HOT OR NOT -- TRENDS FOR PROM 2004
Prom: it's loaded with expectations. For some, it's merely a dance.
For others, it means that first great step into adulthood, while
savoring one's position at the top of the grammar-school food chain.
And for some, it means a night of pure Cinderella magic. Combine all
this with a youth-oriented culture, and you have an event that
demands a serious fashion plan.
So what fashion forces are driving Prom 2004? The answers are:
curves, glamour and loads of color.
"Prom 2004" is actually a bit of a misnomer, as most dresses tend to
follow Fall 2003 styles. This make sense: prom dresses are high-
ticket items, and retailers need a chance to test out trends in the
shopping malls. (Hair is more adaptable, so prom hair is more
attuned to the present).
As for fashion in general, it's still reeling from the ultimate anti-
fashion incident: the 9/11 attack. You may recall that the industry
stopped in its tracks. Major fashion shows were cancelled, or scaled
down to a roomful of attendees on folding chairs. "Can fashion still
matter?" was the question no one could ignore.
But of course, fashion didn't die. As always, it reflected the newly-
altered world view. "World views" contain many interlocking strands,
as does fashion, but strong themes emerged and are still in play.
Here are some of the best-articulated trends in Prom 2004:
// The Solidarity Uniform
Dressy, formal looks from the 30s and 60s. Think Hollywood glamour,
and Jacquie Kennedy. Beneath this trend is the new focus on
attending family events and dressing up for them.
Expressing the 30s are the curvy, Screen Siren prom gowns: smoky
mermaids in luxurious ruched satin, and Latin-style ruffles and
trains.
Reviving the 60s are Grace Kelly/Jacquie-O A-line skirts, sometimes
tea-length, with crinoline slips. These classic beauties are updated
with simpler, more natural hair and makeup, not to mention some mod-
style colors (bold black and white, bright red, or submarine
yellow). Gloves and a small shiny pocketbook are must-haves, but for
2004, you don't have to stick to ordinary colors!
Timeless prom queen gowns are fully *au courant* as well -- no
amount of beading, boning, crinoline or shine is over-the-top, so
enjoy the license for glamour. Perhaps this is the right year to
indulge in a delicate tiara!
You'll be surprised by the number of strapless gowns on offer. Every
one of these "solidarity" gowns lend themselves to classic strapless
glamour.
// The Eastern Bloc
Fashion influence is drifting, and the East is gaining ground:
Londoners do their best to dress like Persians, and Bollywood antics
make the global radar more often. You'll see the lovely outcome in
those 2004 prom offerings with an elegant sari look and
extraordinary hand beading.
// Sporty Spice
J. Lo lives on in the sporty side of Prom 2004, where two-piece
gowns (some midriff-bearing) continue to make a splash. This look is
not only fresh but practical; those beautiful bodices can be paired
with jeans long after prom night's become a matchbook and a
memory. "Sporty-prom" fashionistas can augment their costume with
sparkling navel gems and exotic paint-on body tattoos.
// Celebrity Fashion
Can it go any lower? The prom world's not immune from red carpet
antics, and several sultry 2004 offerings call for double-sided
tape. This year's 'necklines' sometimes plunge so far that there's
nowhere else to go; look for 'backdrift' to follow (no pun intended)
in the next few years.
// In Truth, 2004
The dresses genuinely in sync with 2004 runways are the ultra-
feminine pastels, with delicate ruffles. Think "prom dress meets the
park." Don't be afraid to go with soft green, coral and pink paeons
to girlhood, simply because most offerings are jewel-toned and
sizzlingly seductive.
// Hair
Soft, shiny waves are new for spring (think lovely Charlize Theron
at the Golden Globes); Aniston-straight is out. Whatever you do,
don't torture your hair into some unnatural confection; it's
simplicity and naturalness that updates these retrospective looks.
// Shoes
Clunky is dead. Open-toed stilettos are red-hot. Sure, the gorgeous
silver (or transparent) sky-high creations on the market are the
ultimate in impracticality. The romantic prom-goer will buy them
anyway, get a great pedicure, and slip them off halfway through the
night for a 'best of both worlds' (if not 'best for the pocketbook')
experience.
// Jewelry and Makeup
With all those strapless fashions, take care not to over-
accessorize. Unless you're going for a vintage look, don't spoil
that beautiful expanse of clavicle with a necklace; don sparkly,
dangling earrings instead to create a long line. If the Nicole
Kidman look is more to your taste, consider one of those retro multi-
strand chokers (in black, of course), or a slim black ribbon paired
with a silk rose. Chandelier earrings might be "outre" at the
Oscars, but they're definitely not a done deal at Prom 2004.
-------
Blake Kritzberg is proprietor of
the Prom Dress Guide 2004,
at
http://www.prom-dress-guide.com/Visit the site for 2004 prom offerings,
news and trends.
