Franklin’s theme for prom this year is noticeably out of the ordinary. Compared to the previous year’s theme “A Night in Versailles,” this year’s theme “Maison de Lumiere” moves away from the traditional expectation of muted tones and predictable styles, and leans into a colorful take on a lantern festival, drawing much of its inspiration from the children’s book, “Fancy Nancy.”
At Windsor, a popular dress shopping destination in Portland, employee Ashley Cruz reports noticing clear trends emerging. Cruz comments that corset-style dresses and princess-inspired silhouettes are in high demand. She adds that these silhouettes are often paired with lots of sparkle and volume. These trends demonstrate that it may not only be Franklin students who are interested in bright, colorful dresses this prom season.
Senior Berri Nguyen, who is helping plan prom as senior class vice president, described the theme as colorful and inspired by Portland’s Water Lantern Festival. Rather than sticking to a single theme or aesthetic, she emphasized the importance of variety; she wanted to create a space where “everyone gets a chance to dress up … with a bunch of color and have fun.” Nguyen’s own dress is a yellow, rhinestone-covered look inspired by “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” which perfectly encapsulates the spirit of bold creativity that she wishes to inspire at this year’s dance.
Other students agree that prom should be a time for going all out. Franklin freshman Cece Mitchell criticized overly simple dresses, arguing that classic silky dresses can be underwhelming for such a big event. “Since it’s high school, girls should pop out and just be dramatic,” Mitchell explained. Her opinions reflect the idea that prom is a time to stand out rather than blend in, which is just what Nguyen is hoping to see this year.
Even those with different personal styles still recognize the appeal of more color. Senior Eva Hedwall, whose dress this year is green and pink floral, said she hopes to see students move beyond “the normalcy of other [proms]” and embrace fun, unique looks. Similarly, Autumn Boyle, a junior attending prom this year, shared that the theme gives her “a lot of opportunities to pick different colors.” Boyle added that she is looking forward to incorporating her personal style and plans to wear an orange or pink dress, taking inspiration from the prom theme reveal video that was featured on the Franklin ASB instagram, which included many shades of pinks, oranges, and blues.
Despite this, not everyone is as on board with a bright colored theme. It can be argued that prom should be about feeling comfortable and confident, regardless of color or style. For many students, that could mean choosing a simple dress with neutral colors. Fashion is about personal expression, and no one should feel pressured to wear something that doesn’t feel right just to match a theme.
But this is precisely what makes Nguyen’s theme so special. It expands the range of what feels acceptable, making space welcoming to both the dramatic and the simple. With a theme designed to celebrate color and individuality, Franklin students have a unique opportunity to take risks and be creative. Senior Prom only happens once in high school. This year, Franklin is giving students the perfect excuse to go full out — not by playing it safe with traditional styles or colors, but giving them the platform to shine as bright as they can be.
