“It’s not who you come with, it’s who takes you home.”
I have an unpopular opinion: the PROM NIGHT franchise is entertaining. Despite their extreme entertainment value, the films are not as popular as other horror franchises, even though I think they are fun to watch. And as far as prom fashions are concerned, there is something for everyone.
Just for fun, I’ve ranked the movie’s prom fashions. Watching the series again, I’ve seen a variety of looks, from stylish ensembles to iconic looks, to not-so-iconic looks. If a film is ranked dead last, that doesn’t mean I hate it; I just find its style lacking compared to the higher-rated films. Each and every costume team involved deserves recognition and respect for their work, and I salute them all!
So, among the PROM NIGHT films, which ones show the most stylish fashion choices, and which ones fall short? Let’s find out!
Fear Fashion’s ranking of PROM NIGHT’s prom fashions, from least favorite to the very best.
5. PROM NIGHT IV: DELIVER US FROM EVIL (1992). Sara Schilt, Costume Designer.
Tagline: They ditched the prom for a private party. Now it’s their last dance.
PROM NIGHT IV was evidently filmed on a very low budget, which might explain why there isn’t much prom footage. Although certain wardrobe elements impressed me, DELIVER US FROM EVIL is the least exciting fashion-wise. The absence of a prom background plays a major role in ranking placement.
This story opens with the 1957 Hamilton High School prom. The gym is decorated with palm trees seen in HELLO MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT 2. It is crowded with dancing teens dressed in white tuxedo jackets, bow ties, sweetheart necklines, bare shoulders, and pearls. During the night, three prom-goers die, with two students leaving the prom to be murdered. The prom queen is also accidentally torched on stage (as seen in PROM NIGHT 2), making this special night particularly unlucky.
Lisa (Krista Bulmer) and Brad (Phil Morrison) are the two promgoers killed in their formal attire while making out in a car. Her lilac strapless gown and his white tux jacket & pink shirt, bow tie, and blue carnation flower pin are all splattered with blood.
DELIVER US FROM EVIL is the installment least focused on proms, so we never see the inside of a prom after this. Instead, we see the ‘90s Hamilton High prom shown as an exterior nighttime scene showing promgoers entering the building while the four main teens – Mark, Megan, Laura, and Jeff – ditch the prom to do a drive-by and moon their classmates before riding off to a weekend in the country. Their destination is Mark’s parents’ summer home, which is actually an estate. This location provides the few fashion moments during the rest of the movie with Megan’s friends, who are fully dressed for prom.
Fashion Moments:
Megan’s cobalt blue dress. Initially, I wasn’t for it. The decision to have Megan (Nicole de Boer) underdressed is a plot choice that did not sit well with me. The movie is called Prom Night; please put this girl in a prom dress! Dressing her in a baby doll mini dress crafted of jewel-toned, microfibre poly-blend fabric was a choice. What makes it a smart choice, I realized, is that at the very least, the dress is flexible enough for her to run around in and battle Father Jonas, the film’s fanatically religious killer. It seems reasonable then that her dress should be easy to move around in. Its brilliant color makes it an unforgettable outfit and is easily the standout in the movie. The A-line dress is crafted from a jewel-toned, microfibre poly-blend fabric blend, and features a scoop neck and a billowy short skirt. Like a true Catholic girl, she sports a cross necklace around her neck. A pair of round earrings complement her outfit. Also counted as an accessory: her permed and moussed-to-death hair.
Megan’s friends’ promwear. Promwear takes a lot of punishment in DELIVER US FROM EVIL. While Megan’s dress looks pristine throughout the chaos, her friends’ clothes become heavily stained with blood or set ablaze. There’s even a scene where a patent tassel loafer is pierced by a cross-handled sword.
Megan’s boyfriend Mark is wearing a white wool fringed scarf over his black tux jacket and cummerbund the color of his date’s frock. Her marginally likable best friend Laura (Joy Tanner) wears a black velvet strapless party dress borrowed from Megan. The dress has a sweetheart neckline, a satin bow decorating the back, and a short tulle tutu skirt. She’s paired the outfit with a sheer black & gold diamond-printed evening wrap, and pretty green crystal drop earrings. This color choice flatters her pale complexion and short platinum hair. Her date Jeff (Alle Ghadban) wears a classic white tuxedo look; his stark jacket is worn over a wing collar bib shirt, with a bow tie around his neck, a dark cummerbund, and tuxedo pants.
