PROM TRENDS IN 2021
THIS YEAR, PROMGOERS HAVE A SELECTION OF FASHION — AND NEWFOUND ACCESSORIES — TO CONSIDER
Spring 2020 had a noticeable void left unfilled in many Connecticut high school students’ social calendars: prom. After pivoting to virtual celebrations in the spring and remote learning throughout the school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some schools are bringing back the end-of-year event for 2021. This year, promgoers have a selection of fashion — and newfound accessories — to consider.
In addition to making their 2021 prom special with their dress or tuxedo choice, promgoers also have a very particular accessory to consider. Most probably never imagined they’d be looking for face masks to wear on their big day. At Occasions Bridal in Bethel, owner Gail Furniss said they are making matching face masks out of the fabric that is cut off of a customer’s gown in the alteration process, providing a custom and personal look to go with their gown.
Others are looking for any sparkly face covering to complement their look. At The Dressing Room, which has locations in Wallingford and Madision, coowner Lyndsay Rinere noted that shoppers have been drawn to sequined masks to pair with their dresses.
“We have these great sequined face masks in the store, and people are obsessed with them. So most girls are buying matching masks to wear with their dresses,” said Rinere. “Most girls are not sure if they’re going to have to wear a mask or not .... But most girls are buying the matching masks or something sparkly that’s going to go with their dress.”
This year, however, the request for sparkly gowns and special styles from prom shoppers is about more than wanting to wear a pretty dress. Rinere said for 2021, shoppers’ mission is as much about making up for lost time as it is about wearing something stylish.
“Girls want to feel extra special this year and wear something that couldn’t be more different from the sweatpants we’ve all been wearing since lockdown happened,” she said.
Matching masks aren’t solely for accompanying ballgowns and dresses, however — they are also pairing with tuxedos. Sal Dominello, owner of Modern Formals in Middletown, said that his store offers customers a special-ordered matching mask option with their tuxedo rental or purchase.
“We are pretty early in the prom game right now, but with the people that have come in, we let them know that we can provide a matching mask,” he said. “People are excited about it and they want it to match their ties, their vests, their accessories.”
While the exact protocol around wearing face masks at prom is yet to be determined at some schools, there are specific trends emerging for promgoers in 2021. Fitted dresses, full gowns and bejeweled styles are all on tap for those heading to the big dance, or at least that’s what Furniss is seeing this prom season at her shop.
“Girls are embracing their individuality,” she said. “We are seeing very diverse styling. We are selling romantic tulle ball gowns, fully sequined and beaded fitting gowns, as well as simple, fitted jersey knit gowns that really hug the body and give a great shape.”
While this broad selection of dress trends can seem like almost too many to choose from to the average shopper, Furniss said that the shoppers who have visited her PT Barnum Square store know exactly what they want.
“Prom customers are secure in who they are,” she said. “Many have been looking at gowns in the media for over a year now since they did not have a forum last year.”
Rinere noted she has seen similar trends at both her Wallingford and Madison stores this prom season.
“This year in particular, a lot more girls — more than ever before — are wanting to wear ballgowns or dresses with fuller skirts,” she said. “A lot of girls feel like because they couldn’t go to prom last year, they want to make their dress this year extra special, so they’re kind of going all out with their dresses, versus wearing the more simple, nonbeaded or no sparkle kinds of things.”
Over at Giuliana Boutique in Fairfield, the styles prom shoppers are after look a little bit different, according to store owner Carmen Delabrena.“The big trends seem to be simple styles, open backs, corset backs and big mermaid trains but each girl is different,” she said. “They all gravitate to the style that fits their personality and while some want to look sexy, others want to make it their princess moment.”
While prom dress trends tend to take centerstage, Dominello said that tuxedos this year have their own trend, something that his locations in North Haven, Meriden and Southington also see.
“People go for the traditional, classic style, but popular colors this year are going to be navy blue and grey because they go with everything,” he said. “You have to keep in mind: a lot of these schools are not letting you take dates from outside your class year, so you’re going to see a lot of guys and girls wearing whatever they want and having fun with it, so long as it’s tasteful.”
While some high schools in the state have announced plans on the structure of their proms, other schools are still considering whether or not they will even host a dance this year. And when they do decide to host a prom, it leaves some shoppers with quick dress decisions to make, said Rinere, who saw a rush of shoppers in early March looking for gowns for their April dance.
“Not everybody, but some girls will come in, they’ll try on a bunch of dresses, think about it and then come back,” she said. “This year, they don’t have a lot of time to make a decision, so they’re coming in and trying on their dresses and leaving with the prom dress they chose because they only have a couple of weeks to alter it and find shoes.”
Delabrena said that her Post Road shop’s new rush of prom shoppers — something she also attributed to schools’ late decisions on hosting proms — end up facing some competition in securing their ideal looks.
“Schools just made the decision a month ago to proceed with proms early this summer — most in June,” she said. “There is always a ton of excitement over prom, but with many girls buying dresses in January and February, there is a bigger sense of urgency to secure your dress before anyone else gets it. And due to COVID, a lot of manufacturers have limited quantities, so styles and sizes are selling out much faster than usual.”
Masks and a condensed shopping season are not the only changes that have come with COVID-19. The way shoppers even show up and move through the store has changed. For Furniss, that means having all of her prospective prom shoppers make appointment to try on gowns at Occasions. For Rinere, that means controlling traffic flow in the name of safety.
“Before, people were coming in with large groups of people, girls would show up with their friends and their moms, so sometimes people were coming in with parties of six to 10 people,” she said. “So now with COVID, I have a lot of people call asking if we accept walk-ins, which we do, but it’s nice for people to call ahead of time. Now, we just ask people that they don’t come in with more than three people to their party just so we can make sure there’s enough space for everybody and it feels safe.”
With fashion trends emerging for 2021, complementary masks and a new shopping experience for promgoers, Rinere offered that it all makes for a different experience even for her as a store owner.
“It’s a whole other level to prom than what we’re used to.”