From big bows and ruffles to minimalist satin gowns, the trends girls followed when searching for the perfect prom dress have looked different throughout the years.
Each year, junior and seniors browse the internet and stores to find a dress that keeps up with the current trends, while still adding in their own touch of personality. However, this isn’t just a recent event—prom, a formal dance for seniors and sometimes juniors at the end of the year, has been around since the late 19th century. In the U.S., the style of dress has changed numerous times since then.
In the 1920s, women started to wear more loose and revealing dresses. Jazz played a vital role in the inspiration of designs by encouraging women to be more carefree as they would at jazz clubs or to swing dance. In the 1950s, the trend was more extravagant ruffles, lace and tulle with full length dresses. Later, in the 1970s, floral prints, flowing fabric, floppy hats and bows were in fashion.
English teacher Kimberly Scott went to prom in 1983 and 1985 and says the style was big skirts, almost like a Cinderella dress. “It was very fashionable to wear a southern, plantation-like gown,” Scott said. “With either a hoop skirt or bustle in the back.”
In the 1990s, the style changed into more minimalist, less poufy dresses. More girls wore satin with rhinestone or sequin embellishments. English teacher Nicole Lehman went to prom in 1993, 1994 and 1995 and recalls that most girls wore black, white or red and accessories like gloves towards the mid to late part of the decade.
“We were kind of moving away from a little bit of the poof of the 80s and into more of an A line or a straighter trend,” Lehman said, “My first year I wore a short velvet dress, and then the next few years I wore black full length.”
The Y2K era, or year 2000s, of prom dresses kept going with the minimalist style. High necklines and bare shoulders were common as well as the colors aqua and chartreuse. Strapless and one shoulder dresses were in with beading and rhinestones.
The 2010s kept up with the same styles while adding in more ruched necklines, cutouts and ombres. Art teacher Danielle Kennedy went to prom in 2016 and 2017 and says that very bejeweled tops with plain bottom skirts were the trend.
“I wore a sea foam greenish blue color that was very bedazzled on top,” Kennedy said, “ I would also say for hair, a low updo for girls.”
However, recent 2020s trends have been more diverse. According to Kennedy, during CHS’ 2025 prom, students were wearing more minimalist gowns that were plainer than when she went. Senior Adeline Raines went to prom as a junior in 2025 and agrees with Kennedy, but says that she and her friends plan to wear bolder, more sparkly outfits for this year’s prom.
“Last year, I did a blue plain and simple dress, no sparkles or anything,” Raines said, “I saw lots of people do a very minimalist, people online called it a ‘brunch’ type dress with florals.”
Overall, the prom dress trends have changed over the years, but they could come back. Many say that trends tend to cycle back after around 20 years with a modern twist. For example, the 1990s minimalist dresses came back in the 2020s, but with more varieties of colors and not just black and white.
It wouldn’t surprise me [if old trends came back] because that’s the way everything in life is,” Scott said. “I have noticed in some of the fashion shows that some of those highly structured dresses are returning.”
