Photos show the evolution of prom dresses from the 1940s to today (2024)

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Promenade dances, commonly referred to as prom, are an iteration of debutante balls, which date back to the 1800s.

Debutante balls primarily served as events for young women to be introduced into society. While the history of the debutante ball certainly runs deep, the "proms" we know of today are much newer, with the first modern versions of high-school proms appearing around the 1920s.

While proms over the past 100 years have customarily involved many of the same elements — dancing, posing for photos, and making memories — the fashion has had a major metamorphosis.

Here's how prom dresses have changed from the 1940s up until today.

In the 1940s, prom dresses were generally modest.

Skirts were often tea-length or reached the floor, in keeping with the fashion trends of the day. However, festive accessories like sashes, bows, and headbands provided a more youthful look compared to the styles that adult women typically wore on a daily basis.

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Prom-dress silhouettes in the 1940s varied from empire-waist styles to drop-waist dresses and everything in between.

Students attending prom in the early 1940s also experimented with patterns and luxurious fabrics like velvet.

However, after the start of World War II, prom dresses tended to be simpler and more streamlined, and many proms were likely canceled during this time due to war-time shortages and rationings of fabric, according to the National WWII Museum.

In the 1950s, girls embraced the "new look" — a signature dress silhouette popularized by Christian Dior that featured a ball-gown skirt that went out at the waist.

Skirt lengths ranged from tea-length to full-length, and prom dresses often featured feminine details like ruffles, tulle, floral appliques, and bows.

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Prom dresses in the 1950s were also less modest than they were in earlier decades.

Girls could choose off-the-shoulder or even strapless styles, though they would also accessorize with shawls or stoles to add a touch of glamour and modesty.

Dresses in the 1960s featured slightly slimmer skirts and raised waistlines.

Hairstyles were also higher, thanks to the "beehive" hairdos that were popular at the time.

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By the 1970s, some prom dresses had long sleeves and flowing silhouettes.

V-necklines made popular by disco fashion were seen on prom dance floors, as were strategically placed ruffles to give a more laid-back, bohemian look.

Taffeta, silk, and velvet prom-dress styles fell slightly out of fashion in the '70s, with some girls choosing to wear simpler eyelet-lace styles.

Influenced by the "flower child" fashion trends of the decade, some girls also chose to wear flowers in their hair for a more relaxed, natural look compared to the stacked hairstyles of the 1960s.

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In the early 1980s, disco fashion was still alive and well, which showed in some form-fitting prom-dress styles.

Minimalist styles like the one pictured above brought a high-fashion edge to prom.

However, over-the-top 1980s prom dresses also had their moment.

Necklines and skirt lengths varied, and many girls attending prom in this decade liked to match the color of their dress with their dates' outfits, according to Elle.

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From ruffles to lace, bows, and pleating, prom dresses in the '80s proved that bigger is better.

In this scene from the 1988 movie "Dance 'Til Dawn," Christina Applegate's character wears a classically '80s prom dress that featured a polka-dot print and an eye-catching, oversized bow.

Prom dresses in the 1990s took notes from popular award-show fashions.

At this "Titanic"-themed prom in 1998, one high-school student chose to wear a floor-length black sheath dress and scarf with fur detailing.

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Bright colors and sparkles were major trends in the early 2000s.

Gloves, clutch handbags, and intricate hairstyles also complemented the festive prom-dress trends of the decade.

Spaghetti straps and satin dresses were also popular in the early-to-mid 2000s.

Jewelry tended to be more simple to allow the colorful, beaded dresses that were popular at the time to really shine.

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In the 2010s, short styles came into fashion.

High-low dresses, which were floor-length in the back and shorter in the front, were also popular.

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Daring prom dresses have risen in popularity over the last few years.

Prom-dress trends of today are becoming more and more daring, with students choosing bold styles that feature cutouts, corsets, and bright colors like Barbie pink.

"Pre-pandemic, the trend was for minimalism and a lack of shimmer. With many teens unfortunately missing out on prom in 2020 and 2021, the new class now wants to make a statement and wear something special," Kim Collins, Prom Girl's chief merchandising officer, told Insider's Elana Klein.