For Richer... for Purer

Hollywood influences prom's glamour, while world events rekindle a return to Romance.

Whatever the "rich and famous" do, so does the nation. That was true in Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's days, and it's still true in Julia Roberts' heyday. Trend-setting movie stars such as the strong-headed Julia and the butterfly-beautiful Gwyneth Paltrow, after all, have the money, inclination, and professional style consultants to do it right when it comes to fashion. They make good teachers. Also, fan magazines such as People, Us, and Entertainment Weekly have helped to make today's stars ubiquitous as glamorous role models. No savvy prom girl can ignore their lessons.

And, like their World War II-era brethren, today's teens are also influenced by larger, more somber world events. Since 9/11, they face an uncertain future that has thrust them into closer ties to their families, and put them more in touch with their true feelings. This combustible atmosphere — combining the fantasy of Hollywood set against the drama playing out on the world stage — is a major factor in creating the theme of the season:

Romantic. Soft fabrications and colors in flowing evening gowns are the order of the day. Young girls are feeling less of a need to rebel and more of a need to express who they are now and the role they wish to portray. Parents will be standing proud when their daughters go off to the prom in the ever-popular, sophisticated black dress or the next-best alternative, a combination black-and-white gown.

Today's teen girls are expressing a practical side, too. They want to be beautiful and intelligent looking. That means saying "bye-bye-bye" to the belly button-revealing dresses as well as the two-piece ensembles made famous by the likes of Britney Spears. Cuts and slits, which we had become accustomed to seeing in the past several years, also are on the wane for prom 2003. Those cuts up the front and sides of dresses have been replaced by soft flowing angles. Beautiful, totally freeform hemlines create a lovely, lengthening illusion for the leg and body.

If it is the Glamorous look they are after, teens should go with soft fabric hues of ivory, beige, and pink. To add a captivating, natural touch, the use of soft, starlit makeup and lip-softening shades of lipstick are required. "To glisten is to be garish" for prom 2003, even in the daytime. Teens can tone down their cosmetics with a translucent powder on the face and neckline.

For a Trendsetter appearance, she would forego the advice above and "get it on with the glisteners." She can wear glitter on the neckline and shoulders. Or she can really glitter it up with a 1-to-3-inch rhinestone choker, a matching set of 1-to-3-inch cuff bracelets, and dangling or hoop rhinestone earrings.

The Trendsetter will wear a new designer gown, if possible, by one of the great foreign or domestic designers in our industry. She'll see some super-trendy, brightly colored dresses in the designer's collections.

Prom lingerie of choice is anything that appears seamless. The new seamless tape-on bras worn with thongs are gaining in popularity.

See-through shoes, which create a taller look, will be the choice for footwear. Some stores offer the so-called "screw-off heels" that can be filled with beads, pearls, rose petals, colored fabric, or glitter to match the your dress. Pearls and rhinestones in traditional necklace-earring sets, rhinestone barrettes, and rhinestone tiaras will top off the total prom look.

Black will be worn by the newly sophisticated seniors. The styles are beautiful, elegant and simple, with some jet-beading or rhinestones. Black and white will again be a successful fashion combination. The juniors will be wearing more trendy costumes. The freshmen and sophomores will most certainly be in the Romantic or Madonna modes. Pearls and rhinestones in the most traditional necklace-earring sets, barrettes, and tiaras, will top off the total prom look.

Holly Hardwick is the founder of Royalty Designs, a mail-order catalog of unique jewelry and crowns. She has 20 years of experience in New York City, as a designer, buyer, and consultant for major retailers and manufacturers. Holly also does personal appearances with her Royalty Designs collection.

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