Prom-enade of Dresses from 1900s to 2000s Featured at Eklund History Center
Posted on Jul 9, 2008 in categories Events, Exhibits, Press Releases
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Outfits from the flapper’s fringe-covered short dress to last year’s frothy black chiffon long gown are featured in a Chance to Dance, the newest exhibit at the Glencoe Historical Society’s Eklund History Center, 377 Park Ave.
Mounted in conjunction with the historical society’s successful prom event held recently, dresses from the Eklund Center’s collection and a number on loan from dress collector and Glencoe resident Debbie Crowell will be on display through September at the Eklund Center. Through the years, dresses and prom customs have changed. Hems went up and back down again; the carnation, a typical prom flower corsage, was replaced with orchids and roses, often on the wrist, and men’s tuxes went from black to light blue back to black.
Prom comes from the French word promenade, from the march of debutants. In the 1920s, proms changed from the dinner party after graduation to a full-blown dance. But it wasn’t until the 1950s that proms as we know them today appeared – with luxurious dresses and tuxedos, fancy parties that moved from school gyms to hotel and banquet rooms, and added amenities. Today, each teenager attending a prom spends approximately $650 including limos, before-prom dinners, after-prom parties, corsages or boutonnieres, dresses, tuxes and any add-ons, for a total cost of $1,300 per couple.
The Chance to Dance exhibit joins other exhibits also open: Early Glencoe and Then … and Now. The Eklund Center is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and 1-4 p.m. on Sundays or by appointment. Call 847.835.0040 with any questions or comments.