2024 Prom Dresses, Long & Short Gowns (2024)

2024 is here and is an exciting year for proms all over the world! Shop early to get your first choice of prom dress and celebrate your 2024 prom in style.

If you’re having trouble figuring out where to start, thinking about the trends for this year can be helpful in narrowing down what you’re looking for.

2024 Prom Dress Trends

Here are the top 5 trends for prom dresses in 2024 to make you feel like a queen wherever you are celebrating!

Floral Printed Prom Dresses

Floral prints dress anyone up in cottagecore brilliance, making them a great choice to celebrate a springtime event like prom.

Printed ball gowns add an air of playfulness while still maintaining princess-like formality, whether you choose a ball gown or a more form-fitting look. Choose prints featuring flowers that contrast with their background color to emphasize the print, or lower-contrast flowers for a more subtle nod.

Floral prom dresses can come in any color palette and style, so you’ll always find something to match your personality.

Ruffled Prom Dresses

Ruffles add an ultra-feminine touch to your prom dress, no matter what silhouette you’re going for. Ruffles are usually found on the skirt itself, but you can also find ruffled details on the bodice or sleeves of your dress for a subtle nod to this trend.

Big ruffles on ball gown skirts add showstopping dramatic effect, but lots of little ruffles can still bring the drama on a full skirt. If form-fitting dresses are more your style, you can still make an entrance with all-over ruffles.

Romantic Ball Gowns

If you don’t feel so comfortable in a fully fitted dress, go for a classic ball gown that never goes out of fashion. Ball gowns never fail to make you feel like a princess with their formal silhouette, and with a top layer of tulle, they are amazingly romantic.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to colors, embellishments, and necklines on ball gowns. Ball gowns always look gorgeous with an updo hairstyle, but keeping your hair down can lend itself well to that chic, romantic vibe.

Corset Prom Dresses

Corset prom dresses have a corset on the bodice of the dress, and the skirt may be full for a striking contrast or it may be more figure-hugging for a sleek look.

Corsets may be a traditional, completely covered corset detail or a sheer reveal corset. Sheer corsets are where the bones of the corset are covered, but you can see them under sheer fabric like mesh or lace (which reveals a bit of skin too).

Be careful with anything super tight if you plan on lots of dancing, and be sure to have something to eat before you head out.

Jumpsuits and Two-Piece Prom Dresses

Jumpsuits are great for people who want to make an entrance but don’t always love dresses. Jumpsuits have grown hugely in popularity over the last couple of years and are becoming just as popular for prom. They can be super formal and glamorous but are also trendy and edgy.

Another alternative to the classic prom dress is a two-piece set, which tends to be a cropped top paired with a skirt. Both jumpsuits and two-piece sets are memorable options that lean into the more playful side of prom.

Metallic Prom Dresses

Metallic prom dresses have been a trend for a few seasons already, but they are coming back strong for another year. These dresses, made from shimmery fabrics or with iridescent finishes, are super glamorous and heavily influenced by Hollywood style.

Metallic tones can range from classics, like gold and silver, to shiny takes on red and blue. Wear your metallic dress with simple accessories in black or white, simple eye makeup, and, if your dress is a classic metallic tone, you can add a bold lip for a pop of color.

Sparkly Prom Dresses

There’s no better chance to shine than at prom, and a sparkly prom dress is the perfect way to do this. You can go all out and choose a prom dress that is covered entirely in sequins, or opt for a sparkly prom dress that is trimmed with sequins or other shimmery materials.

A two-piece look is also a great option for this style, since the playful silhouette emphasizes the fun, charismatic vibe that sparkles give off. You can look for a set that has both a sparkly top and bottom, or keep one half matte to make your outfit a bit more subtle.

As far as accessories go, make sure to choose pieces that don’t compete with your dress. Instead, look for dresses and jewelry that have similar sequins to your dress, offer a subtle holographic effect, or are classic matte pieces to balance things out.

