dream works

It's been a few years since I was a teenager, but that doesn't stop me from loving Teen Vogue. Seriously, that magazine is second only to Lula in terms of fashion magazines for me.. it seems to always be more up-to-date than its grown-up counterpart and a little less stuffy (although Vogue has its great moments too). Trends are more playful and wearable in Teen Vogue.

Despite loving the magazine, I always cringe when articles about boy crushing and prom pop up. I remember prom - wearing candy colored dresses with giant skirts and rhinestone waistbands with nighttime themes like 'A Night to Remember' in purple and black. Getting tan - super tan. Wearing a whole lot of eye makeup. Not exactly the coolest or most original idea for a dance or dress or look. But Teen Vogue's latest prom-centered issue is nothing cringe-worthy, seriously.. instead, it shows prom as it should be - in dreamy, soft-focus photos of tousled, romantic up dos, natural makeup, and beautifully feminine separates in oversized broderie anglaise lace, or in city-sharp images of hitting the town in decadent gold drop-waist dresses in art deco beads and prints. My favorite shoot is (of course) Dream Works. It's Picnic at Hanging Rock meets (a nude-less) David Hamilton.

Photos by Sebastian Kim, scans found here.

Definitely grab April 2012's Teen Vogue if you can - there's a small feature on two California teens on the hunt for prom dresses. They cite Marlene Dietrich and Grey Gardens as influences, and it shows in their final product - lightweight pastel velvet dresses in long lengths, semi sheer floral throws, vintage velvet gold mary janes - all reworked vintage from Geminola in NYC (oh to be 17 and have money). Lots of emphasis on art deco fashion in this issue and more than one Rooney Mara appearance. A couple of good photo shoots to scour - The Gilded Age and Country Strong.

Vintage spring lookbook coming today!