Let’s talk about dresses. I’m serious. Wait…DON’T LEAVE!!!! D:
04/23/2010
Ah, dresses.
Every girl, at some point in her life, will be required to wear one, whether she likes it or not.
Dresses CAN be pleasant, as the people from The Perfect Dress will agree.
I feel that dresses are a relevant topic because depending on whether we feel like hosting an anti-prom to say goodbye to our beloved hellhole school, we may or may not decide to go to prom. After all, as the popular saying goes, prom is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, blah blah blah, and some dreamy guy will kiss you softly and then carry you off into the sunset, blah blah blah.
First of all, ew.
But more importantly–
WHY ARE PROM DRESSES SO TACKY?!
And don’t even try. You know it’s true.
If you run a google image search for “prom dress”, here’s the first result that comes up:
…I’m so sorry to damage your eyes like this.
WHAT THE FLIPPING HELL IS THAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! *spazz* *RAGE*
WHY WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO BE CAUGHT DEAD WEARING THAT??????!!?!?!?!?!?!
Just the fact that this dress got MADE at all is a crime against humanity (which is supposed to be our theme for English class this year but so isn’t, for details see Annie’s post “English really isn’t about English anymore”).
Some more examples from the first page of the image results:
…Okay, wait a minute. Wait just a minute.
Did some unknown source of power dictate long ago that all prom dresses should be tacky, cheap-looking, with as much glitter and fake jewelry stuck on them as possible, as big and puffy as possible, and also in the most eye-burning colours imaginable?
Some more examples from The Perfect Prom Dress and some local prom dress stores:
DUDE. THIS…must be cast into Ice Volcano!!!!
This colour should not be allowed to exist.
…Actually, take a look at this whole page, from a dress store right here in Toronto
What I really don’t understand is that some dress stores are actually really decent…
…Until you hit that “prom dresses” button. Then–
Everything just immediately bursts into eye-burning crimes against humanity.
What is it about prom dresses?
Why is the definition of a prom dress some super poofy, hideous thing in the most awful colour imaginable?
Why are prom dresses so specifically heinous? I mean, if you ran a search for “dress” instead, much, MUCH more pleasant things come up.
Prom dresses have become synonymous to “hideous”. When I think of a prom dress, I think of nasty stuff that looks like brightly-coloured barf. I’m allergic to prom dresses to the point that I’ve become prejudiced against ALL dresses. Which is bad because there ARE really great dresses out there. I very occasionally try to find these to lessen my deep phobia of dresses.
To prove to you that there are really beautiful, classy dresses out there, I present some examples of my beloved dress store BCBG Max Azria, whose dresses I can never afford and therefore can only drool at from afar:
Feathers *can* look good too!
If you want something longer and more dramatic
See?! This has a lot of decorations on it as well, but not so obnoxious and the detailing is actually interesting.
THIS is more like something I’d not be ashamed to wear.
Omfg. Is this not the cutest little dress EVER???? I want it so bad. ;–; *foams at mouth*
I’d so wear this if I were tall.
My favorite thing about the BCBG dresses is the fact that the back is always so simple. Why would you want to wear something with a huge hole or whatever on your back?
Black version of the same dress.
Although it’s so simple, I really love the square neck and the shape of the whole dress.
Oooh, I love this colour!!!!!!!
This totally reminds me of one of Biddell (from Project Runway Canada season 1)’s gorgeous dresses.
You can never go wrong with a cute little black dress. Also very age-appropriate.
A bubble dress!
If you want to try a really bright/eye-catching colour, this is the way to go.
Ditto.
If bright colours aren’t your thing, try for an interesting print!
Look. Even BRIGHT BRIGHT orange can look fantastic!
*sigh* what colour is this? It’s so dreamy.
Anyway.
I would so much rather spend more money to get a simple, nice, non-poofy non-eyebleeding non-full of plasticky jewels dress than some horror that looks like it cost 20 bucks from Pacific Mall and scares me every time I open my closet.
But then again, maybe prom dresses are so awful because they’re marketed towards teenage girls, who want to sparkle “shine”.
If so, at prom I’ll be the one sitting somewhere inconspicuous, pointing and laughing. Accompanied by Annie, of course.
