Prom season has finally arrived, and MBHS students have been planning their look for weeks: scrolling through TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, haunting for the perfect dress. Figuring out what color and style to wear, a big question was whether to match with their date or to do their own thing. Prom is the one night of the year, and Morro Bay juniors and seniors are going all out with fancy ties and glamorous dresses.
Senior Lucy Duprey planned her look weeks in advance, even before the theme got announced. “I bought it before I knew the theme, but it definitely goes with the theme.” This year’s theme is “A Night On The Bayou,” based on the vibe of the Disney movie “The Princess and the Frog.” Her dress has a corset, and it breaks out at the hip into a flowy dress, shining in dark turquoise satin material. She personally is going to coordinate with her date, since it always looks cute in pictures. In terms of hair, Duprey is styling her hair in an updo with braids, because her dress has an additional scarf, which is her main accessory and a fashion piece that stands out. “The most important thing, honestly, is that I’m comfortable and that I can dance.”
This is junior Lotus Katzoff’s first time attending prom, and she chose a dark blue dress in mermaid style that flares out at the bottom. She got her dress three weeks ago at Lulu Luxe in San Luis Downtown, which is a very popular store among MBHS girls. Katzoff said, “I’ll be matching with my date, like his tie will be in the same color,” showing that it’s very common for dates to coordinate on their styles. Getting their nails done is a big part of prom, “It just makes it more dressy and fancy,” said Kazoff. “Feeling confident and just like feeling good and pretty in it is what matters to me.”
Junior Henry Lindsay says that his prom fashion plan consists of wearing an all-black suit and a blue tie. Despite the fact that Lindsay did not prepare his prom style for a long time, it is still a serious effort made by him. Lindsay chose his tie, basing his decision on the color of the girl’s dress; however, he is not dressing to match her. “I just know what color she’s wearing,” he says casually.
When it comes to choosing shoes, Henry decided to wear loafers, which are both comfortable and attractive. “I have them still,” he says, smiling. Lindsay understands very well that most guys think that prom fashion is not that important; however, it can be quite important for the boy to look perfect on this memorable night. “It’s not the end of the world if I do not dress myself up completely, but it will surely make her happier if I dress more nicely.”
Prom 2026 at Morro Bay High School is more about comfort and self-expression than adherence to specific guidelines. Even though this year’s theme, “A Night On The Bayou,” helped create a special atmosphere, not everyone chose to incorporate it into their looks. For example, Duprey picked her dress long before the theme announcement. It turns out, going with the theme is more of a bonus than a must.
Coordinating with a date, however, seems to be a trend that’s here to stay. Whether it’s a matching tie or a dress in the same color, students found small ways to connect their looks without going fully matchy-matchy. And when it came down to what really mattered on the night, the answer was the same across the board: confidence. “Feeling confident and just feeling good and pretty in it is what matters to me,” said Katzof. At the end of the day, prom is one night, and MBHS students are making sure they spend it feeling their best.
