Spring 2011 Fashion: Prom Dresses are Glitz & Glamour

Whether it's a short dress or a long dress you're looking for, both  and  in  have tons of gorgeous formal dresses that are perfect for prom.

Vibrant colors are definitely popular this prom season, in every shade from the spring 2011 colors (blue, coral and white) to jewel tones (purple, red and green).

At Saks, Aly Tegethoff, a 17-year-old junior at , modeled a gorgeous royal blue Ray Unger short dress ($430) that has a jeweled collar. If you're looking for a lighter shade of blue, Courtney Brooks, a 16-year-old junior at St. Joe's and a Ladue-Frontenac Patch contributor, modeled a beautiful light blue long ABS dress ($445 at Saks) with a jeweled waistline.

Having the detailing of jewels or beads on a dress can make it stand out from a more plain or simple dress, and that trend continues with one white gown we found at Neiman Marcus. It has a mesh neckline with rows of silver beads that end where the dress begins. The Aidan Mattox dress ($485), modeled by Tierney Spence, a 17-year-old junior at , was a favorite of the shoot.

We also found a great coral Aidan Mattox dress ($265, modeled by Brooks) with beaded straps and waistline at Neiman Marcus. If you're looking for something a little more simple, Tegethoff modeled a strapless, draped coral Laundry gown ($385) at Saks.

Also at Saks, Spence modeled a gorgeous flowing, purple La Femme gown ($360) with a jeweled waistline. At Neiman Marcus, Tegethoff kept the bright trend going with a pink Aidan Mattox short dress ($265).

If you want a dress that is not quite as bright as the rest but still stands out, Saks has a great lavender, ruffled BCBG short dress ($398, modeled by Spence) that has a sash tied in a bow at the waistline.

If bright colors are not your thing, a nude, gold or silver dress can also be very elegant for prom. At Neiman Marcus, Tegethoff modeled a gorgeous light gold Aidan Mattox gown ($395) that also has jeweled detailing. If you want to go for an entirely beaded dress, Saks has a stunning silver Aidan Mattox short dress ($440, modeled by Brooks) that looks great with a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes.

Black can also be a very elegant choice for prom. Spence modeled a dramatic, one-shouldered black Jovani short dress ($395) with a jeweled waistline.

The spring trend of floral patterns has also crossed over into prom dresses, as evident from a Shoshanna purple, white and green short dress ($385) that Brooks modeled at Neiman Marcus.

Of course, these dresses do not have to be reserved for prom alone. They can be used for any other formal events that may come up. Neiman Marcus is having a "Big Night Out" event this Saturday, April 9, from 12 to 4 p.m. with stylists on hand for tips on makeup and hair, and they will be featuring their great dress collections available on the second floor.

Be sure to check out our photo gallery to see Brooks, Spence and Tegethoff modeling the dresses mentioned in this story. We also have a behind-the-scenes video where each girl shares her favorite dress.

This article is part of a series of spring fashion stories, which continues from  earlier this week. Check back with Ladue-Frontenac Patch soon for casual teen fashion and men's clothing.

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