wide variety of dress styles during the 1960's ranging from more traditional in the beginning of the decade, to more ostentatious and out-of-the-box towards the end of the decade.
The 1970's
Similarly, 1970's prom dresses also varied widely in style. However, the new emergence of disco music and the accompanying disco scene influenced many designers during this decade, and the dresses tended to be sexier and sleeker than the dresses from the 1960's. Velour was an increasingly popular fabric of choice for dresses from this era, as well as lace and velvet. Popular patterns remained similar to the 1960's, such as sequins and bold pastels.
The 1980's
Prom dresses during the 1980's were bold and glamorous, reflecting the big-hair, punky fashions of the time. In the 80's, bigger was better, which meant not only bigger hair, but often bigger shoulders, more colors, more accessories, etc. Dresses from this era often have shoulder pads, ruffles, glitter, sequins, faux wrap skirts, scarfs, extra fabric, etc. Accessories that accompanied these dresses ranged from finger-less gloves to large dangling earrings and usually was accompanied by bold, dark colored make up.
The 1990's
The 1990's was a return to more traditional dresses from those of the 1980's, and designers began to reject the loud fashions of the 1980's. The Grunge music scene and the "anti-fashion" movement of the 1990's affected the formal dresses of the era as well. By the end of the decade, the dresses had become more minimal, sexy sleek garments, closer to the dresses of the 1970's. Hippie fashions began to re-emerge, although in a slightly more subdued form. Floral patterns were prevalent, but minimal. The dresses of the 1990's were often short, body-hugging, provocative mini-dresses made of Lycra (or spandex, a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity). Lace cocktail dresses and synthetic silk were also in style.
Other Important Considerations for Formal Wear Events
Ryan-Nicole Model Lindsey White pictured in Lili Diamond Calirfornia vintage dress
Remember, when picking out a prom dress also consider the logistics of the evening as well as the look you are going for. For example, it wouldn't make much sense to wear a full length gown to a beach party. Questions a woman should ask herself when shopping for dress or formal gown for a specific event should include things such as:
Location: Where is the event being held? (i.e. is it outdoors, where dirt will soil the dress, or in the heat where a person will overheat wearing heavier materials, etc)
Duration: How long will you have to wear the dress? Would you like to wear this dress again after the event, or is this is one-time garment? Should you bring a change of clothes as a back up in case you go to another after-party?
Music Style: What type of music/dancing will there be? Is it going to be a raucous dance party, or a more formal, laid-back jazz or classical type of event? Of course it will be much easier to move around in a short, casual skirt for a more energetic dance party, and your heels should probably be shorter for such events.
This Year's Fashion Trends - Spring 2009 Season
Of course, although you may have decided a vintage dress is the way to go, you will still want to look stylish and contemporary. So it is important to know what the current trends are, and how to make sure you incorporate them. This season, as in the last, one-shoulder dresses have become very popular. Some of the leading designers have unveiled some stunning one-shoulder and cut-away dresses. Take a look at some of these newer dresses, and you can likely find something in a vintage dress that resembles the style.
Also, sheer has become a big trend as well, and is an easy way to decorate an vintage dress and make it more contemporary. Clothing with frills have also been making a come back this year and last year, so keep this in mind too!
Have Fun at Your Prom!
Hopefully the information in this article helps you to find the perfect dress for your event. Ryan-Nicole offers a number of vintage prom dresses here on our website, so please also take a moment to look at our inventory too. And remember - the main goal is to have fun! This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so enjoy it!