12 Very Stylish People Talk About Their Prom Outfits

    Lots of sequins and taffeta ahead...

    Daniela Cadena
    by Daniela Cadena

    BuzzFeed Staff

    BuzzFeed

    1. Grasie Mercedes, actress and blogger.

    Provided by Grasie Mercedes

    How would you describe your prom look?
    I went for an Audrey Hepburn look, though at the time I don't think I knew who Audrey Hepburn was. I wore a simple, baby blue dress with makeup to match!

    How did you choose your outfit?
    I remember shopping at Macy's Herald Square and I think this was like the third or fourth dress I tried on. I knew right away I loved it.

    Provided by Grasie Mercedes

    Do you still love what you wore?
    I'm actually pretty impressed by the dress! I would wear it now. On the other hand, the makeup situation is horrifying...is that white eye shadow?!

    Advice for anyone trying to decide what to wear to prom?
    Be YOU! Wear what you feel beautiful and comfortable in, no matter what the "prom trends" are. Oh, and HAVE FUN! It's prom!

    You can catch Grasie on 9-1-1 (Fox), Good Trouble (Freefrom), and of course, Instagram @grasiemercedes.

    2. Chelsea Henriquez, style and lifestyle blogger and publicist.

    Provided by Chelsea Henriquez

    How would you describe your prom look?
    I wanted to go for "old Hollywood glamour," but kind of missed the mark with hair/makeup.

    How did you pick your outfit?
    It really came down to availability and price for me. I was cutting it close and needed to make a decision. I found this reasonably-priced gem and pulled the trigger immediately.

    Where did you get your outfit from?
    A boutique in Forest Hills, but I cannot remember the name for the life of me.

    Provided by Chelsea Henriquez

    Do you still love what you wore?
    I absolutely adore my dress to this day. I lost half of the beading from excessive dancing, but totally plan to fix & wear it again some day.

    Advice for anyone trying to decide what to wear to prom?
    Go with what feels right and feels comfortable. Break the "rules" if you want - just make sure you'll look back on it fondly. 😊

    Follow Chelsea on Instagram for more style inspo @ChelseaAsOfLate.

    3. Paola Alberdi, creator of Blank Itinerary.

    Provided by Paola Alberdi

    How would you describe your look?
    It’s a mermaid dress and I guess you could say I thought it was feminine and elegant at the time.

    How did you choose your outfit?
    To be honest, I already had that dress which I had only worn once, so it was just the easiest thing. I didn’t even bother looking for something new.

    Where did you get your outfit from?
    I actually had it custom made for my aunt’s wedding and just re-used it for prom! Yes, I was an outfit repeater! lol

    Provided by Paola Alberdi

    What was your style like then vs now?
    I would say my style back then was more “cutesy” if that makes sense. I would say my style now is more edgy-chic.

    Advice for anyone trying to decide what to wear to prom?
    Stay classy! Honestly, simple is usually better. Something classic and simple always looks more elegant and you probably won’t cringe when you look back at your prom photos.

    If you want to know more about Paola, visit her website Blank Itinerary and follow her on Instagram @BlankItinerary.

    4. Audrey Williams, branded content strategist.

    Provided by Audrey Williams

    How would you describe you prom look?
    18-year-old me wanted to be really chic and classy, like something a rich woman would wear on the red carpet.

    How or why did you choose your outfit?
    The mermaid shape of it stuck out to me, but I was apprehensive of the color—mustardy-gold wasn't trending in 2009.

    Where did you get your outfit from?
    Some formal wear store I can't even remember.

    Provided by Audrey Williams

    Do you still love what you wore?
    Honestly, yes. I'm actually surprised at how well I chose. I think you could see this on a red carpet today, right? And I'm happy I went with this color even though I was intimidated by it. My closet is filled with yellows now!

    Advice for anyone trying to decide what to wear to prom?
    Wear what you feel comfortable in. Period. You won't have fun if you're uncomfortable. And even if you hate it in 5 years, you'll know at the time you were killing it.

    If you want to keep up with Audrey, check out her blog and follow her on Instagram @lululinden.

