Fitting the Theme: The Wizard of Oz
Color
Among the colors most associated with The Wizard of Oz, emerald takes the crown. From the Emerald City in the original movie to Elphaba’s green skin in Wicked, any outfit featuring green is sure to make a statement – and, since green is often associated with youth, it’s the perfect color to wear to a schoolwide dance! You only live once, which means you’re only young once; embrace it!
However, if green isn’t your forte, try ruby red! While Dorothy’s iconic slippers in The Wizard of Oz book were originally silver, they’re a deep red hue in the movie. Red is also symbolic of love, so if you’re going with a date, try matching with that color. Ladies, if you’re going for a light-on-dark contrast, you can even wear a bright red and replicate Dorothy’s signature ruby slippers with your heels!
Want a more modern take on Oz? You can channel Glinda from Wicked on both Broadway and the big screen by going for pale blue or pink. As light colors, they’re sure to stand out when everyone is busy jumping up and down to FE!N by Travis Scott in the dark. Pink in particular seems to be making a comeback this year, so donning the color on the dance floor is sure to make you “popular”!
These are just a few suggestions on how to fit this year’s theme. Keep in mind that not everyone needs to follow the theme, it’s just for fun! With the variety of dress colors – and even the colors in men’s wear – that come out for each new event, one thing is for certain: there’s definitely going to be a rainbow of colors sweeping throughout our Homecoming dance this year.
Clothing Structures, Patterns, Jewelry
If you’re looking for a way to stay on theme in a subtler way, look no further than sequins! Sequins easily capture the vibe of the Emerald City – they’re fun, flamboyant, and a classic. As an added bonus, it’s an eye-catching design: sequins tend to reflect light, which means that in the dark, any light that hits your dress (or suit, if you’re bold) will make you stand out!
However, another way you can shine if sequins aren’t quite your thing is by wearing outfits with a glittery material! Though we all know glitter is forever the bane of our collective existence (and the worst thing since a house dropped on the Wicked Witch of the East), it really does provide the same whimsical aesthetic that Oz has. It would likely be best in red (for Dorothy’s ruby slippers) or pink (Glinda’s dress), but if done right, glitter goes well with any color!
For a look closer to that of Wicked than the original Wizard of Oz movie, you can always try a layered skirt like Glinda’s iconic blue dress. While long, flowy dresses might be more associated with prom, they’re always a statement, whatever the dance. If you’re not necessarily looking for an Easter egg in the form of a dress’s structure, gemstone embellishments are always a cute yet classy addition to any dress.
Looking for more to add? If your palette allows, you can reference the Yellow Brick Road with a bit of gold! Be it necklace, bracelet, or ring, gold will forever be a classic color choice for jewelry. Plus, any accessories will definitely elevate your outfit! It’s highly recommended that you opt for some sort of piece, however small, just to add some flair. This is your night to get fancy! Go for it!
Homecoming Predictions ’26
Fabrics:
Fabrics like cotton and nylon are probably going to see a rise in 2026; they’re fairly popular now, but there has been a recent rise as of late.
Cotton is one of the most basic fabrics used for everything. It has pretty much been an essential for dresses. But with more exotic fabrics like satin, chiffon, and tulle, it’s gone down in the dress game. However, with 2026 around the corner, we speculate that there will be a sudden rise in the use of cotton in dresses.
Same thing with nylon. Nylon is a thinner and very watery fabric. Its decline started in the 1970s, but has been on the rise as of now. So we can also agree that nylon may be a new trend.
Styles:
Styles of dresses will always be in and out; they’re forever changing at a constant rate. But certain cuts and styles have been on the rise recently. One of them is mermaid cuts.
Mermaid cuts are very tight on the top and the lower half, but when reaching the ankles, they spread out, almost creating a silhouette of a mermaid tail. And being paired with it is very refined or intricate details like delicate embroidery, or thin lace.
Another huge one is draped silhouettes. They look as if someone draped a curtain over them, giving a loose look. But at the same time, it gives them their own unique body silhouette.
Theme:
Throughout the years, the main choice of themes have been popular movies! Like this year being The Wizard of Oz, and since Wicked is a newer movie. We can expect a common pattern of this, and expect next year to be similar to this too.
