Buena Vista Pictures; Erika Doss/Prime Video; Summit Entertainment Who needs Pinterest when the big and small screens have fed us decades of prom inspo? Most teen-centric movies and TV shows include a prom storyline, with characters often showcasing some of the most head-turning looks. Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) made her entrance in a navy spaghetti-strap dress while Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Regina George (Rachel McAdams) paired their outfits with klunky medical accessories. Whether the characters made it through the night unscathed or in ruins, their formal wear has remained iconic in pop culture. FromHilary Duff's fairy-tale ball gown inA Cinderella Storyto one-of-a-kind designs in recent teen dramas, check out some of the most scene-stealing prom dresses. Erika Doss/Prime Video In a season 2 flashback onThe Summer I Turned Pretty, fans watched Belly (Lola Tung) get her "perfect princess moment"in a custom-made purple Teuta Matoshi gownthat served as "a callback" toJenny Han's 2010 book,It's Not Summer Without You. The dreamy look stayed stunning throughout the night, even as it was soaked in the rainduring her breakup with Conrad(Christopher Briney). Paramount Pictures Only Regina George could arrive at the school dance with a fractured spine and"still look like a rockstar." While she didn't win Spring Fling Queen, she turned heads — while barely moving hers — in a flower-crowned halo brace and the shoulderless pink minidressfrom the 1-3-5 store. United Artists/Kobal/Shutterstock Most people remember Carrie White's (Sissy Spacek) handmade prom dress soaked in pig's blood, and as a frequently recreated look every Halloween. But before the incident, spending the night in her pale pink satin gown — which she sewed herself against her mother's (Piper Laurie) wishes — made the shy outcast feel "like being on Mars." Wearing a floral ruffled A-line ball gown, Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan)heads to promwith her besties Eleanor (Ramona Young) and Fabiola (Lee Rodriguez) as her dates. But after their limo driver (Ken Marino) accidentally runs them off the road, the soon-to-be graduates have an emotional heart-to-heart and decide to skip the dance entirely. Merie Wallace/A24 While shopping with her mom (Laurie Metcalf), finding the perfect dress to match the pink streaks in her hair came with an emotional cost for Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan): She realizes her motherdoesn't "like" her. Still, the rebellious teen proudly wears her thrifted frock to prom, ditching her pretentious date (Timothée Chalamet) and choosing to share the evening with her bestie (Beanie Feldstein) instead. Randy Tepper/Alamy Not many can say they wore a one-of-a-kind look to prom, but Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) did just that at her first Chilton formal, showing up in an off-the-shoulder navy blue gown her mom (Lauren Graham) pulled a back muscle while making. Alamy It was the late '80s, so, of course, BFFs Romy (Mira Sorvino) and Michele (Lisa Kudrow) attended their prom in chicMadonna-inspired outfits. Both blonde with black-dyed roots, Romy wore a sleek spaghetti-strap minidress while recreating the singer'siconic clip-on high pony, and Michele rocked a black lace rendition ofher 1984 VMAs look. Greg Schwartz/WB/Everett Collection Never has there ever been a high school student as chic as Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton). The girl was practically a walking Chanel ad from the show's very first episode, so it was only fitting that she wore the designer on prom night. It's been almost 20 years since Newport Beach's most infamous teens took on prom, and Cooper's dress is still as envy-worthy as it was back then. The WB As the name of the show states, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar)alwaysslays, but perhaps more so at prom, where she wore this lavender strapless dress with a near-magical shine to it. Fitting, right? Cha-Cha DiGregorio (Annette Charles) may havewon the dance-off— "Whose side are you on, Sonny?" — but Sandy's (Olivia Newton-John) breezy cream dress made her the sartorial winner of the evening. Nothing screams '90s teen TV quite likeBeverly Hills, 90210does. So for the show's answer to prom — the generically named "spring dance" —Shannen Doherty's Brenda Walsh went for an of-the-decade black-and-white dress, complete with a big bow. It was such a hit, fellow90210-er Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth) also wore it. Walsh wasn't the only '90s girl to go to prom. Up the California coast, San Franciscan D.J. Tanner (Candace Cameron Bure) also attended her own prom in the show's final season, choosing a black off-the-shoulder dress that has stood the test of time. Everett When you're going full fairy tale, à la Sam (Hilary Duff), don't forget tohave many layers of tulle, a mysterious mask and killer heels (that hopefully you won't leave behind). Bob Mahoney/The CW For a more modern on-screen prom look,Nina Dobrev'sVampire Diariescharacter went with a flowing, floral gown in a pretty pink-and-purple hue. It's so chic, we'll forgive her for stealing it from Rebekah (Claire Holt) for the big night. Giovanni Rufino/The CW Even Upper East Siders go to prom — and when they do, they lookreallygood. Though this black-and-gold gown initially upset Blair (Leighton Meester), thinking it was sent from Chuck (Ed Westwick) to ruin her night with Nate (Chace Crawford), she still wore it — and looked amazing — on the big night. Mike Yarish/FOX The teens ofGleeknow how to put on a show, so it was no surprise they looked stage-ready on prom night — but no one perhaps more so than Mercedes (Amber Riley), who stunned in a tiered fuchsia gown. 20th Century Josie (Drew Barrymore)looked totally "rufus"in her Shakespeare-inspired dress (remember, the theme was "Meant for Each Other: Famous Couples Throughout History"). The night may have ended on a sour note, but one thing's for sure: "She's not Josie Grossie anymore!" Buena Vista/Everett Collection We can't watch10 Things I Hate About Youwithout getting emotional thinking about the lateHeath Ledger, but this prom scene is one of the best — thanks in part to Kat Stratford's simple navy slip dress, pearl necklace and piled-on-top curls. Teen queenMolly Ringwaldmay have ruled high school in a slew of '80s films, butPretty in Pinkwas her only on-screen prom experience. And with it came one of the world's most iconic prom looks: a dress that featured lace, polka dots and, of course, pink. InShe's All That,prom night wasn'tjustprom night, it was the night of Laney's (Rachael Leigh Cook) big, take-off-the-glasses reveal. And she didn't need a flashy gown to show her true beauty — this simple black gown did just fine. Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate When Bella went to prom, she did it her way — in a blue halter dress, a Converse sneaker and a cast boot. (She had just been injured during an epic vampire battle, so who can blame her?) Ariel's (Lori Singer) pink dress was an understated choice for the festive finale — when theyfinallyget to cut, well, you know — and it's also so iconic thatJulianne Hough's Arielwore a similar versionin the 2011 remake. Read the original article onPeople
