Homecoming is a tradition in almost any American high school you could step foot in. Wacky dress up themes (in our case, Hawaiian or Adam Sandler), a football game against a rival school, school spirit, and the formal dance to round out the week. Throughout the decades, many things have changed, such as the internet, hairstyles, and slang. Homecoming traditions, as I listed, have been primitive and unshakeable. Homecoming dresses however, have been through the wringer. Let’s take a look at each major decade since the 2000s, and analyze how homecoming dresses have been stylistically modified.

The 2000s, the age of Britney Spears and low-rise jeans. At homecoming dances during this time, teenage girls often opted for short dresses with bubble hems and empire waists, providing an interesting silhouette and unique look. The mixture of these two elements dominated the 2000s. During this time, there also was a 1980s and 1990s revival of the animal and neon print. Dresses were often a neutral color with a random pop of neon pink or blue, or vice versa. These prints and silhouettes emphasized the flashy nature of the 2000s

The shift to the 2010s was heavily highlighted by a greater access to the internet, especially Facebook and Instagram. These platforms allowed teens to express themselves and show off and find their aesthetics. Following this, “hipster” and modesty culture emerged. Teenagers of this decade selected neutral dresses, such as navy, blacks, and pales. They also started to vary in shape and silhouette, like the sweetheart neckline and the cowl neck. 

The 2020s was kick-started by the COVID-19 pandemic, isolating teenagers and making social media the center of their lives. At the beginning of the decade, due to the violent nature of the virus, homecoming dances were limited, which led to social media and the internet to be an outlet for self expression. Bodycon and tighter dresses were worn by the masses, as well as corsets in the dresses themselves, to enhance the waist. Despite the minimalist look in the 2010s, the bright and neon colors trended among teenagers. 

Despite the fashion ups and downs of these decades (and the deadly virus), homecoming traditions are the core of high school spirit. No trend lasts forever, Just ask the Greeks, but tradition keeps on. Homecoming is like a candle you can never blow out. Even if the spirit week themes make you want to.