Image: Instagram/@batshevadress

When you think of modern high fashion, what comes to mind? Puffed sleeves, high necklines and floral prints reminiscent of the couch you had growing up? Probably not. You’d have been surprised at New York Fashion Week, then. In case you’re wondering, the prairie dresses of the 1960s and ‘70s  (or really, the Wild West) are back. 

If you're a fan of Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, or even Bonanza, you'll recognize the flowy dresses that obviously helped bring this look back to life. In fact, if you grew up back in the '60s or '70s, you probably recognize them from your school hallway or even your closet.

Aside from our favorite TV shows, we can also thank former lawyer/designer Batsheva Hay for this revival. Hay’s label, Batsheva, launched in 2016, “takes elements symbolic of restraint and repression (high collars, voluminous sleeves and skirts) and gives them a modern inflection.” Last month, a number of models, donning ruffly garb and exaggerated retro hairstyles stormed Square Diner in Tribeca for a photoshoot. This was Hay’s first Fashion Week event, and boy, did it make an impact.

There have been rumblings about the return of this look for a while now. Back in January, Refinery 29 published an article about how the return of these dresses pays homage to a number of looks that have also had a renaissance — like the boho and Edwardian styles — describing them as “prim, fashionable and appealingly tongue-in-cheek.” The Cut published a controversial piece back in May, titled “I’d Like to Make the Case for Prairie Dresses." 

Bergdorf Goodman is selling brand new, designer prairie dresses for upwards of $3,000 but vintage lovers can find Gunne Sax or Laura Ashley originals on eBay or Depop for a more reasonable price.

You might be thinking, “OK, so the dresses I wore in high school have been covered by fashion magazines and high-end designers. That doesn’t mean people are actually wearing them again.” Well, it’s been dubbed the back-to-school trend of 2018. You didn’t save yours for your kids or grandkids, did you?

Did you own any of these dresses back in the 1970s? Would you buy another one?