Prom season 2026 seems to be a lovely vision of blues, lots of ruffles, and plenty of sparkle.
In El Paso, prom season started in early April and will continue for several weeks, which means teenage girls will be either shopping for a new dress for the big night or renting a pretty gown, including purse and accessories. Young men will also be looking at renting a tuxedo.
From the looks of evening gown sections at stores like Macy’s and Dillard’s, prom dresses are available in all colors. However, this season, light hues of blue, green and pink seem to be on trend.
Aside from great colors, many of the gowns feature ruffles this season, as well as sweetheart necklines, corset-style waists and plenty of sparkle. Many dresses have sequins that will make any wearer stand out.
Here are places to shop for the 2026 El Paso prom season.
Zamara Couture Boutique rents gowns
Zamara Couture Boutique, at 2931 George Dieter Drive, Suite H, remains a top destination for affordable semi-formal and cocktail dress rentals. Gown rentals start at about $50 to $90 and include a purse and earrings.
A store representative said they are seeing a preference for long gowns over short dresses. Red and black are always popular. However, this year they are seeing a trend toward lilacs, royal blue, pink and fuchsia. The only color that seems to be staying on the rack is yellow.
For more information: Facebook.com/zamaracouture
Macy’s has variety of ruffled prom dresses
It’s sale time at Macy’s department store at Cielo Vista Mall, just in time for prom season. Many gowns are 30 to 40% percent off with a Macy’s card, which means they have been reduced to about $199 or less.
There are many options in light blues, from ruffled and sequined bodices to feminine florals.
Dillard’s offers prom dresses on third floor
If you are already at Cielo Vista Mall, you might want to check out more than one store for prom dresses.
Currently, prom dress selection seems to focus on long gowns that trim the body and lots of satin, which creates shimmery designs. Blues are again the trend, with other colors such as lilac and various shades of purple in between.
Spaghetti straps and off-the-shoulder continue to be the way to go.
Ella Blu sells designer gowns
Ella Blu, a locally owned store, has been a popular stop for prom dress shopping for many years.
The store, at 5410 N Mesa St., offers a variety of prom dresses, including shimmering floor-length gowns.
Elegant Penguin
For young men, Elegant Penguin, at 2200 N. Yarbrough Drive, Ste. G, inside the Montwood shopping center, has been the top destination for tuxedo and suit rentals for many years.
The store’s experts can guide any young man through their options and top choices to look their best this prom season.
Information: elegantpenguinelpaso.com
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Prom 2026 gowns trend toward purple, blues, ruffles and sequins
Reporting by Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
