Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2014 Haute Couture show displayed many hot trends for the upcoming prom season.
It’s only January, but nevertheless, the annual “Prom Dresses” group on Facebook is in full bloom. Seniors have begun purchasing dresses left and right, eager for their final semester of high school to end. But it has left many other seniors – including myself – with an extra weight on their shoulders; the quest for the perfect prom dress is on.
Fortunately, Paris’ annual Haute Couture Fashion Week just occurred. Some of the most accomplished designers sent models down the runway in stunning, handmade gowns. Of course, no teenage girl is going to invest in an authentic Chanel gown for prom, unless she is a Jenner sister. But it is easy to draw inspiration from the runway and choose your favorite trends.
One trend for Spring 2014 formalwear? Lace, and lots of it. Ellie Saab sent models down the runway in gowns made of head-to-toe lace. One dress in particular, a stunning, skin-tone, long-sleeved dress, is a perfect example of the lace trend. Take a cue from Beyonce’s Grammy dress and go for a lace dress.
Another trend is sparkle. The days of plain, solid-colored dresses are long gone! At Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2014 Couture show, model Cara Delevigne closed the show in a sheer, chiffon gown with beautiful, glittering embroidery, and matched with Swarovski crystal-encrusted sneakers no less. The entire line was stunning, featuring both gowns and tweed dress suits with glitter literally sewn into their threads. The show also embodied another dominant formalwear trend this Spring: pastels.
Speaking of chiffon, it is most definitely the fabric of the season. From a chiffon gown with hand-embroidered music notes at Valentino, worn by Katy Perry at the Grammys, to a fit-and-flare mini dress at Christian Dior, sheer, gauzy tulle is huge this year.
And where to find dresses of such caliber? One great choice is your local thrift shop! From pastels to tulle, it is very evident that this year’s Couture shows were heavily inspired by days of the past. Don’t worry about finding a dress with the perfect fit when you make a purchase – most larger dresses can be taken in. Two great, local establishments are the Norton Church Thrift Shop in Hampton, and the Open Cupboard Thrift Shop in Clinton. Both stores may require a lot of picking around, but you can find some real gems if you look hard enough. If you’re willing to take a bit more of a trek, there are many great thrift shops and vintage stores in New Hope, PA, such as Night Bird Vintage.
If you don’t have the patience to dig through old clothing in search of the perfect gown – I don’t blame you – the Internet is a great place to turn. Be careful to find websites with many good reviews and that will accept returns. One excellent online website to look for a dress is ModCloth.com, a website that specializes in vintage clothing. They have some stunning gowns from both the past and present that are extremely on-trend with the Gatsby-esque trends of this Spring. If ordering online, it is best to do so well in advance in case you need to send a few dresses back and forth until you find one that fits.