Prom night has always been an important time in a young person's life. After all the hard work and exams, it's a time when teens finally get to dress up and show the world they're ready to move on to the next chapter in their lives. And while prom dresses can be expensive these days, the desire to look as amazing as possible remains the same as it ever was. Luckily, these moms held on to their gorgeous gowns so their daughters could wear them too. And the results are amazing! From classic 1980s styles with a modern twist to classic black numbers fit for any era, here are 25 teens who wore their mom's prom dress and looked absolutely amazing!
Like Mother, Like Daughter!
This empire-waist dress has certainly stood the test of time. In fact, this dress looks even better almost thirty years after Mom originally wore it to her prom. The colors of the retro print are so vibrant in contrast to the black waistline and seams.
The daughter in the picture seems very proud to wear her mom's prom dress. She even came equipped with a photo of her mother wearing the same dress back in 1986. It's a shame she wasn't brave enough to wear that '80s hairstyle too!
Made to Last!
This princess dress has lasted three generations and is still going strong. Grandma must be extremely proud to see her two daughters and granddaughter wearing her prom dress. However, her granddaughter has removed the hoops from underneath the skirt.
This dress looks every bit as good as it did more than fifty years ago when it was first worn. And it seems like it could continue serving the ladies of this family for another fifty years if a great-granddaughter were ever born.
It Pays to Have Mom’s Dimensions!
Having the same body type as your mom can come in handy sometimes. When this young lady ordered her prom dress online, you can imagine her disappointment when it finally arrived and looked nothing like the dress she ordered!
Luckily, Mom had an all-time classic dress waiting in the closet, just begging to be worn. And the daughter looks amazing. She is really rocking this saucy purple number while showing off the double strap feature at the back.
A Classic Black Number
Wow! Mom looks really amazing in this strapless, A-line, sexy black dress. It's no wonder her daughter wanted to wear this timeless dress to her prom. Her eyes must have lit up when she found it at the back of her mom's closet.
This is the perfect dress to stand the test of time. Hot black numbers like this one will never go out of fashion. And while it also looks amazing on the daughter, we think that mom's matching black tights give this little black number some extra flair!
A Proud Mom and Dad!
This figure-hugging full-length halter neck dress looks amazing on both mother and daughter. This black number is another great example of a timeless dress that could be perfect for generations to come.
It looks like the daughter's partner is also wearing his dad's tuxedo. It's clearly a bad fit for him, but that just makes the girl look even more radiant. He should have taken advice from the girl's father. His tux is a perfect fit!
Stylish Red Satin!
This satin dress is so beautiful, and both mother and daughter look amazing. The eyes-closed pose for the photo is a little strange, but we get to see this elegant outfit that has clearly been kept in pristine condition for the previous 36 years.
This dress is one of our favorites on the list. While it is very stylish, it's also delicate and graceful. It also looks like the daughter tried to completely dedicate her look to her mom by wearing a similar hairstyle.
Black and Blue
Apart from their hair, this mother and daughter could easily be twins. Twenty years after mom wore this classic figure-hugging halterneck dress, her daughter also gets to wear it to prom. Black is such a timeless color. This dress belongs in any era.
With its beautiful design all over, this dress looks elegant and sophisticated. With style trends moving so fast these days, you can't go wrong with a classic dress like this one. I wonder was there anyone with blue hair at the prom in 1996?
These Ladies Look Dazzling!
Wow! These two look dazzling in this shiny sequin dress. They are almost twenty years apart, and both mother and daughter look amazing. This dress is perfect for showing off your fun side while looking stylish and classy.
This dress screams, "It's time to get the party started!" When Mom chose this dress, there is little doubt she intended to make a statement. It's a real breath of fresh air from the other "safer" dresses we have seen on this list.
Radiant Red
I think it's clear from these pictures that the only thing that needed improving was the quality of the photograph. Everything else is perfect. This halterneck dress looks fantastic on both mom and daughter. Not everyone can pull off risky red on such an important night.
Thanks to improved photographic technology, we get to see how pretty this dress really is. It's clear the daughter has made a few subtle alterations to the dress, but both ladies look amazing.
Ready to Shine!
These two dazzling diamonds are clearly ready to let their hair down and show off the fun side of their personalities. This striped sequin dress sparkles from head to toe, but it remains as classy and stylish today as it did almost twenty years ago.
While both mom and daughter look incredible, it's hard not to notice that mom's prom date is a little shyer than her daughter's prom date. Or maybe he just didn't know what to do with his hands!
Little House on the Prairie
This dress is straight out of the '80s. For those of you that remember, there was a hit TV series called "Little House on the Prairie" in the early '80s, and dresses like this one were a common sight on the show.
As a result, dresses like this one became known as prairie dresses. They often had flowy, flowery skirts and lacy, high-necked tops with a Victorian/Western vibe. The show was set in the late 1860s, so this style is over 150 years old.
Do You Remember Home Economics Class?
Believe it or not, back in the 1980s, it was pretty common for people to make their own dresses just like this one for occasions such as prom night. In fact, dress-making was part of a subject at school called "home economics."
This mom probably learned how to make this dress while at school in home economics class. And didn't she do a fantastic job? The dress is beautiful, and her shy pose in this photo makes it all the more adorable.
