POP STARS INSPIRE PROM STYLES
Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez fuelling fashion trends
With prom season in full swing and Grade 8 graduation on the horizon, tween and teen girls will be getting the Cinderella treatment as they trade their everyday casual clothes for more glamorous getups. For students still on the hunt for dresses, notable ensembles previously worn by pop sensations Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez may help inspire the search for their ideal formal fashions.
Lucia Connor, marketing director at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, shares tips for translating the stars’ styles into age-appropriate looks.
Ariana Grande
Connor said girls might want to look to Grande’s princess-inspired stage styles for formal wear inspiration. The ponytailed pop star has previously been spotted performing and posing in strapless dresses swathed in sequins and beads.
Connor suggested selecting dresses with bodices adorned with jewels or beads.
Older girls following Grande’s red carpet style evolution might look to mimic her recent Grammys ensemble. The star stepped out in a one-shouldered, floor-length, silver-accented Versace gown. The dress was white — a hot hue for spring proms, said Connor.
For a fresh take on Grande’s Grammy style, she suggested a long white dress accented with a contrast-coloured waistband and straps in black.
Connor also recommended rounding out the ensemble with a shimmering ear cuff and statement rings to add a hint of edge.
Selena Gomez
“Her red carpet look is synonymous ... with a long sweetheart top, chiffon-style dress down to the ground,” said Connor, who suggested accessorizing the outfit with a bow headpiece. “It’s really age-appropriate and rounds out the look as well.”
In opting for more heavily embellished dresses, Connor recommended keeping the rest of the add-ons simple and delicate, such as stud earrings and a bow-adorned clutch.
For a more daring prom look, Connor suggested a style inspired by Gomez’s performances outfits, where the star has been known to wear dresses with cut-out details and plunging necklines.
Taylor Swift
Before Swift embarked on her world tour in support of her smash album 1989, she had been making the rounds on the awards-show circuit in a wide range of colourful styles.
Connor said Swift is synonymous with lace, which she has worn previously on the red carpet.
The Shake It Off hitmaker typically gravitates towards floorskimming creations. But at this year’s Grammys, the star opted for a dress hybrid.
She wore an Elie Saab design featuring a floor-length curtain skirt with a shorter hemline in front.
Connor suggested teens could channel Swift’s Grammy gown by selecting a dress with a high-low hemline.
She pointed to a pretty, pleated strapless creation in pale pink which could also work well for younger girls.
“What we love about this as well is beautiful ruching details in the front,” said Connor, a reference to the technique used to gather material in a repeating pattern to create a ruffled or pleated effect.
“It’s a sweetheart neckline, which is really age appropriate for a Grade 8 grad.”
Connor suggested keeping accessories relatively spare to avoid detracting from a dress with a more decorative neckline. In that instance, she recommended selecting small statement earrings instead of a necklace.
“HER RED CARPET LOOK IS SYNONYMOUS ... WITH A LONG SWEETHEART TOP, CHIFFON-STYLE DRESS DOWN TO THE GROUND” LUCIA CONNOR