JUNIOR ANYA DESHPANDE
Junior Anya Deshpande’s dress was more than just an outfit — it was a legacy. At prom, Deshpande donned a dress that her mother had originally worn 25 years ago. Deshpande aimed to stay true to the vintage style of her dress by pairing it with satin black gloves and rings and bracelets on top, similar to a Renaissance-era fashion theme. She also opted for a blowout to tie her look together.
Deshpande initially began her search for an ethereal, sparkly dress to match the prom theme, “Enchanted Garden.” While the theme and her body type played a key role in her choices, Deshpande noted that tailoring the dress to her preferences was more of a priority than being trendy. However, she decided that her mom’s dress was best for the occasion since it fit the theme — and her — perfectly.
“It was something about it being my mom’s old dress,” Deshpande said. “I had an emotional attachment. When I was younger, I used to try on her dresses, and now this dress finally fits me, so I thought it’d be perfect to wear to my first prom.”
JUNIOR KIRTHANA CHANDRASEKAR
Keeping it casual, junior Kirthana Chandrasekar opted for a figure-hugging, navy, satin dress with an embroidered top for this year’s prom. Chandrasekar plans to go big and bold for senior prom, so she chose to keep her outfit more modest this year. While she initially planned to wear red this year, she eventually settled on a blue dress because she felt it would go best with her skin tone.
Chandrasekar paired her dress with casual earrings and did her own makeup. She also got her nails done and straightened her naturally curly hair as a change of pace from her everyday look, keeping it down for the night instead of opting for an updo. When planning her outfit, Chandrasekar paid attention to her skin tone and prioritized her personal comfort overall.
“You don’t have to wear a figure-hugging dress if you feel like you’re not going to be comfortable in it,” Chandrasekar said. “Just be you. Even though everybody’s getting a certain style that doesn’t mean that you need to get the same one. Just do whatever you like.”
SENIOR SAMIKA BHATKAR
Finishing senior year with a bang, senior Samika Bhatkar says she was dressing to impress. For her final prom, Bhatkar wore a glamorous burgundy off-the-shoulder dress with sequins and a slit up the side, reflecting her desire to dress elegantly.
In order to find a dress that fulfilled her expectations, Bhatkar started her search in December to stray away from popular trends like florals and pastels, which she had already incorporated at last year’s prom. With a full list of criteria in mind, Bhatkar set out to find a bold look, opting for maroon or gold specifically.
After visiting several different stores, she fell in love with a red off-the-shoulder she adored but didn’t buy due to its price. However, in a stroke of luck, her sister found a similar dress online that looked stunning on the model who had a similar skin tone to Bhatkar, which convinced her to buy the dress.
In contrast to her bold dress and makeup, Bhatkar planned simplistic styles for her jewelry, heels, nails and hair to subtly complement her features without distracting from her unique dress.
“Don’t spend too much money on a dress that you don’t think is worth it,” Bhatkar said. “But at the same time, make sure you’re getting your quality’s worth. Get it off of a reputable site and, if possible, try on the dresses — that way you have an idea of the quality.”
