Prom 2012 Dress Trends and Locations

Eleni Krakowski & Paige Smith
Staff Writers

With May 5 on the horizon, everyone’s buzzing with the inevitable issues that surround prom, including what kind of dress to wear. Choosing that special dress can be difficult. One should keep in mind body type, color palettes, and personal style when choosing a dress. It also helps to be in the know about the top trends and styles. This year, the most popular of these are prints, glitz, bejeweled dresses, and metallic colors. Sites and stores alike are stocking up on dresses with these features in a variety of styles. One thing to really look for is hemlines that are short in the front and long in the back, creating a dramatic swooping skirt.

Though there are a variety of places to shop, David’s Bridal has one of the largest selections. Their prices start at $30 for a less elaborate dress, with prices rising to as much as $300. You can shop online, or at one of their store locations in Durham, Raleigh, or Fayetteville. Other places with similar selections include PromGirl.net or Henris.com, though both feature a higher price range.

If you’re looking for something a bit more off-beat for your prom dress, then you may want to consider a retro style. It would add a bit of dignified flair to your ensemble and set you apart from the rest. One excellent place to shop for these would be Etsy.com. They even offer real vintage garments for relatively low prices. Other places that are good for vintage and retro dresses are ChicStar.com (with prices as low as $20), unique-vintage.com (starting at $40), and bluevelvetvintage.com ($75 and up). Though when ordering online, shoppers should always check the estimated shipping time before purchasing. Some sites will provide rush shipping for an additional fee, but this varies from site to site.