Did you know that the familiar term “Prom” is actually short for the word promenade? In a lot of communities in the U.S.A. it stands for a once-a-year, formal dance or get-together of high school students. Since it is typically held at the end of senior year, young ladies that plan on attending start putting together their dressy ensembles early. Seen by many as a major event in a high school student’s life, much emphasis is put on, “What will I wear?” And in many cases, “How can I afford the look that I want to achieve?” Have no fear, because here at Goodwill on any given day, we have lots of formal attire that will help ease your burden, both financially and creatively!

What type of look are you going for? This year, the big trends are Vintage, Cinderella and High Fashion. I’ll explain what each of these looks entails, so you can start looking around at our stores to find things that would fit these, or your chosen theme. Remember, these are just suggestions and by no means the only way to go. What really makes any outfit spectacular is what YOU put into it.

The Vintage look is a combination of other eras from ‘50s through the ‘80s. The genius thing here is that these looks do not necessarily mean a long dress. It could be a halter-top cocktail dress from the ‘80s worn with pointy-toed shoes from the ‘60s! So mixing and matching eras is definitely in! When doing “vintage,” it’s important to make sure that the fit is perfect, so you don’t look like you’re in costume! The movie “Pretty in Pink” might be a good inspiration for you.

The Cinderella look is just what you think it would be. A princess style dress with voluminous skirt made of tulle or net, and a sweet heart, strapless top. An updo hairstyle and even a tiara will complete your look. Goodwill is a great place to look for accessories for your fairy tale ensemble, such as sparkly purses, gloves, shoes and jewelry. A trend I’ve been noticing is the use of a rhinestone pin as an accent at the waistline of a full-skirted dress. You could even make a glittery pin into a hair ornament with a few simple adjustments! This is a fun fantasy look for the “fairest in the land”.

High Fashion is more of a sleek contemporary look, something like a halter-top dress cut on the bias, a draped gown, or even a short cocktail dress with heavily beaded detail. In this realm, black has been prevalent as a choice for many young ladies. The reason why black works so well is that it has always been seen as an evening look and it’s easy to accessorize. You can go crazy with the jewelry, hosiery, shoes and handbag without having to worry whether everything matches!

The biggest trend of all this year is color! A lot of dresses I’ve seen on specialty Prom sites and stores encompass vibrant hues, like that of the rainbow. Gone are the traditional pastels that have been worn for many years and in their place might be turquoise, orange and hot pink! As you can see the sky IS the limit!

Happy hunting and have fun at the dance! No matter what look you’re going for, Goodwill is a great place to get your ideas started for your big Prom party!