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Junior Prom: Why all the long dresses? The reasons behind the unusual amount of maxi-dresses making an appearance at 2018 Junior Prom

By Sara Entezar and Maggie McCormick

In preparation for Junior Prom, MVHS students scroll online through picture after picture of prom dresses, on the search for the perfect color, perfect neckline, and perfect overall dress.

MVHS’ Junior Prom lands on March 31 this year, and with it comes the “JP Dresses” Facebook group, overflowing with posts as students find the dresses they hope to wear to the event. A month and a half in advance, there are already over 50 dresses posted in the group.

However, what sets apart this year’s Facebook group from the many before them is the unprecedented appearance of long-skirted dresses.

While it may not seem like a stand-out characteristic, the recent influx of maxi-dresses is far from traditional. Junior Roann Acot recognizes short dresses — knee length or shorter — as the expected apparel for Junior Prom, and that longer, more formal dresses are typically associated with Senior Ball.

Acot's dress in the “JP Dresses” Facebook group. Used with permission from Roann Acot.

Acot’s standards for short dresses aren’t grounds, as a majority of students in previous years have been observed in the shorter apparel.

So what made this year different?

Junior Ananya Srinivas believes bandwagoning is the reason for the sudden change.

“I feel after a few people posted [their dresses in the group,] then everyone changed their mind,” Srinivas said. “It’s kind of sketchy — people are just trying to jump onto the bandwagon.”

Srinivas' dress in the “JP Dresses” Facebook group. Used with permission from Ananya Srinivas.

However, many juniors felt that shorter dresses were less comfortable than their long-skirted counterparts. For many tall girls especially, longer dresses seemed more flattering. Junior Jessica Ji explained that she just preferred long dresses over short ones, and that was how she made her decision.

“I knew that it was a tradition to wear short dresses to Junior Prom but personally, because I’m taller, long dresses look better on me,” Ji said. “I don’t like short dresses because you have to wear heels and it’s just a lot of work for me.”

In addition to being more comfortable, some felt that long dresses looked better and were more formal than short dresses. Short dresses are also commonly worn at Homecoming, and some juniors felt that the short dresses were too informal for a prom. For junior Sreya Nandy, having a prom-style dress was really important, and to her, that meant maxi. Nandy turned to long dresses when she couldn’t find a short dress that she thought would be suitable for prom.

“I started looking at long dresses, and they looked really pretty and a little classier,” Nandy said.

Nandy's dress in the “JP Dresses” Facebook group. Used with permission from Sreya Nandy's.

As several girls have shifted the norm for Junior Prom apparel, the trend may play an important role for future years’ attire expectations.

“I feel like our year sets the trend for the sophomores … so I feel like the sophomores are going to want to wear long dresses [during their Junior Prom,]” Acot said.

Created By
Maggie McCormick
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