Hollywood will lead you to believe that prom is all about romantic grand gestures, losing your virginity, and is a satisfying culmination of the teenage experience. Really though, it's all about the dress—come on, you know it's true. But what was fashionable for the Class of 1986 wouldn't make the cut for the Class of 2020. Here, we recap how prom dresses have changed over the decades.
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1
1930s: The Velvet Dress
Velvet in any silhouette was desirable during the 1930s—especially a drop waist gown, like the one Mary Joyce Walsh wore to The Citadel's prom in 1939.
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2
1940s: The Long Gown With Full Sleeves
The '40s silhouette did fall on the slim side (due to wartime fabric rations), but it's doubtful anyone showed up to prom looking like Rita Hayworth. Also, it was preferred to have one's shoulders covered, because modesty.
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3
1940s: The Wartime Dress
Due to war rations, it was hard to find fabric for a new dress—even Queen Elizabeth had to scrimp and save for her wedding dress. But high school prom-goers made due with what they had and looked fabulous doing so.
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4
1950s: The Tea-Length Dress
In the '50s, full-skirted dresses became highly fashionable. Commonly these dresses were tea-length, hitting mid-calf, but they certainly could be longer. Ruffles were optional for those who were into the Little Bo Peep look.
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5
1950s: The Tight Bodice and Tulle Skirt
To give a bit more visual insight, a tulle skirt and curve-hugging bodice were also paramount elements to a beautiful '50s prom dress. And while many of these dresses were shoulder-baring, note how her date helps her with her shawl, because (again) modesty.
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6
1950s: The Sash
While keeping to the era's traditional silhouette, it was beyond stylish for a dress to have unique little touches, like a chiffon sash or flower detailing.
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7
1950s: Elbow-Length Gloves
Silk, satin, lace, you name it. Over all other accessories, gloves were key for any glamorous prom look in the '50s.
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8
1950s: Appliqué Detailing
If you wanted to look like a true movie star at your prom in the 1950s, see Elizabeth Taylor at the UCLA prom in 1950. The actress's tulle dress with floral appliqué on the bodice and skirt was very high fashion at the time.
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9
Late 1950s: The Bubble hem Dress
By the late 1950s, people started moving away from tulle skirts and went with sleeker designs. A common favorite? Shorter dresses with a full, trimmed skirt, dubbed the bubble hem dress.
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10
Early 1960s: The Transitional Era
In the early '60s we see very subtle shifts in style. Most notably the waistline is slightly raised, the skirts slim down slightly, and the hair is a bit puffier. But the color schemes are still in innocent pastel shades.
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11
1960s: The Sheath Dress
In true '6os style, some prom-goers opted to ditch formal gowns and wear knee-length sheath dresses instead.
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12
Late 1960s: The Empire Waist
At this point, most of the waistlines are fully empire-style, but it's really all about those bouffants, isn't it? Think of all the secrets you could hide in a '60s beehive...
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13
1970s: The Long-Sleeved Poly-Blend Trend
As we creep into the disco era, girls everywhere are wearing long floaty gowns made of synthetics to create a style that could be described as "gently unflattering." This particular gown has sheer long sleeves.
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14
1970s: The Eyelet Lace Dress
Eyelet lace had its moment in the '70s. Pair this material with off-the-shoulder sleeves and an empire waist and you've got '70s gold. Bonus points if you placed a flower over your ear.
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15
1970s: The Carrie
The outlier to the previously mentioned '70s dresses is a simplified strappy gown that's here immortalized by Carrie White. This look had a comeback later on in the late '90s, although the whole pig's blood thing never quite caught on...
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16
1980s: Ruffles on Ruffles
The '80s took the previous decade's love for ruffles and supersized it. As a rule of thumb, no dress could have too many ruffles.
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17
1980s: The Metallic Wonder (And Other Demure Styles)
All of these looks—from the crimped hair to the satin Minnie Mouse pumps—are so fantastically '80s. But special props goes to the shiny dress in the middle. That is prom queen material right there.
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18
1980s: The Matching Dates
Matching was everything in the '80s. Did you even go to prom if your powder pink gown didn't match his bow tie and cumme*rbund?
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19
1980s: The Tulle Skirt (again)
Tulle was back in the mid to late '80s, and this time it was bigger and, shall we say, better.
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20
1980s: Polka Dot Tulle
A simple tulle dress didn't always cut it, which is why the '80s added polka dots to the look. Small embroidered dots would add that extra touch of sophistication.