Vintage Prom Dresses

From LoveToKnow Teens

If you’re thinking of something different for the prom this year, why not try vintage prom dresses? With a look from a different era you can be sure no one will be dressed just like you, and you can often save a ton of money by buying vintage dresses.

Vintage Prom Dresses

Options for Vintage Prom Dresses

When choosing vintage prom dresses, you can go with any era you can find a dress for, but the most popular and easy to find dresses are from the 1940s and on in time.

1940s

Dresses of the 1940s tended to be rather simple. Because of the war, there wasn’t a lot of money for fancy dresses or a lot of extra fabric lying around to make them from. For that reason, 1940s dresses tend to be rather tight fitting and often sleeveless or with short sleeves.

It is possible to find “swing dresses,” which were designed to accommodate that style of dancing, which are made with fuller skirts. Many 1940s dresses don’t have a lot of embellishment, while others are covered with beads or lace.

1950s

There’s something very Audrey Hepburn about most of the vintage prom dresses you will find from the 1950s. The classic lines of these dresses will never go out of style. There is more ornamentation on these dresses than those of the 1940s, with bigger skirts and a lot of tulle showing up everywhere.

The classic 1950s prom dress would be a pink ballerina-inspired number, with a knee-length or slightly longer tulle skirt and a body-hugging bodice.

1960s

Dresses from the 1960s are all over the map. In the beginning, dresses were still following the sleek 1950s lines, but by the end of the decade floral patterns, sequins and other big, bold patterns and colors were popular. You can find 1960s vintage prom dresses that will suit just about any taste, from girly girls to hippie chicks.

1970s

The 1970s in many ways followed the fashion trends of the 1960s in that just about anything was fair game. Sequins were still very popular, and pastel colors were often found on prom dresses and bridesmaid's dresses of the era.

Dresses in the 1970s that were influenced by disco tended to be sexier and sleeker than the earlier dresses. These body-hugging beauties were often made from velvet or lace, or the 1970s super-fabric, velour.

1980s

Dresses from the 1980s tend to have extra bits of fabric floating around, whether it’s a bow or a faux wrap skirt. Sequins and ruffles were in, as were big shoulders and other big embellishments.

Dresses from the 1980's frequently were made of darker colored fabrics, but they still make bold fashion statements today. Wear your hair huge to go with the scale of one of these dresses.

Finding Vintage Prom Dresses

Your local used or vintage clothing store is a great place to find vintage prom dresses. Some stores have vintage dresses neatly arranged by decade to make it even easier for you to find what you’re looking for.

There are many online vintage clothing stores that sell formal clothes from other eras. Here are a few to get you started:

Looking for a vintage prom dress can be a little like going on a treasure hunt because you might find a dress you love but it simply won’t fit you. Of course if the dress is too big you can always have it altered, but it is more difficult to fix a dress that is too small.

It can especially be difficult for larger people to find vintage dresses because the average woman was smaller in the 1950s than she is today, but it is possible to find classic dresses in just about any size if you’re willing to take the time to look.

Wearing vintage prom dresses is a lot of fun, especially if you can get your date or your friends to join in. Dressing in a way that’s different from everyone else will make your prom night even more of a night to remember!


 


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