Despite the desire to having a unique dress, each year there are trends that can be seen on almost every girl attending prom. Previous years, we tend to notice a pattern of girls wearing an attention-grabbing dress filled with sequins and bright neon colors. However, designers and York students are now embracing a more minimalist style of dress after viewing the 2018 fall and spring fashion weeks.

“I like the simple (look) because it does not distract from the true beauty of the girl wearing it,” senior Joy Hernandez said.

Dresses used to be covered in detailing, but this year’s upperclassman believe less is more. A strong red color and a slit up one leg is all the detailing many need. Of course we still see the occasional dress with chiffon and beading on top, but an open back or a bare shoulder will be sufficient for most this year.

“Personally, lots of jewels and beading is just a major distraction,” junior Kelly Leonard said.“I would prefer something simple.”

Stores like Promgirl, Lulus, Sherri Hill, and Peaches are carrying numerous dresses with plunging necklines. An open chest gives girls the ability to have their jewelry to stand out, while not distracting from the cut of the dress itself.

“Plunging necklines are a very simple way to add a detail to the dress without distracting from the completed look,” junior Delaney Tase said. “That way you can still wear a cute necklace without it covering up your dress.”

As we step into a day and age where we learn to appreciate our bodies, we are also learning to not distract from them with mass amounts of fabric. A form-fitting style such as bodycon is no longer provocative, but empowering.

“To me, it’s hard for girls to feel confident in the clothes they wear at school,” senior Vanessa Pezza said. “Prom gives us the opportunity to show our classmates a different version of us: A more confident one.”

Despite every year having multiple trends like a specific cut, or color that take over, there will always be people who choose to break the status quo. A unique outfit gives young adults the chance to prove to others that they are comfortable in their own skin. These people do not want to blend into the tightly packed crowd in the Crystal Gardens on April, 28-they’d rather stand out.

“Last year, I got my prom dress for seven dollars at the Pink Elephant in downtown Elmhurst, it was really pretty, but simple at the same time,” senior Eileen King said. “This year I want to stand out a little more. My main thing is having an interesting and unique dress.”

Whether it is a unique dress with a simple cut or a simple dress with a piercing shade of red they have one thing in common: their goal. This year, a girl will stand in front of her mirror as she slips on her floor length dress, and feels a sense of empowerment her typical lululemons could never give her. The trends aren’t meant to overshadow, but to enhance the natural beauty of young females across the nation.

“I think girls can get empowered because they know they will feel more confident in themselves in these new trends we have been seeing,” junior Isabella Willis said.