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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

What do people wear to prom?

12 replies

promoutfit · 28/04/2023 14:04

My DD 16 has finally decided to go to her school prom but I don't know what people wear? She hates dresses and has been talking about a suit but all the ones she's shown me look like something I'd wear to work!

What do people typically wear if they don't like the whole evening dress type thing? Do any girls wear suits? She thinks other girls will but she's quite quiet and won't ask others what they're wearing so I am at a loss. I just want her to feel comfortable in whatever she's wearing but apparently I'm'too old to understand' Grin help!!!

OP posts:
MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 28/04/2023 14:08

I think she needs to decide what she wants to wear. And if that's a suit, so be it. It doesn't really matter if none of the other girls are wearing the same, as long as she feels comfortable being a bit different?

It probably varies quite a lot from one school to the next, but at dd's secondary school, the girls all went for quite 'big" prom dresses at 16. No suits that I saw. But she doesn't have to follow the crowd? And if she isn't asking the other girls what they're wearing, maybe she doesn't really care?

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 28/04/2023 14:11

Now they're are the end of their A-levels, and more of them seem to be going for sophisticated evening dresses instead of big puffy prom dresses. All still seem to be going for full length dress options though.

Would your dd consider some sort of dressy jumpsuit type option if she doesn't fancy a dress?

Oakdog · 28/04/2023 14:15

Honestly I'd let, and encourage, her to wear whatever she wants. My DS isn't bothered about going to his but has decided he will. It's so completely not his thing, and he only has a few friends at school. He's going in a tweed jacket and blue trousers. I'm sure he'll be the only one like that, but it's what he wants (and will wear again) so that's fine. I'd rather he was himself than feeling he had to wear a certain style.

MrsCharlesFrere · 28/04/2023 14:48

My DD chose for a big pouffey bridesmaid dress and wasn't the only one!

Her best friend chose a pencil skirt and frilly blouse which seemed like middle aged office wear to me, but what do I know.

Majority of girls went for strappy slinky sexy numbers with lots of flesh on show

There were also some girls in sarees, a couple in trouser suits, some in quite grungy casual black clothes (what we called goths when I was at school, apologies if that's not the right term now)

Basically, lots of different styles and everyone wearing what suited them.

mondaytosunday · 28/04/2023 15:17

She could wear a tux. One with a silk/satin camisole underneath rather than shirt and tie?

mondaytosunday · 28/04/2023 15:18

But at my daughters two years ago they all wore lovely long evening dresses.

Bobbybobbins · 28/04/2023 15:20

At my school we have all different styles - girls in long dresses, short dresses, tuxes, saris, one of my year 11 boys will wear a dress!

SmurfHaribos · 28/04/2023 15:21

Yes lots of the girls wear suits to prom.

Some go all out Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Others go very low key. Some dresses are very cheap. Some dresses are very expensive. Some dresses are long. Some dresses are short.

Anything goes.

SmurfHaribos · 28/04/2023 15:24

Oakdog · 28/04/2023 14:15

Honestly I'd let, and encourage, her to wear whatever she wants. My DS isn't bothered about going to his but has decided he will. It's so completely not his thing, and he only has a few friends at school. He's going in a tweed jacket and blue trousers. I'm sure he'll be the only one like that, but it's what he wants (and will wear again) so that's fine. I'd rather he was himself than feeling he had to wear a certain style.

Actually he probably won’t be. The boys wear all sorts of things from tweed to Greatest Showman to Edwardian to hippie. Definitely some boys wearing tweed at last years prom.

Original poster
promoutfit · 28/04/2023 15:27

Thank you so much everyone for your replies. I just want her to be comfortable in whatever she has. It sounds like most girls wear dresses but good there seem to be other outfits too. I'll take her out shopping and obviously she will choose - I just wanted to check in case 'everyone' wears dresses and she got there and then felt uncomfortable wearing something different.

OP posts:
theblackradiator · 30/04/2023 21:00

A teen girl I know went to her prom last year in a suit and looked very smart it's an all girls school and the girls went in a huge variety of outfits to their own individual tastes.

Outnumbered101 · 15/05/2023 02:08

If she’s not usually comfy wearing dresses then surely her peers wouldn’t expect it and her friends would support her choice. However, if she quiet then standing out probably isn’t her thing.
what about baggy linen trousers and a blouse or top? Is her size an issue ? Is she self
conscious? Our daughters prom 2years ago, her friend was worried as quite top heavy compared to others but was totally supported. Every attendee is worried about their looks and no-one is bitchy on the night. Best of luck

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