Erinn Hutkin | The Roanoke Times

This prom season, local teens are wearing corsages whose wristbands are strung with sequins and colored beads. After the flowers wilt, the wristlet can be worn on its own as a bracelet.

Sissy Spacek as "Carrie" had pig's blood. Molly Ringwald in "Pretty in Pink," had a sewing machine and a hand-me-down dress. Regina George in "Mean Girls" had a neck brace and headgear.

But none of these film's famous prom-goers had what today's teens do when it comes to distinguishing themselves at the spring formal -- plenty of celebrity influence.

Red carpet fashions to rock-star style to Cary Grant classiness have combined to create this year's prom trends. The season began this past weekend and will continue well into May. Here's a look at what teens in our region are buying for the big dance.

Dresses

Seventeen magazine says the top prom trends this year include anything red or yellow, black and white, metallic-colored or boho style.

Those trends did not skip Roanoke.

Yellow dresses were the first to sell at Amrhein's Brides and Formals, a Roanoke County dress shop. Around the area, bright colors were also popular -- hot pinks, lime greens and sapphire blues.

At Amrhein's, teens also went wild for animal prints. Some were paired with eyepopping colors. For instance, the store stocked zebra-patterned gowns lined with fuschia, or leopard-print dresses in a mixture of teal, gold and black.

No matter what the color or pattern, the majority of teens chose long dresses -- and many of those floor-length gowns were covered by beads or sequins.

However, some schools set their own trends. Dorothy Osborne, owner of Panache dress shop, said teens from Hidden Valley and Cave Spring high schools seemed to favor short gowns.

In addition, Osborne said this spring marked the most white dresses she's sold in her 34 years in business. When it comes to prom, the rule on white mirrors that of a wedding. Only the bride -- or, in this case, the seniors -- are supposed to wear ivory.

As for feet, silver stilettos were high on teens' list. And when it comes to jewelry, bigger is better. Giant, dangly rhinestone earrings were the top sellers for this year's prom.

Tuxes

In a word: traditional.

No tails. No top hats and canes. No zoot suits. And definitely not the "Dumb and Dumber," in orange and powder blue.

This spring, most guys seem to be going for the basic black tuxedo -- with two or three buttons and a satin lapel.

Bow ties are also bowing out this prom season.

Ed Conant, who manages S&K Menswear in the Grand Pavilion shopping center, said this year, long Windsor ties rule. Most men order vests and ties to match their dates' dresses.

"It's become almost an unwritten law," he said of the matching tradition.

One new twist -- some girls are making sure guys match by sending their dates cellphone pictures of their gowns.

Merchants such as S&K have a palate of more than 100 colors of vests and ties, but silver, teal and champagne are the most popular this spring, perhaps because of this year's trend of metallic dresses.

Meanwhile, at Amrhein's, the big new color is brown. Bridal Manager Wayne Spencer said some guys have gone for "chocolate" -- a traditional tux that can be paired with a colored tie and vest, but the jacket and pants are cocoa-colored.

Flowers

Ladies: remember the tight, itchy elastic bands that nearly cut off your circulation while keeping your corsage blooming from your wrist?

Well, they're still around.

But now, teens have options for their corsages that will last long after the roses have wilted and the baby's breath has dried and crumbled.

Starting last year, local prom-goers began ordering corsages attached to wristlets. Strung with freshwater pearls, diamond-like crystals or acrylic beads in colors such as pink, lime green, black or clear, the wristlets are essentially a stretchy bracelet teens can keep wearing after the flowers are gone. Some even come with tiny "2008" rhinestone pins that attach to the corsage bow.

"They're a lot more comfortable to wear," said Doug Lindamood, design room manager at George's Florist.

Those placing advance orders have been specifically asking for the wristlets, Lindamood said. Cost is in the $35 to $40 range.

Hair, body and nails

Gwen Stefani may not fit the prom queen stereotype, but her rocker style is finding its way to some spring formals.

When it comes to prom, updos have long been the thing. But in recent years, Jillian Nance, a hair designer at Salem's St. Pierre Salon, has seen more celebrity influence. For instance, while upswept hair and big curls are hot, some teens want a "pump" of teased hair in the front, much like the platinum-haired Stefani. Others want to "get funky" with a mohawk of curls.

Teens also have the option of adding hair extensions dyed in colors such as pink or blue to match their dress.

As for nails, many girls are in amour with a white-tipped French manicure and toes painted the same shade as their gowns.

But fingers and toes are not the only body parts teens care about when it comes to prom. Tara Shepherd, a director at Salem's SpaVa, said appointments for spray tans are filling fast. Unlike tanning beds, one 10-minute, $20 session can turn a body bronze, at least for about a week.

In addition, some teens have visited the spa monthly since the start of the year for facials -- for their faces and for their backs. (A back facial, which the salon dubs the "sassy back," costs $70.)

And for those not genetically gifted with long, Marilyn Monroe lashes, there's a new type of falsies in the form of lash extensions. Anywhere from 10 to 40 individual strands can be attached per eye. SpaVa charges $60 for extensions, which take about an hour to apply. The extensions last roughly two to five weeks.