Individualism is king, and queen, at today’s prom
When students strike a prom pose this year, they’ll probably be doing so in an outfit that showcases their personal style.
Generation Z is known for its focus on individuality, and now, that state of mind is influencing teen prom style from DIY dress to a push for genderfluid options.
“There’s no prescribed way, like there used to be, in terms of how things have to look at a prom, how people have to look,” says psychotherapist Jill Zimmerman Rutledge, author of Prom: The Big Night Out.
“The kids today — they are more diverse, their generation is more diverse in terms of race and ethnicity, and also they’re so much more open to different gender issues, so that really helps a person be who they are,” she said.
Over the years, prom and prom fash--
ion have been influenced by the times. Romantic Gunne Sax frocks matched hippie culture in the ’60s and ’70s. In line with ’80s fashion, gowns of the times made statements with big shoulders and bright colors. In the slew of ’90s prom movies — 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s All That and American Pie — female characters wore seemingly off-the-rack creations.
Elissa Stein, author of Prom Night:
The Best Night of Your Life, sees an independent spirit in today’s students. Prom night “is reflecting what’s going on in the world as a whole,” she says. “It’s much more about individualism.”
Retailers also have caught on. Nordstrom’s prom guide encourages kids to “Own Your Prom Night, Your Way.” Models on the page finish their looks with unexpected touches — neon pink shoes with a blush dress, metallic booties with a lace design.
But Stein understands that for some, an expressive look includes a traditional princess dress. “I think it depends on your community, where you live; it depends on the fashion of the adults in your surroundings,” she says.
And despite gender-fluid fashion showing up on the runways and female celebrities rocking suits on the red carpet, gender-fluid options haven’t reached mainstream prom fashion just yet, says Jane Buckingham, founder and CEO of trend forecasting and consulting company Trendera.
“I do think there are people who will go ‘less traditional’ in pantsuits or creative attire, and the difference is now that’s accepted and embraced,” she says.
Thanks to mostly student-led initiatives in schools, however, there has been a slow but steady push for more inclusiveness in prom fashion.
“Bending the norms is happening but still not being shown often enough yet,” says mental health counselor and gender therapist Dara Hoffman-Fox, LPC. “(But) the voice of the youth continues to get stronger. It’ll take a while, but ... every year that passes there are definitely changes.”