You are a scary girl.. Most girls want this day to wear a big beautiful dress and stand out. The dresses you tend to like are very plain, bland and very boring. I would wear those dresses to a Friday night dinner! I think the way ou wrote this article was too much and too rude and you could have expressed your ‘anti-sparkly-poofy-pink-’tacky’-prom dress’ in a more respectful manner. You just made yourself look stupid I feel bad because I was laughing the whole time I was reading this! Maybe that was the point?!
Much love and open mindedness !
So, you are saying that I should be more open-minded when you are calling me “a scary girl” for liking plain dresses. And you’re also telling me not to be rude when you wrote “You just made yourself look stupid I feel bad because I was laughing the whole time”. Have you ever heard of the pot calling the kettle black?
Yes, most girls want to wear a big beautiful dress and stand out. I understand that. But I’m not that kind of girl, and I’m just trying to comment that the prom dresses I see in stores are generally quite tacky.
Even if my language offended you, was it necessary to call me a scary girl and tell me that you just laughed at the stupidity of my post? So I guess you never use strong words and always write in the most respectful manner. Good for you.
Hi~
Your comment seems a little mean. She’s not being disrespectful (how DO you be disrespectful towards dresses anyway).
It’s true that most girls would want to stand out on that day, but remember that those girls that go the length to wear dress number one (poofy pink one) are often the ones that demand a ferarri for their sixteenth birthday. That or they’re six.
The dresses she chose were not plain IMO. They’re classy and elegant, which is sadly why they’re never found in places where large amount of teenagers gather.
Just what I think
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Yeah, I prefer little black dress with pearl neclace is so classy or girly salem dress, the blue dress with turqoise earings is gorgeous and also a maroon dress is stunning! Never ever want to wear Cinderella ball room dress with shocking colour.
You’re article makes me smile, just loved it…! Us Europeans have a different taste in party dresses. Not so many sparkles, fluffy designs and rainbow colors. But we don’t have any proms and sweet sixteens as well. Maybe that explanes! Anyway, me and my sister have our own online shop, specialized in dresses. We ship world wide, so if you like a more basic dress, visit us: http://www.dressesonly.com.
i agree that a lot of the dresses you showed were SOO ugly, but not all prom dresses are horrible, nor do all teenage girls have bad taste. it’s a matter of opinion and personal style; i’m not crazy about your style but im not goanna go and attack it:) just a thought!
OMG. I really do NOT like the typical prom dress. It’s just that most people flock towards them because that’s what everyone else does. Meaning that hardly anyone has the capacity to step back and say, “Really? Does THIS look good outside of anywhere BUT prom and weddings?”
The mark of a elegant, sophisticated dress is something that can work outside of prom. For example, a nice painting doesn’t need to be in a museum to be appreciated. Here, there, anywhere, the Mona Lisa makes a statement on it’s own.
And yes, I am one who does NOT believe beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. There is some standard of taste and elegance. And for my prom this year, I’m not going with the fluffy, jewelled, pouffy, shiny gowns because I find them tacky. It seems most artistic people think so too: no where on red carpets or catwalks do we see such dresses. So, I’m probably going to be called drab in some circles and boring in others just b/c I’m not flashy. I suppose you can say it’s like girls who try to get attention by showing too much skin. People just want to get attention and stand out but it really isn’t beautiful in anyway. My dress is straight cut, form fitting, dark navy, from BCBG MaxAzria. And I suppose I’ll take pride in not falling for the mass produced crap.
*Seriously, everyone’s like “What colour is your dress?” And I responded “Um, colour doesn’t really matter to me. I’m looking more for cut.” So then they go, “But each dress is like made in 20 different colours.” And I say, “NOT the ones I was looking at.” *
I think it’s a bit funny how everyone wants to stand out, but in the end they mostly end up looking the same b/c the dresses are pretty much the same style.
I completely agree. I am SO desperate to find even a half decent prom website. blegh.
“Omfg. Is this not the cutest little dress EVER???? I want it so bad. ;–; *foams at mouth*”
PLEASE TELL ME WHERE YOU FOUND THAT DRESS. I NEED IT FOR PROM!
D
p.s. I really like your taste in dresses- I agree, I hate the “normal” ones.