By Regi Jackson
Prom fashions this year feature several noticeable trends, according to Lord and Taylor’s Novi store manager, Karen Simmons.
Shine is perhaps the biggest trend, Simmons says. The shine shows up in two ways: jeweled necklines and shimmery, shiny fabrics, Simmons says.
Another trend is bright neon colors, especially shades of orange. Guys accompanying girls in these neon bright colors can wear color-coordinated bow ties and vests, Simmons says. The flowers the couples wear can also pick up these colors, she says.
Goddess looks are also popular this season. The goddess look is the long, formal flowing ballgown. Many of these goddess dresses feature sweetheart necklines and high-low hemlines that are long in some places and short in others.
The one-shoulder dress is another style popular this year. It can be tricky to wear, however, for those who picked up a suntan over Spring Break. If that’s the case, Simmons recommends using a self-tanning lotion to fill in the light spots.
The last trend Simmons highlights for the 2012 prom season is prints. Animal prints, floral prints and paisley prints. Anything but handprints.
As far as hemlines go, long dresses, short dresses, and dresses that are both long and short are all in. So pretty much anything goes except an all-white ballgown – save that one for your wedding day, Simmons say.
Senior Kerry Osby, who modeled prom dresses in the Lord and Taylor prom fashion show this year, said she picked a strapless dress for herself with a high split and beaded gem stones on the bodice.
Senior Bria Burrell says she plans to wear a short, strapless purple dress to prom with a corset in the back. It has multi-colored glass stones decorating the the front of the dress. The top of the dress is fitted, but the bottom is full. Burrell’s date, Artist Wright, is wearing a grey or white tuxedo, with a purple shirt. The ribbon on their flowers will be purple to tie in their colors.
Senior Shanelle Johnson plans to wearing a peach-colored Cinderella dress. It is a floor-length, sleeveless ball gown. The dress is fitted at the top and puffy at the bottom. The hairstyle that will complement her dress will be big, long sausage curls swooped over to the side of her face. Darrius Green, her date, plans to wear a white tuxedo with a vest the same color as her dress.
Senior Kareen Polly plans to wear a beige, strapless dress with the season’s favorite hemline – a high low. Her shoes are open-toed and her hair will be in a pin up. Polly’s date, Carthel Garth, plans to wearing an ivory suit with a beige vest and tie ,though she says he might change his mind and wear the infamous “blue man” suit he wore last year to pep rallies.