Prom traditions across the country vary greatly. Prom, in and of itself, is a tried-and-true American standard, considered the ultimate rite-of-passage. Consider, if you will, the many, many films for which prom is essential: “Pretty in Pink,” “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Crazy for You,” “She’s All That,” “Carrie,” “Prom,” “Never Been Kissed,” “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Footloose,” ‘Mean Girls,” “Twilight,” “Not Another Teen Movie,” “Romy& Michelle’s High School Reunion,” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (yes, it was the Yule Ball, but it was the Hogwarthian version of prom), “Back to the Future,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Can’t Hardly Wait” (Jennifer Love Hewitt’s ‘Amanda Beckett’ was prom queen), “Virgin Suicides,” “Jawbreaker,” “Saved,” and the “Perks of Being a Wallflower.”
Invariably, the heroine of the story is going to walk down the stairs, or into the dance, to the gasp of her date and the audience. And, no matter how pretty the actress, a fetching dress can make all the difference.
Movie teens are condemned to the era – think Ariel’s fairly atrociously dated dress in “Footloose,” or feigned creativity — Molly Ringwald’s “Andie’s” self-designed dress, and, if they’re lucky, a totally suitable dress, like the one Emma Watson’s beautiful “Sam” wears in “Wallflower.” Sam’s dress is youthful, yet understated, traditional and yet whimsical, strapless, with a sweetheart neckline, an accent embellishment at the center of the chest, and a full black-lace overlay over pink. “Sam” also wore dotted Swiss black hose and high-heeled t-strap Mary Janes – she was all over adorably fetching.
One look that’s extremely popular amongst teens – along with cut-outs – are backless dresses. Bella’s now iconic (and much worn in Cosplay), tiered royal-blue dress is the only obviously backless “movie prom dress” (albeit a very modest backless in today’s world), and Bella mostly wears a 50’s-style vintage cardigan over it. For the curious, the original and first “Twilight” was a rather low-budget affair, and the film’s costumer purchased the dress (for $19.99, apparently), at the hit-and-miss Ross Dress-for-Less discount department store.
If you’re attending prom or are planning for a future prom, you’ll have a lot of choices available to you. If the idea of combining alluring sophistication with real beauty, you can look into elegant Sherri Hill prom dresses. For an idea of what the gowns are like, do a search on-line or visit a site like PeachesBoutique.com, which features many different Sherri Hill gowns.
If you’re going to go bold and wear a backless dress (be sure your school allows it, and, if they do, be sure the “dip” of the backless style meets regulations), you should consider the following to truly rock it:
- Hair – if you have long hair and wear it down, you may be covering the most critical element to your dress.
- If you do wear your hair up, make sure you are comfortable with the style. Girls who are unaccustomed to wearing “up-dos” may find it a challenge to get used to clips, pins and hairspray (essentials for up-dos).
- Your back – a pretty back can be very sexy without looking over-exposed. A few days before the prom (don’t do it too close to the actual date), consider getting a back facial, especially if you suffer from any level of “backne.”
- Elegant Sherri Hill prom dresses can take your favorite movie prom gowns or your dream dress and take it up a notch. We have a great example.
Here’s “Bella Swan” on her way to Forks’ High School’s “Monte-Carlo” themed prom:
L to R: Billy Burke, who plays police chief “Charlie Swan,” and Kristen Stewart, who plays the beleaguered teen “Bella Swan” in the popular “Twilight” franchise. Here, Bella, despite her broken leg and cast, is on her way to her prom, only going at Edward’s (Robert Pattinson) insistence.
Here’s Sherri Hill’s upgraded version, which, for a fan, may be considered “Twilight” or “Bella Swan” – inspired. It’s the same deep blue, but the plunging neckline is enhanced with a heavily beaded natural waistline. Instead of a tired tiered skirt, this full-length gown features a full pleated chiffon one.