Prom dress stress

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - The prom is an age-old tradition, but it's safe to say the traditions have changed with the times. One thing that's never changed, for women at least, is it's all about the dress. Prom night is approaching and the pressure is on to wear something unique.

No one is really sure how or when the prom phenomenon began, but the trend seems to become increasingly more important to teens every year.

NYC Glamour Couture owner Matilda Ndrecka said girls start shopping for prom five to six months prior to the big night. Through the years, she has watched the prom stress level rise for young women and a lot of it has to do with social media. She said it is a competition.

Ndrecka said the styles have evolved over the years, too. A simple gown on prom night is a look of the past. Teens want to dress like Jennifer Lopez or Kim Kardashian on the red carpet. They want to stand out.

And the dress is just the first expense of what turns into a very pricey night. All in, Ndrecka estimates, prom can cost well over $1,000.

But Sydney Rubin of Rent the Runway said that renting dresses for prom has become more popular over the years. She said a girl wears the prom dress only once, so she shouldn't feel guilty about spending too much on something she loves.

Rubin said her customers are going for fewer embellishments this year—a look far more sophisticated than ever before. She said girls are going sleek, one color, maybe a slight cutout, and then dressing it up with a statement earring.