Dark Prom Dresses

Are you a dark romantic or a girl who loves the classics? If so, dark prom dresses should be right up your alley. Rich, heavy colors, like black, emerald, plum, navy, chocolate, or gunmetal, give a sophisticated air to your dress and can help you feel elegant, or even regal.

Play up this look with a classic smokey eye and a dark berry, red, or brown lip. This is also the perfect chance to add dramatic accessories, like roses or tiaras, to your updo or style your hair in long, vintage-inspired waves.

Light Prom Dresses

If you’re more of a sweet romantic or want to indulge in a playful, flirty vibe, consider light prom dresses. Gentle pastels, like lilac, baby pink, turquoise, or pale silver, can help you feel like an ultra-feminine princess. These subtle shades also help soften dramatic silhouettes, including full ball gowns or backless evening dresses.

A light prom dress typically calls for delicate makeup that won’t weigh down your look; think lip gloss, shimmery eye shadow, and natural blush high on your cheeks. Sparkly costume jewelry can help play up the fairy-tale look, and if you want to add a bit of contrast, dark heels, gloves, and belts can pair beautifully with this style.

Shopping Tips for Prom Dresses

Now that you’ve gotten to know the trends for this year, here’s how to get the most from your prom dress shopping experience!

Prom Dress Searching Tips

The most important aspect of your prom dress is how it makes you feel. Think about silhouettes that make you feel confident (as well as ones that don’t, so you can filter them out right away.) Think, also, about what colors and silhouettes match your personality - you can check out this article where we offer tips on how to do this!

Something else to consider is that prom is typically a dance! If you’re planning on dancing the night away, think about the range of motion you’ll need from your dress. You’ll also want to make sure the material isn’t too heavy!

Prom Shoes and Accessories Tips

Naturally, you’ll want shoes and accessories to complement your dream dress (or dress alternative.) Budget accordingly when you’re figuring out how much to spend on your prom look, especially if you’re planning on having your hair and makeup done as well.

When it comes to shoes, this is another instance in which you’ll want to keep dancing in mind. Make sure you can easily move in your shoes; there’s nothing worse than having to sit out from prom fun because you’ll fall over if you dance!

Accessories and shoes should complement your look, not upstage it. When you’re choosing necklaces and earrings, keep your neckline in mind so nothing clashes. If your dress is already spectacularly embellished, go with more subdued jewelry and a neutral shoe to let your dress shine.

Prom Makeup Tips

If you’re getting your makeup done professionally, have a clear picture in your head of what you want in terms of color and mattes versus shimmers. Bringing a picture of your prom look will also help your makeup artist immensely.

If you’re doing your own makeup, do a test run before prom–especially if you don’t normally do makeup. This will help you see if you need to get additional products and make it less stressful to do on the big night. Remember that you’ll likely get warm from dancing, so double-check that you have appropriate primer and setting products.

Keep in mind that your makeup doesn’t have to match your dress exactly. In fact, a neutral makeup palette can make the color of your dress pop even more.

Time for the Afterparty!

Planning for prom can be a flurry of decisions ranging from who’s at your table to what hairstyle you’re choosing. Don’t forget to make a post-prom plan, especially if you want to keep the night going!

There are tons of ideas for things to do after prom, and it’s all up to you, your friends, and what you think your energy levels will be like. If you know you’ll be tired after all your dancing, having a sleepover with a few friends or checking into a hotel room may be the way to go. If you know that adrenaline will still be kicking, you can head to a bowling alley or have a game night!

If you plan on heading somewhere after prom, be sure that any place you want to go is going to be open late enough. For more post-prom activities, take a look at our guide here.

Find Your Perfect Prom Dress

Shopping for your prom dress can be overwhelming, but you’ve got this! Staying true to your personal style while also setting yourself up to dance the night away will make your prom a night to remember!

For even more advice on how to make sure prom night is as perfect as possible, check out our prom guides covering everything from how to style your prom dress to a checklist that makes sure your night is stress-free!