Brace yourself! Prom season is upon us, and pretty much every one of the 400,000 16-year-olds in Britain will be looking for a showstopping dress to wear for their school prom next month. We love hunting down an occasion dress, but add in a single-minded teen who wants to dress 10 years above her age and it gets complicated.
Today’s 16-year-olds are hyper-aware of trends, brands and pop culture. They know exactly what they want when it comes to fashion, and will be taking inspiration from people you’ve probably never heard of.
If you’re helping out with dress duty and feeling a teensy bit out of your depth, I recruited our very own Gen Z fashion assistant, Zara Tuck, to choose the most on-point celebrities for 16-year-olds now and prom dresses inspired by each of their styles. Her carefully considered edits inspired by each one are below.
The celebrities on Team Prom 2025 are Sabrina Carpenter for pretty princess dresses; Lisa (Mook from The White Lotus) for red carpet-worthy picks; Olivia Rodrigo for indie girl-inspired choices; Tyla for monochrome glam; and Madison Beer for Hollywood pinup style.
Our edit leans away from ultra-cheap, wear-once plastic clothes and towards dresses that can be worn and loved for future birthday parties, graduation ceremonies and family events – and also, eventually, resold on Vinted.
Share these dresses with your teenager – you can take the credit!
Sabrina Carpenter – The Princess Dresses
Much like the title of her latest album Short N’ Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter is effortlessly charming and undeniably sweet – she’s rightly earned her title as Gen Z’s princess. Her wardrobe is characterised by fondant pastels, romantic ruffles and babydoll silhouettes; she strikes the perfect balance between playful charm and grown-up glamour.
Madison Beer – The Hollywood Pinup Dresses
It’s safe to say that singer and songwriter Madison Beer is the ‘it-girl’ of Gen Z. Her style blends vintage Hollywood glamour with modern, feminine details. It’s easy to see how she’s become a key trendsetter. From House of CB to Club L London, these prom dresses have Madison written all over them.
Olivia Rodrigo – The Indie Girl Dresses
Olivia Rodrigo is the pop-rock princess, and while you might not immediately recognise her face, you’ve definitely heard her music. Her style is rebellious and effortlessly cool – often spotted in her signature colour purple, or incorporating daring cut-outs, sparkly beading and figure-skimming silhouettes. For those teenagers who like something a little edgier, these are our top picks:
Lisa – The Red Carpet Dresses
You may recognise her as Mook from The White Lotus, but did you know Lisa (real name Lalisa Manobal) is better known by Gen Z as a K-pop superstar from the girl band Blackpink? Lisa’s style is the epitome of red carpet glamour – and we’ve chosen timeless, universally flattering silhouettes and a classic colour palette for the teenager who wants her red carpet moment.
Tyla – The Sexy Glam Dresses
South African singer and songwriter Tyla is a rising star, always walking the red carpet radiating confidence and glamour. Her style plays with texture, figure-hugging silhouettes and gorgeous summer hues. While her red carpet looks may not follow prom guidelines, these picks capture her unapologetic confidence and style.
Pretty Lavish Marseille Bandeau Sequin Mini Dress
