I wore a silver ball gown skirt to prom. I paired it with what I’m pretty sure was called an “eyelash fringe” tank top — a scratchy, lacy black thing that looked like something Winona Ryder might wear in the ’90s. I bought both pieces at JCPenney. The whole outfit cost $65. My parents paid $40, and I covered the rest with money from my movie theater job. I don’t remember what I wore on my feet, and I did my own hair. Two years later, my sister wore the exact same thing to her prom. 

That was the era of Wet n Wild eyeshadow, thin, overplucked eyebrows, and dresses you bought at the mall. Now, prom is a full-blown production. The average cost in the U.S. has crept up to $919, with about a third of that going toward the outfit alone. Hair, makeup, jewelry, shoes, nails — prom has become its own mini wedding.

This year’s trends are all about bold color and classic cuts. Stylists at JJ’s House, a global online retailer for made-to-order dresses, say emerald green and royal blue are trending, particularly in A-line and off-the-shoulder silhouettes. Champagne gold brings glam in a mermaid fit, while dusty rose is romantic in a ball gown style. “When choosing your prom dress, think about colors that complement your natural beauty and shapes that make you feel both confident and comfortable,” the stylists say.

Not sure if this applies to high school, but at my daughter’s middle school dance, all the girls paired their dresses with sneakers, which I am a huge fan of. I’ve also heard butter yellow is in — it’s supposed to flatter every skin tone.

In the city, there are plenty of places to shop for dresses. If you (or your parents) have money to spare, you might try Nadia’s, Bridal Palace, House of CB, or Samila Bridal & Formal. And this is Seattle — you can absolutely thrift a great dress. Check out Buffalo Exchange, Red Light Vintage, Crossroads Trading, Lucky Dry Goods, or any consignment stores you can find. Stacees, and Lulus are solid, affordable online options. Nordstrom is a reliable go-to, and the malls still deliver too: Alderwood, Pacific Place, Westlake, Westfield Southcenter.

If you need more inspiration, a new ranking of iconic prom dresses from movies puts Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) from 10 Things I Hate About You at the top — filmed right here in Seattle. Her slinky lavender dress is searched more than 69,000 times a month. Twilight, another local favorite, also made the list — Bella Swan’s (Kristen Stewart) royal blue dress still has it, with 16,670 monthly searches. The perfect choice if your prom date sparkles in the sun. The ranking includes classics like Grease, Back to the Future, and Harry Potter.

Prom fashion has definitely changed. But the trends from my generation are creeping back. My daughter’s into scrunchies and baggy cargo pants. I think I did pretty well — sixty-five bucks and a cute boyfriend in a rented tux. It was a fun night, worth every penny.