    5. Steffy Degredd, blogger.

    Provided by Steffy Deggred

    How would you describe your prom look?
    I wore a full-length pink dress with a flower pin attached by the strap.

    Why did you choose your outfit?
    I liked the simplicity of it, and the color! Back in high school I was a surfer, and always sported sun-kissed hair and a tan, so I think I liked how the color looked on me!

    Where did you get your outfit from?
    Probably a department store, but I can't remember.

    Provided by Steffy Deggred

    Do you still love what you wore?
    I think it's cute, I just wouldn't wear that color, I am not big on pink anymore!

    Advice for anyone trying to decide what to wear to prom?
    I think you've got to wear what you feel comfortable in! I've always been a casual dresser, and never liked skin-tight looks, so my dress fits my vibe. I remember liking that it wasn't really tight, and that it wasn't too frilly.

    If you want to keep up with Steffy, visit her blog Steffy's Pros + Cons, and follow her on Instagram @Steffy.

    6. Tara Maria Gonzalez, freelance writer, stylist, and fashion consultant. Previously fashion editor at Coveteur.

    Provided by tara Gonzalez

    What was your style like then vs now?
    It's funny because looking at that photo it doesn't really feel like me aside from the fact that the dress is vintage and different than what everyone else was wearing (various versions of short sparkly dresses). I went through a very feminine phase in high school which I'd like to blame on Gossip Girl. I'm definitely not super girly now and my style tends to lean towards more grunge–torn up tights, vintage babydoll dresses and platform shoes. But I'm still just as obsessed with a good thrift find that takes me to another time and dressing unlike everyone else in the room.

    Advice for anyone trying to decide what to wear to prom?
    Think about something you've always wanted to wear and try to recreate it. Now is your chance to dress way the hell up and no one can say anything about it. Also try and take inspiration from non-prom sources, like what did your favorite celebrity wear to the Oscars or the Met Gala? Go crazy. If Rihanna can dress like the pope why can't you?

    If you want style inspo, follow Tara on Instagram @TariGonzalez.

    7. Danielle Prescod, style director.

    Provided by Danielle Prescod

    How would you describe your prom look?
    Susie Q if she read too much Teen Vogue.

    How did you pick your prom outfit?
    I made my dad drive me to the city because I read in my favorite magazine, Teen Vogue, that the way to have the most unique prom dress was to buy vintage, so I went on a hunt.

    Where did you get your outfit from?
    It was actually vintage Valentino. I got it from a store in Greenwich Village that I don't think exists anymore. At the time, it was probably the most expensive thing I ever owned but it wasn't actually that much money.

    Provided by Danielle Prescod

    Do you still love what you wore?
    I still love it! I wish I could fit in it now, but I definitely went overboard with the accessories--no way I needed a headband AND a necklace.

    Advice for anyone trying to decide what to wear to prom?
    Keep it simple! Don't go too trendy, you will regret it for sure.

    Follow Danielle on Instagram @DaniellePrescod if you want to know what she's up to.

    8. Lissette Calveiro, Publicist

    Provided by Lissette Calveiro

    How would you describe your prom look?
    Champagne full-length gown, simple lines and a soft color -- with a pop of gold and red via accessories and makeup!

    How did you choose your outfit?
    I really wanted something that could stand the test of time, and felt that the simplicity in the style would do that.

    Where did you get your outfit from?
    I actually bought my dress online via a boutique prom store.

    Provided by Lissette Calveiro

    Do you still love what you wore?
    I wouldn't say I loved what I wore, but I think that it definitely still speaks to my style today.

    Advice for anyone trying to decide what to wear to prom?
    Wear something comfortable that makes you feel happy in your own skin. High school is such a vulnerable time for young adults and we often need to be reminded that other people shouldn't affect how we feel about ourselves!

    Follow Lissette on Instagram @lissettecalv for more style inspo.

    9. Claudia Alonso, wardrobe stylist.

    Provided by Claudia Alonso

    How would you describe your prom look?
    Timeless and elegant.