In general, Megan’s friends put together some stylish promwear looks, even if they don’t last the entire night! Their wardrobe choices reflect classic timeless prom looks, while Megan’s non-traditional, resilient look demonstrates how the right outfit can make all the difference.
4. PROM NIGHT III: THE LAST KISS (1989). Costumes by Juul Haalmeyer Designs. Asst. Costume Designer, Sylvie Bonniere.
Tagline: Alex thinks he’s died and gone to heaven. He’s half right.
The film begins with PROM NIGHT II’s Mary Lou Mahoney in Hell. The audience is treated to a bizarre burlesque group musical number; undead chain-gang girls dance shoe-less to a 50s tune clad in black bras, high-waisted panties, and torn black fishnets. One of them breaks out of her ankle chain, flies off, and Mary Lou (Courtney Taylor) is reborn as a Sherilyn Fenn look-a-like. She immediately returns to Hamilton High (the scene of her demise) and becomes responsible for a series of nasty, though creative deaths. The first victim, a hapless school janitor, recognizes her as she emerges from the shadows. Slowly, her upper dress details are revealed, as well as her horribly burned face and neck.
Fashion Moments:
Mary Lou’s prom dress. Mary Lou’s prom gown is an excellent time capsule of late 1980s formal wear. Its dark blue and black color palette seems fitting for her role as the villain in the story. In this sequined satin and lace dress design, tank straps are paired with draped organza cap sleeves. This creates a shawl effect at the back and a cut-out shoulder effect at the front. Black floral lace overlays a satin underskirt that falls to the knee. Satin opera gloves add elegance to her sexy chic prom queen ensemble. The final touch is her diamond tiara, worn during the last act and completing Mary Lou’s villainous look.
Regular prom and “Dark Prom”. What I love the most about PROM NIGHT III is that two proms take place simultaneously; a real-world prom and a zombie prom in Hell. These scenes occur during the final act, in the Hamilton High gymnasium. The decor is nothing special -streamers & banners-, but the vibe is the most fun out of all the Prom Night movies. Everyone is dancing and having a great time. For entertainment, there’s a hair-flipping rock singer fronting a new-wave-looking band, like Duran Duran with Sebastian Bach at the helm.
The prom girls from PROM NIGHT III rule the fashion department. They rock cute, trendy dresses in bright, metallic, and pastel colors. Huge bows, ruffles, puffy sleeves, off-the-shoulder sleeves, sequins, slim bodices, and peplum skirts are in vogue. And, of course, it wouldn’t be the 80s without permed hairdos and giant hair.
PROM NIGHT III girls wear statement styles while the boys wear standard formal attire. The scene is rife with white tuxedo jackets and bow ties. Sarah’s dweebish date, Leonard (Jeremy Ratchford), cuts up on the dance floor dressed in a white tux jacket & black bow tie. He is having a blast at prom until he has a run-in with Mary Lou, who binds him up and suffocates him with magnetic tape in the “Business Studies” room.
In contrast, Zombie Hell’s prom scenery is nightmarish and gray, and only dark silhouettes are visible. Undead promgoers shuffle around in tattered clothing. The effect is extremely creepy and the atmosphere is filled with despair.
Sarah’s prom gown. Final Girl Sarah (Cynthia Preston) arrives at prom dressed in an interestingly constructed black and blue one-shoulder gown. It’s an oddly intriguing, overdesigned treasure of its time, featuring mixed textures in black velvet & teal satin. Half of the dress is satin with a strapless sweetheart bodice embellished with folds. A satin skirt continues below the waistline on the opposite side and has satin folds over the maxi skirt that flows to the back into a sweep train. The other half of the dress consists of avelvet body, including a long puff sleeve. This velvet body drapes across the bodice and falls into a long skirt on the opposite side. It’s a busy dress for sure, but she looks like a badass when she adds a flame thrower to the mix. It just works. Running around in Hell, she torches various foes, including her former date Leonard, now a zombie (and still wrapped in tape), plus a malevolent jukebox that shoots lethal metal projectiles, all while wearing her glamorous Jekyll and Hyde-inspired gown.
