In a world where fashion trends collide and TikTok reigns supreme, there’s a new controversy brewing: sparkly prom dresses versus the more laid-back brunch or “garden” dresses. It’s a battle of glitz and glamor versus flowy elegance, and the internet can’t seem to handle it.
Senior Prom is one of the biggest milestones for a high school girl. From the dress shopping and makeup to the hair, everything is planned down to the last detail. My TikTok “For You” page is filled with videos of girls dancing in their beautiful prom dresses, but when I open the comment section, it’s filled with comments like:
“No hate girly, but this is literally a brunch dress.”
“It looks like a bridesmaid dress, not a prom dress.”
“WHERE ARE THE SPARKLY BALLGOWNS??”
Because Rosary’s Prom is coming up in a few short months, I decided to get Royals’ takes on the hot drama. On one side, we have sparkle enthusiasts like Melanie Kamel ‘24: “I think prom allows for over-the-top dresses without being overdressed. So personally, that means all sparkles for me or extravagant layers of fabric.” We all need a little sparkle in our lives from time to time.
On the flip side, we have the brunch dress girls who love bright pastels with lace. Milan Smith ‘24 said, “I don’t like sparkly dresses. I like simple dresses, and that’s the best way to go.”
Sophomore Harper Clark is stuck in the middle: “Although I’m a sophomore and I’m not going to prom, I enjoy both types of dresses. I’m in the middle, but if it’s sparkly it has to be more plain, and if it’s floral it has to be a little bit more over the top.”
I had to ask the gold team’s head of fashion, senior Dimiana Daskalakis, for her opinion: “To be completely honest, I’m not the biggest fan of brunch prom dresses because I feel like they’re too casual. It’s prom, not Easter, but it depends on the person and their style. I haven’t found THE dress yet, but it will lean towards the more sparkly/flashy side.”
Before this debacle started, I had already purchased my brunch-inspired prom dress in January (spoiler alert: it’s bright pink). I lean towards the minimalist dresses because I think they’re classy and timeless, and you can dress them down or dress them up. Also, I don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a dress I can’t wear outside of prom; I can re-wear my dress to many different occasions because it’s a bit more casual.
However, I understand both sides of the debate. Sophomore Gianna Sorensen said, “It’s like picking your wedding dress because you want a dress that is specific to your day. Why would you want a wedding dress that you can wear to any ordinary occasion? I like the sparkly dresses because they are over-the-top and they give off ‘Met Gala’ energy.”
Although I dreamed of having a traditional Sherri Hill dress with all the frills and excessive amount of glitter, as soon as I tried mine on, I fell in love with it. I felt so beautiful and confident. After all, shouldn’t prom be about feeling fabulous and having a great time, regardless of whether you’re wearing sequins or florals? This is the beauty of fashion trends: something can be timeless and a little trendy at the same time.
Just a few years ago, the idea of wearing a brunch or garden-inspired dress to prom might have turned a few heads. But now, thanks to the diverse range of styles and influences in the fashion industry, we’ve expanded our horizons to embrace all sorts of dress styles. At the end of the day, Prom should be a night where everyone can dance and enjoy themselves while feeling comfortable at the same time. Fashion is a powerful form of self-expression, and we should celebrate the individuality of one another as we all find our dream prom dresses!
