Ralph Lauren gown, Flounce heels, Nine West clutch, earrings and bracelet from Jewels by Joanne
Prom. It's a right of passage for every American teenager. It's clichéd, for sure, conjuring images of an overdone prom queen in a cloud of pink tulle and glitter (case in point: Louis Vuitton's prom queen-inspired collection). For my own prom, which took place this past Thursday, I decided to refrain from the stereotypical prom look in favor of something with a classic Hollywood feel.
The dress hunt began in March. I started narrowing down the options by filtering dresses I saw online through a series of criteria. Firstly, I wanted something in the deep blue color range. Navy has always been my go-to color (I wore it on my bat mitzvah!) because it both contrasts and flatters my pale skin and dark hair. I just always feel prettier in navy. Secondly, I wanted a simple, flattering silhouette. Cinched waists, A-lines, and elongating drapes were all welcome. Sequins, ruffles, and puffy skirts were blacklisted.
After combing through dresses online and in magazines, I headed to Bloomingdales to browse in person. I didn't think I'd end up buying anything, and there was definitely no "aha moment" when I stumbled upon the dress that would ultimately be mine. It looked nice though a little boring on the hanger, but once I tried it on it really came to life. I walked out of Bloomies pleasantly surprised and excited to embark on the next phase of prom outfit planning: accessories.
I wanted to base the rest of the look off the silvery art-deco-like belt. The first piece I bought was the clutch, an octagonal metallic box I found at Nine West. For the shoes, a pair delicate silver stilettos. For jewelry, I chose a diamond cuff bracelet and small but intricate drop earrings to offer a touch of glitz.
The last component was hair and makeup. Loose waves added necessary volume to the look, and I believe prom makeup is best kept natural and feature-flattering. Since the entire ensemble was fairly simple, I went all out with nail art, choosing this crescent design (seen on the runway at Chanel, Vena Cava, and others) in essie's Chrome to play off my clutch and jewelry.
After a long, difficult four years of high school, glamming it up with my classmates and dancing the night away was truly a blast. I'll look back on my prom fondly and remember feeling flawless from head to toe. That's what choosing a prom dress should really be about; feeling like a celebrity no matter what your style.



