Alex’s prom king crown. The Dark Prom sequence begins with Mary Lou kidnapping Alex (Tim Conlon) and taking him to hell, where they are Prom King and Queen. Mary Lou attempts to place a deadly crown on his head that will make him prom King forever. It is an impressive costume piece; a royal blue, jewel-encrusted, gold crown installed with a drilling device meant to fasten to his skull, killing him.
Because I liked PROM NIGHT III’s fashion so much, I probably should have ranked it higher. Besides being surprisingly fun to watch, the film had some enjoyable fashion choices, from Mary Lou’s sequined prom dress to Alex’s crazy Prom King crown. Although PROM NIGHT III didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by the previous two films in the series, it was still an entertaining horror film with unique characters and fashion.
3. PROM NIGHT (1980). Kathleen Moyer, Wardrobe.
Tagline: If you’re not back by midnight… you won’t be coming home.
Some might call the original PROM NIGHT boring, but I think there’s much to love about it, the “Disco Madness” prom theme, in particular. The dance takes place at the beginning of the 1980s, just as the disco era ends. Satin and polyester dominate in the form of clingy gowns and three-piece suits. Everyone wears a corsage or boutonniere, even the police assigned to security. This attention to detail makes me appreciate this film so much. Everyone looks like they’re having a good time (until they’re not). There’s even a dance sequence featuring Kim (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her boyfriend, Nick (Casey Stevens).
Fashion Moments:
Wendy’s red-hot prom dress. Her glittery spaghetti-strap number is the finest dress in the series. The top half of the halter-style, slim-fit dress is adorned with dazzling red paillettes that flow over the waist and down the flowy chiffon skirt, and gradually degrade, giving an ombre effect. Her matching long chiffon evening wrap looks particularly ethereal and floaty draped over her body as she waits for Lou to open the car door for her. This stunning look is completed with a black sequin bag and ankle-strapped heels. When she walks in with Lou (David Mucci) and his tuxedo-shirt-clad buddies everyone notices her entrance. Her confident demeanor and saucy move of tossing off the wrap to expose a shoulder prompts someone to hoot in approval. The dress is the topic of a convo in the girl’s bathroom with Kim and her friends agreeing that Wendy looks gorgeous. It even looks stunning as she hauls ass through the school while being chased by the killer.
Kim and her friends’ disco style: OK, I confess, I don’t find Kim’s gown exciting. Though it is a pleasing shade of pink and she looks fantastic dancing it up in her big scene. A smattering of sparkling rhinestones embellish the jacket neckline and the dress underneath. The dress design features spaghetti straps, a gathered waist, and an A-line skirt. She accessorizes with pearls & a white corsage. It’s a pretty look, but nothing special.
As for her friends, each girl is dolled up in a prom look tailored to their character. Demure Kelly (Mary Beth Rubens) wears an elegant white satin dress with sparkle straps and a matching jacket. Her hair is adorned with a white flower that harmonizes with a green corsage. The adventurous-minded Jude is dressed in a pretty lavender dress with a ruched bodice transitioning into a slim side slit midi skirt. It is accessorized with a round rattan purple and pink flower bag worn cross-body. The only girl to deviate from this pattern is fun-loving Vicki (Pita Oliver). The other girls are wearing similar satin dress cuts; she is a vision in a ruffle-necked, cape-backed, teal dress while showing off cleavage, a pink flower corsage, and fun prom hair.
Guys’ 70s prom looks: Their styles range from conservative to poor taste. Nick compliments Kim’s pink color theme with a blue three-piece tux, a powder blue shirt, and a yellow rose lapel pin. Slick, Jude’s date, is dressed in a tux constructed of plush fabric that I’m guessing is velvet. He also wears a ruffle-front shirt and a bow tie. Lou makes half an effort (and gives a middle finger to the school administration) by showing up in a classic black tuxedo jacket, a dreadful white strap-on bow tie, and a white cotton shirt tucked into a black cummerbund, paired with denim bottoms. His two sidekicks wear jokey tuxedo print t-shirts that scream The Seventies. Principal Leslie Nielsen keeps it classy in a formal black tux.
The original PROM NIGHT is truly an entertaining look at the bygone generation of disco fashion. Its costumes capture the essence of the times and serve as a reminder of the fun and carefree days of the era.
2. HELLO MARY LOU, PROM NIGHT 2 (1987). Maya Mani, Costume Designer.
Tagline: Mary Lou wants to be prom queen, even if it kills her. Again.
