Homecoming Vs. Prom – Differences You Should Know

Are you shopping for your biggest dances for high school? Make sure you keep in mind these differences when finding your gorgeous prom or homecoming dress! 

After a long break, we are finally back to a new school year. While you missed out on many special moments in the past year, we know you are super excited to be back in school, play sports, go to dances, and finally get back to the norm! When curating your looks for your homecoming and prom it’s important to keep in mind how to dress for the two biggest high school events, prom and homecoming. We know you are ready to dress up and let loose at homecoming and prom.

What’s the difference between Homecoming and Prom?

Homecoming happens towards the start of the school year. Homecoming is a way of welcoming back all the students to school, teachers, and alumni. Typically, homecoming is a week-long event full of school spirit and gets tied with a big football game against one of your school’s rivals.

Every high school or college has its homecoming traditions and is the reason homecoming is so special. Although the week of homecoming is fun, the best part is the homecoming dance. Asking someone to homecoming is a little less formal than prom, but many people do cute homecoming proposals. Homecoming is considered a semi-formal event where girls typically wear short-length dresses. The homecoming dance is very inclusive and open to all grades (freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors). 

Unlike homecoming, prom is only for high school and happens in the spring starting in March and ending in June depending on where you live. Prom is a more formal event and considered one of the most important events in high school. There is a big promposal that happens when boys ask the girls out to prom (one of our favorite parts).

Prom is only for upperclassmen (juniors and seniors) unless you are one of the lucky underclassmen to get asked. For prom, girls typically get very glammed up wearing long designer gowns, high heels, makeup, and jewelry. Guys on the other hand will wear a suit or tuxedo with a matching vest and tie. Back in the day, prom typically happened in the high school gym like the homecoming dance. However, high schools have increased their prom budgets and your prom is likely going to happen at a more sophisticated and gorgeous venue.

Prom is typically the highlight of high school students, so they plan excessively for the special prom night!

Should you dress Formal or Semi-Formal for Prom and Homecoming? 

If you are struggling to figure out what to wear to homecoming, start with how formal the event will be. Since homecoming is more of a welcoming back event and more casual, the homecoming dance will be more semi-formal. You will want to wear a short dress that is cute and acceptable to the dress code at school, so save the long formal dresses for prom.

Typically, girls wear tight-fitted short dresses embellished with sparkle or detail to give a more glamorous look for hoco. However, girls are also wearing a-line dresses with pockets or fully beaded short dresses. Although hoco is a semi event, you need to finish your look with some hair, make-up, simple jewelry, and low heels or flats!

How should you dress for prom? Well, prom is a very formal event. Girls should wear long-length dresses. For prom, girls typically wear different types of silhouettes and styles. Some silhouettes girls typically wear are ball gowns, mermaid prom dresses, trumpet dresses, sheath dresses, and a-line prom dresses. The dresses also have different cuts and styles, some of them have illusions, off-the-shoulder prom dresses, high neck prom dresses, and two-piece prom dresses. Prom dresses, especially Amarra dresses, come in any color you can imagine so you aren’t likely to be wearing the same dress as someone else — that would be a nightmare. There are black dresses, red dresses, light blue dresses, pastel-colored dresses, metallic-colored dresses, neon-colored dresses, and more. With their designer dresses, girls will get their hair, makeup, and nails done for the night. Also, they will wear high heels and accessories like an embellished handbags. 

Will I Spend More On My Prom Dress Or Homecoming Dress?

You’ll end up spending more on prom since it is a formal event. A beautiful long designer dress will cost more than a short designer semi-formal homecoming dress. Prom dresses can also be more expensive due to different fabrics (silk, satin, jersey, organza) and styles whether you want a tight-fitted prom dress or want a beautiful ball gown with pockets like Amarra Style 20404. However, you don’t have to worry about spending too much on your prom! Amarra focuses on all the details to make sure you have the best prom night and homecoming night! Amarra has every dress style, color, and size you need at a great price.

We can’t wait to see your prom and homecoming dresses! Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Tiktok at @amarraoffical to see our gorgeous prom, homecoming, pageant, and evening dresses!