Hot
or Not -- Prom Trends for 2004 by: Blake Kritzberg
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.
About The Author
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.
Courtesy of http://www.ArticleCity.com/