HELLO MARY LOU is the first PROM NIGHT film to explore the supernatural. The plot focuses on dead, pissed-off prom queen Mary Lou Maloney (Lisa Schrage), who is resurrected when a trunk containing her prom artifacts is discovered. Result: possession and chaos.
Fashion Moments
1957 Prom. The theme is tropical and the venue is decorated with palm trees and wicker. Long, full skirts, pearls, and gloves for the girls. Aside from a prankster with a smoke bomb wearing a formal dinner jacket featuring a gold and black floral jacquard pattern, black and white tux jackets with bow ties are common for the guys. Mary Lou’s date Billy gets his jacket and bib shirt stained with pink punch after Mary Lou tosses her drink at him.
Mary Lou Maloney’s iconic prom gown. As it turns out, Mary Lou’s dress is actual fire. What type of fabric was it made of if it was so flammable? During a make-out session with a guy who is not her date, we see a tulle petticoat worn under her long skirt. It’s a lot of fabric to cause such an intense fire and it does so very quickly. The pink party dress has a pleated bodice with a sweetheart neckline. The tiered skirt is adorned with pink grosgrain ribbon all the way around, making it look like a birthday cake decoration. The triple pearl necklace strands that adorn her neck – two white, one pale pink – seem to be a trademark. Her outfit is further accessorized with white kid gloves, and a black stone ring given to her by rich kid Billy (Steve Atkinson).
In another show-stopping moment, Mary Lou rises from the dead in a chaotic scene from the 1987 prom. Ejecting herself from Vicki’s body Alien-chest-burster-style, she is transformed into a charred, mutant corpse (played by Loretta Bailey) and causes supernatural chaos à la Carrie, dressed in her burned original prom dress.
Possessed prom artifacts: Fashion can kill you, and in this case, it’s Mary Lou’s 30-year-old tiara and a blue prom cape from the theater department’s prom room. In a when-vintage-fashion-strikes-back segment, punk girl Jess (Beth Gondek) messes with the tiara’s stones and pays dearly for it by being strangled and hung from the fluorescent lights by the vengeful cape.
80s prom fashion. Fast forward to the ‘80s neon-themed prom. Blinking lights, fluorescent rainbow star pentagons, and a galaxy of sparkling fairy lights provide the decor. Trends seen include brightly colored gowns, metallic-hued gowns, puffy sleeves, blue bow ties paired with blue cummerbunds, dangling geometric earrings, novelty colorful red bow ties, light-up ties and corsages, Aqua-netted hair, mid-rise ponytails with ratted “Mall Bangs”, and mullets.
An excellent example of 80s wear is mean girl Kelly’s (Terry Hawkes) trendy prom look. She wears a “Spanish” red and black polka-dotted one-shoulder prom dress in tulle with a ruched mermaid skirt accessorized with fingerless gloves. Her $64-dollar side pony hairstyle is sprinkled with glitter. Other examples include Kelly’s date, who also has red accents in his wardrobe; red and black ruffles decorate the front of his flashy tuxedo shirt which is tucked into a red cummerbund. Josh (played by Brock Simpson, who portrayed Young Nick in the original PROM NIGHT), the boy she fellates in exchange for rigging the prom queen results in her favor, is dressed in a black & blue ruffled shirt, and a light-up flashing sequin bow tie.
Vicki’s reworked prom dress. Vicki (Wendy Lyon) takes a costume prop dress from Hamilton High’s theater department and transforms it into an impressive prom look. The dress is made from a vivid, medium-blue material and features a beautifully draped bodice. It features a Grecian silhouette, an attached long cape, a draped and pleated bodice, gathering at the waist, and a midi skirt. She styles her hair in a neat upsweep and is held in place with a pearl branch and cluster comb. A triple-layer necklace made with crystals, rather than Mary Lou’s trademark pearls, adorns her neck.
Prom Night II is a fan favorite and an excellent movie for those looking for a fun, fashionable film. Its characters, plot, and 80s styles definitely make it worth watching for fashion and movie fans alike.
1. PROM NIGHT (2008). Lyn Elizabeth Paolo, Costume Design.
Tagline: A Night to Die For.
