What’s Popular for Prom this Year?
Though we’re still early on in the prom shopping season, we quickly concluded that the biggest colors for prom 2023 so far are red, hot pink, green, and all shades of blue. Purple and black are also honorable mentions this year. But if you’ve come in and tried dresses on in-store already, you won’t be surprised to hear that people have been overwhelmed with options. Designers from every brand went all-out this year, and now there are so many different choices that people aren’t sure what’s trending!
Amari’s got you covered. Based on the dresses we’ve already sold this year, the staff has been asked for lots of things: red dresses, black dresses, lace dresses, and mermaid dresses, but we’ve also been overwhelmingly asked for ball gowns. This is a surprising turn of events considering the fact that I only had one specific client last season ask to try on ball gowns only, but I can’t blame you. Like I said, the designers went all-out!
Amari has ball gowns with corset tops, lace-up backs, glitter, sequins, beading, embroidery, and anything else you can think of. So if you’re going for your Cinderella moment, 2023 is the Year of the Ball Gown. It really is a game-changer; I mean, would this scene from Another Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff be nearly as impactful if she had a fitted, stretch-jersey dress on? Probably not.
Ending the Stigma
Now, I want to preface this by saying that fitted gowns are just as beautiful as ball gowns, and wearing one style over the other should not make you feel inferior. That being said, we get a lot of girls who come to try on dresses and avoid trying on any ball gowns because “their friends said they were ugly” or because “no one else from their prom is wearing a large gown,” even if they themselves like the ball gown style.
I’m here to tell you that in ten years when you’re looking back at your prom pictures, you’re going to wish you wore the dress you liked in the store, not the dress someone else told you looked best. And this goes for all gowns, not just fitted vs. ball gowns! Prom night is supposed to make you feel beautiful from head to toe, and if a ball gown is what’s going to do that, then you should wear the ball gown.
There’s lots of conversation about ball gowns feeling princess-like as well. And while that’s a common comparison, sometimes you want to wear a ball gown but don’t want to feel too “over the top” or even princessy at all. In fact, I’ll show you a variety of the ball gowns we sell at Amari, and you’ll see that whatever look you’re going for, we have a ball gown for you.
Ball Gowns at Amari Prom
Jovani Ball Gowns
JVN00923 is one of my all-time favorite dresses in the entire store. We currently have a teal size four in-store, and it is the most beautiful shade of true teal you’ll ever see. Additionally, this dress features a beaded belt, dazzling floral embroidery, and a v-neckline with mesh detailing. It has a zip-back, but one thing that is different about this dress is its halter top; it makes for a delicate neckline as well as a semi-open back. If you’re looking for a real ball gown, this dress is a great place to start, as it’s one of the largest skirts that we sell.
JVN06474 was a best-seller last season, and they’ve added two new colors for prom 2023! It’s a delicate, feminine dress with a corset top with boning, floral embroidery and beading on the bodice, and a glittery floral-patterned skirt. It has a back-zip closure and pearls on the straps. If you like a dress with little details, this one is sure to stun.
Clarisse Ball Gowns at Amari Prom
Clarisse 8008 is a glittery v-neck dress with mesh detailing on the neckline. But its main feature is its cage-like structured bodice. The three jeweled striped function as both a decorative flair and as a back-closure, as they clip in the back. Clarisse 8008 also has double straps for maximum support and pockets. It comes in three dreamy colors: lilac, powder blue, and ballet pink and is the perfect modern take on a princess classic.
Clarisse 8194 is another classic silhouette with its fit and flair skirt, v-neckline, and jeweled belt. It also features pockets, like most of the ball gowns this season. But one of its biggest draws is its semi-open back. Its smooth, satin-like texture makes for a classy and elegant look.
Clarisse 810407 on the other hand, is a fun and funky ball gown. Like the others, this one features pockets and a v-neckline, but unlike the others, it has the popular lace-up back and modern head to toe sequins in all sorts of flirty colors.
Colette Ball Gowns at Amari Prom
CL12204 is the epitome of ball gown culture. It’s a large, cupcake-shaped gown with full floral embroidery and slight tasteful beading. It also has a strappy lace-up back with a top clip for added support. The main draw to this fairytale dress is its semi-transparent corset top.
For those who like a fairytale dress but with a little more coverage, CL12205 is a semi-open back dress with a sweetheart neckline. It has a corset-style top but it’s full coverage as opposed to the semi-sheer ones we’re seeing this season. It features a whimsical tulle skirt and delicate floral embroidery on the bodice and top of the skirt.
CL12212 is like if CL12205 and CL12204 had a baby. It has a full coverage, corset-style bodice, full tulle skirt, and viney floral embroidery on the bodice and scattered throughout the skirt. But this dress also features Colette’s signature lace-up back; they have more loops than most brands, making their lace-ups appear much more fairytale-like.
CL12202 is the definition of romantic. It has a semi-sheer corset top with a v-neck and lace-up back. It also has a full tulle skirt and floral embroidery scattered all over from top to bottom.
Colors Dress Ball Gowns at Amari Prom
Colors 2288 is a striking glittery ball gown with a v-neck and semi-open back. It also features some mesh detailing on the neckline and a double jeweled belt on the bodice. Depending on how you wear it, it can either exude princess vibes or Met Gala vibes - the choice is yours.
Colors G968 is a very modern take on the ball gown. Even though it has a fuller skirt, it also features a leg slit for a shoe pop in pictures. It also has a deep v-neckline, semi-open back, and silver beaded traps.
How to Wear a Ball Gown
If your mom is anything like mine, you’ve probably heard the phrase “it takes a village.” Well, that saying rings true for prom dresses too. When it comes to a ball gown, all it takes is practice and a little bit of help from your friends. This could mean practicing walking around in the bigger skirt before the big day, and asking your friends for support when it comes to going to the bathroom. But ultimately, wearing a large gown is something you pick up quickly, and it’s worth learning in order to wear a fantastic dress you really love.
Written by Marisa Fertitta