Looks Great in Any Era!
It's no wonder the daughter in this photo chose her mom's dress to wear to her prom. This long black sheath dress with spaghetti straps is a timeless classic. And both mom and daughter look amazing in it.
This is the kind of dress that will look elegant and sassy in any era. Let's hope the daughter looks after it so her own daughter can wear it on her prom night. Mom's partner is wearing a pretty whacky tie too!
Saturday Night Fever
Wow! Mom and her partner look amazing. Straight out of "Saturday Night Fever." This is a classic 1970s style, from their hair down to their shoes. They look ready to hit the disco dancefloor to show off their moves.
It's a pity the daughter's partner didn't find a similar tux to mom's partner. He looks so cool! Just like Tony Manero from the movie, played by John Travolta. It's amazing how styles have changed over the years. We think the daughter should have gone with her mom's hairstyle too!
Maybe Lose the Baseball Cap, Pal!
Is it just me, or does anyone else think the daughter's partner could have made a little more effort with his outfit? He looks like he's been forced to go to prom at the last minute. Mom's partner looks so much more classy.
But enough about the guys. Mom and daughter look incredible in this full-length, figure-hugging dress with an illusion neckline. This is a great choice for prom night. I'm sure Mom and her daughter stood out from the crowd on the night!
A Modern Version of an ’80s Classic!
How cool is this? The daughter obviously loved her mom's dress but knew it needed to be modernized a little. We love what she has done with the length of the dress, and the illusion neckline is gorgeous. Mom's partner looks like fun too!
This is another great example of a prairie dress. Prairie dresses can range from being form-fitting to quite voluminous, and they can feature one or more flounces or tiers. Often, a lace-trimmed petticoat is worn under the dress.
Classic White!
This is an interesting picture. I think we can all agree that Mo and her daughter are both beautiful women, but we think the alterations that the daughter made to this full-length halterneck classic white dress give it extra flair.
The daughter has focused more on showing off her figure, whereas the mom's version is a little more baggy around the waist. Both the guys in these photos are winners, in our opinion. They look very elegant and sophisticated.
Walk on the Wild Side!
This is a great photo. Mom looks like she was a real wild child! And she got to show off her personality on prom night with this leopard print dress with a Grecian neckline. And her daughter has captured the look and the pose perfectly.
It's great to see some of the more outrageous dresses on this list. Leopard print is a tough one to pull off. It can easily look dated and cheap. But in this case, it works really well!
A More Modern Take on ’80s Style!
How times have changed! From big puffy ballgowns with matching stiletto sandals to a strapless baby doll dress with white ankle-high trainers. When this daughter agreed to wear her mom's dress to her prom, she made sure she was in charge of the alterations.
Additionally, skinny trousers with an open neck have replaced the traditional tux with a bow tie for the guys. While part of me can really appreciate this 1980s look, the daughter's style looks much lighter and a lot more fun!
A Classic ‘80s Pose!
This classic little black number with a plunging neckline is a party dress that every young lady should have in their wardrobe. Mom and her partner knew exactly the right pose for their prom photoshoot. It looks practiced.
Back in the '80s, when you had a photoshoot, you only had one shot to get it right. The photographer was set up in the foyer with his backdrop and umbrella lights. When he pressed the button on the camera, you needed to be ready.
Our New Favorite!
This is another great example of the changes that have happened in fashion over the past thirty years. The mother looks very elegant in her Jackie Onassis-inspired empire-waist dress with spaghetti straps. In our opinion, this dress could easily work in modern times.
But the daughter had a different idea for her mom's dress. While she has left the top half untouched, she has completely changed the bottom half for a full-length sheer skirt. We think both looks are amazing!
Less Is More!
While mom's dress style was very popular in the 1980s and '90s, we think her daughter made the right choice by removing the puffy shoulder pieces and replacing them with a halter neck style. Mom looks like a Disney princess!
And while we have nothing against Disney princesses, these days, puffy shoulders just look dated. In fact, puffy anything looks like a throwback to a time when the bigger a prom dress was, the better it was. Nowadays, less is more!
Classic 1980s!
This ballgown-style dress is complete with all the ruffles and frills that were so popular in the 1980s. Mom and her partner have everything covered from classic '80s style, including plenty of fake tan and a classic retro backdrop.
We think her daughter should have left the hoops in the dress's bottom half, though. The dress is clearly from the 1980s, so she may as well have left it completely intact. We do like her off-the-shoulder look, on the other hand.
Matching Prom Partners!
Believe it or not, back in the 1980s, most girls had their prom dresses made or even made them themselves. And it was very common to make a bowtie and sash from the same material as your dress for your prom date.
Look at this guy with a matching blue bowtie and sash! This is a classic '80s look, and we love it! This mom looks like she even matched her elbow-length gloves with her partner's tux. You always knew who your partner was!
Nice Carpet!
Oh no! This poor mom waited twenty years to see her daughter wear her dress to prom, and she only managed to convince her to put it on the morning of. We feel for you, Mom!
If it's any consolation, we think you look amazing in your dress, and your daughter would, too, if she dared to wear it. It's a beautiful, elegant style that could easily be worn in more modern times. Your parent's carpet looks as good as new twenty years later too!