Despite many people’s opinions, I don’t consider PROM NIGHT 2008 the poorest movie in the franchise or even the worst movie ever. The plot may be weak, but the promwear definitely doesn’t suck. In addition to having the most attractive group of prom-goers in the series and the magnificent art deco Park Plaza Hotel as a prom venue, PROM NIGHT 2008 is the most beautifully costumed in the series. Therefore, it ranks at the top of my fashion ranking list. Elizabeth Paolo’s designs reflect aughts fashion trends that make memorable style statements throughout the movie. The designer deserves praise for creating these beautiful, stylish gowns and dapper tuxes.
Fashion Moments:
The Bridgeport High School promgoers. While the main girl trio, Donna, Claire, Lisa (Britney Snow, Jessica Stroup, Dana Davis), and their dates shine in their prom attire. Girls wear well-crafted gowns that show intricate details. The guys look polished and sophisticated in their tuxes. The main girl trio, Donna, Claire, Lisa (Britney Snow, Jessica Stroup, Dana Davis), and their dates shine in their prom attire. Other trendy female promgoers wear loose and flowy gowns in fruity tones such as citrus, aqua, and chartreuse. Gowns are made with soft, slinky, light, airy fabrics such as chiffon, satin, and organza. Styles range from minimalist to extravagant: princess gowns, strapless dresses, asymmetrical cuts, mini-dresses, one-shoulder dresses, and tiered gowns. Prom fashion trends also include crystal and beaded embellishments on gown bodices, corset backs, and rhinestone brooches. To complete the look, a statement necklace, earrings, bracelets, a shawl or wrap, and a clutch are essential accessories.
Donna’s champagne gown. What I love most about Donna’s dress is the design. She is the belle of the ball in an A-line gown with matching pink and gold beads decorating the corset top. The dress is further accentuated by a lace-up back, twisted front detail at the waist, and a long, cascading skirt. A sheer taupe chiffon shawl with gold embroidery that once belonged to her recently deceased mother is the right complement to her dress and completes her look. The shawl is worn as an homage to her mom and serves as a reminder of her mom’s love and support. Donna’s prom date Bobby (played by Scott Porter) wears a dark suit and a taupe-colored tie.
Claire’s princess prom dress. Claire’s peach sorbet-colored frock may seem like a simple empire-waisted, strappy A-line dress, but upon closer inspection, a few details make it special; the lace and beaded bodice, a fitted crystal chest brooch, and the pleated chiffon skirt. An orchid wrist corsage adds elegance to her look. Her pouty boyfriend Michael is wearing a well-fitted suit, a checked satin tie, and an orange boutonniere pinned to his jacket’s lapel.
Lisa’s royal blue gown. Leading prom queen contender Lisa appears in a deep royal blue gown with a plunging neckline, accented with a diamond chest brooch and flowing sash. The sleeveless mermaid silhouette clings to her body and flows into a sweep train that grazes the floor. The train’s fabric extends a few inches from the gown’s bottom hem. A pink rose corsage decorates her wrist.
The dress causes drama in a catty fashion moment between Lisa and Crissy Lynn, her rival for the prom queen title. They trash each other’s outfits, with Crissy Lynn (the “Wendy” of the group, played by Brianne Davis), mocking Lisa’s low-cut gown, and Lisa, in turn, slams Crissy Lynn’s ‘basic’ strapless black column dress while showing restraint by not mentioning her sketchy hair extensions. Later, Lisa’s dress is ripped during her big chase scene, transforming it into an unexpected mini-dress.
Her boyfriend Ronnie, while looking sophisticated in a black three-piece tuxedo, complete with a satin waistcoat, appears a bit off pairing a wing-tip collar dress shirt with a black and blue patterned tie; a major fashion faux-pas. Fashion etiquette dictates that a wing-tip collar shirt should only be paired with a bow tie. A white dress shirt with a turndown collar would have been a better choice for Ronnie’s look. Nonetheless, he still looks elegant and dashing.
Best dressed guy. Prom King contender Rick (Kellan Lutz) is the male MVP of the evening. He spices up his black tie look with a pin-striped dress shirt, showing more character and personality than his date, the dour Crissy Lynn.
Fashion-wise, PROM NIGHT 2008 surpasses the original as an enjoyable visual snack. It is an excellent example of Y2K fashion trends and a testament to the power of a large budget, making it one of the best-looking prom films I’ve seen.
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