    How did you choose your outfit?
    I've always been a conservative dresser, never too much cleavage, never too much leg, etc. Eleven years ago, it was a challenge to find a prom dress that didn't have a neckline that was down to my bellybutton. When I found this dress it was the perfect combination of elegance and conservative, without looking like a nun.

    Where did you get your outfit from?
    Neiman Marcus

    Provided by Claudia Alonso

    What was your style like then vs now?
    I don't think my style has changed much, I still don't like to dress with low necklines, and I much rather wear pants than a short dress. If anything, I'd say my style has evolved, and I've adapted some trends, but I definitely dress cooler now than I did back in high school.

    Advice for anyone trying to decide what to wear to prom?
    Stay true to your personal style and what you feel comfortable in. For many girls, it's the first time they're getting so dressed up, so make sure you feel comfortable and confident. My prom dress looked nothing like what everyone else from my class wore, but I felt comfortable and pretty wearing it and I still love my dress today!

    If you want to keep up with Claudia's work visit her website and follow her on Instagram @Claudia_Mariaa.

    10. Jazzmyne Robbins, BuzzFeed video producer.

    Provided by Jazzmyne Robbins

    How would you describe your prom look?
    I think my prom look was classic-fierce. The silhouette was pretty standard but the pink and the animal print made it a little more fierrrrceeeeee!

    How did you pick your dress?
    It was hilarious because I went into the random prom dress store and told my mom "I WILL NOT buy anything that is pink!" and it turned out that the last two final dresses I picked were pink!

    Where did you get your outfit from?
    I really do not remember where I got my dress from--I think it was a Bridal Shop that probably carried prom dresses?

    Provided by Jazzmyne Robbins

    Do you still love what you wore?
    I don't 100% LOVE the dress, but I think it was my style at the time! I know if I were to go to prom today, I would wear something COMPLETELY out of the box--maybe something vintage or like an Adidas track suit with a beret or something. I really love a casual street-style look at prom.

    Advice for anyone trying to decide what to wear to prom?
    I think my biggest advice for someone trying to decided what to wear to prom would be STAY YOURSELF. Don't try to be something you're not because it's YOUR night. If you want to wear a dress--REGARDLESS of your gender--where the dress. If you want to wear a suit, GO AHEAD! If you don't want to wear either--thats fine too! Confidence is the best thing to wear to an event!

    Follow Jazz on Instagram @jazzmynejay for more style inspo.

    11. Skylar Kearney, social media intern for BuzzFeed's As/Is and owner of As You Are lingerie.

    Provided by Skylar Kearney

    How would you describe your prom outfit?
    A last-minute miracle.

    How did you choose your prom look?
    This was all completely last-minute. I hated shopping for a dress, and I had already gone to prom twice before, so when this one presented itself I snatched it up.

    Where did you get your dress?
    It ended up being a rental through a friend of a friend. I got it for $100 and I was shook. Prom dresses can be so expensive and when you throw in the cost of makeup, nails, and a sew-in, it was a good amount of money spent.

    Provided by Skylar Kearney

    Do you still love your dress?
    I love this dress. Of the four times I dragged myself to prom, this one was my favorite.

    Best advice for anyone looking for a prom dress?
    Do what you want, tbh. I don't think there's any right way of doing prom.

    For more style inspo, follow Skylar on Instagram @skylarmarshai.

    12. Jamé DreeAnn Jackson, style and beauty writer for As/Is.

    Provided by Jamé Jackson

    Do you still love what you wore?
    Haha, I'm not embarrassed because at the time, I felt amazing in it. However as an adult now, I'm not the biggest fan only because those huge dresses or bold eyeshadows are not my style!

    Advice for anyone trying to decide what to wear to prom?
    Wear what makes YOU happy, not what you think everyone else wants to wear. I know it seems completely generic, but you'll look back at your photos one day and you might as well believe that you were poppin' back then, even if you've grown or evolved as a person.

    For more style inspo and too keep with with Jamé, follow her on Instagram @theblondemisfit.

    Till next prom season, everyone!

    Paramount pictures

    Want more prom posts? Check out Prom Season on As/Is!

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