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Cedartown High School
Click the picture to view other dresses in the Cedartown High School dress code for prom.
Girls who squeeze all but their cleavage, backs and midriffs into their special prom dresses may not get through the dances’ doors this spring as U.S. high schools toughen dress codes.
“We’ve never had a problem until this year,” said Hal David, principal for Cedartown High School in northwest Georgia. “It was at homecoming when we first saw the dresses our students were wearing -- and they were inappropriate, unacceptable.”
Students at Cedartown High School aren’t the only ones under greater scrutiny these days, as more American public high schools crack down on plunging necklines and thigh-high slits, educators say.
Some high school administrators say dresses have become so risqué that staff have created special presentations on acceptable attire and offering approval in advance when girls show pictures of their most-sought after style of dress.
Teen banned from prom over Confederate dress
David said the school came up with new guidelines this fall to spare everyone involved in the special day, which came last Saturday for the Cedartown Bulldogs.
He said parents complained gowns worn during homecoming were too revealing. He said he assembled a team of parents, teachers and administrators to draw up a plan, which included showing pictures of dresses deemed acceptable and unacceptable. To make sure it was accessible to Cedartown’s 1,100 students he posted it on the school’s website. He said staff also placed posters on high school walls, showing pictures of acceptable dresses.
David said students had plenty of warning before they showed up for prom at the local country club. “And to be fair, we were not trying to embarrass anybody. We just wanted our students to be appropriate,” he said. “We didn’t have to turn away anyone, we didn’t have any issues and everything was fine.”
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Seventeen magazine's Ann Shoket presents five colorful, sophisticated dresses and accessories appropriate for all shapes and sizes.
But staff at another Georgia high school had a few tears shed at the door.
“The biggest issue is cleavage and you can’t have rules for cup sizes,” said Ginger Lawrence, assistant principal at Lee County High School in Leesburg, Ga., where 375 seniors are graduating this year.
Lawrence said she chaperoned the Trojans' prom wielding a 3-inch ruler, making sure the length of hems were no more than three inches above the knees. She said she had to turn away a few students because their dresses were too risqué.
“One girl went home and put on a tank top and came back,” she said. “The other, well, we didn’t see her again.”
Courtesy of Cheyenne Niemeier
Cheyenne Niemeier, a senior at Crawford High School in Crawford, Texas, said she had no trouble finding her dress for prom this year.
In Crawford, Texas, one parent says there no question prom is a busy time for families, with parents spending up to hundreds of dollars on clothes, meals, tickets and transportation. Parents will spend about $1,078 on the big dance this year, compared to $807 last year, according to a survey by Visa. Sometimes a dress code can help families navigate through a costly purchase, said Renessa Niemeier, a parent of a senior at Crawford High School.
"We've been aware of the dress code for years, and we abide by it," Niemeier said. "Fortunately, we haven't had any troubles finding a dress. We've bought many dresses over the years, too."
Her 18-year-old daughter, Cheyenne, said she spent about $500 on her gown, adding that her friends were able to find suitable styles that comply with Crawford's dress code.
"It wasn't too hard to find a dress, if you look in the right stores," Cheyenne Niemeier said.
Video: Yearbook photo too racy? Student fights back
These days, the cuts and look seem to mirror outfits from the popular television show "Dancing with the Stars," says Catherine Moellering, executive vice president of trendspotting firm Tobe in New York City.
“Prom fashion is living in its own bubble,” Moellering said. “A lot of these girls are watching shows like ‘Real Housewives’ and the Kardashians, mimicking what they are seeing. And more or less, less has become the more.”
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Choose the hottest 10 of the 18 year olds and offer them scholarships for a Playboy "article".........let them wear or not wear what they want.
Give them a break, let them wear what they want. You gotta give the lonely boys something to look at and the soon to be luck guys something easy to take off!
Hey, people at our age don't have it anymore. So they might as well show it now, while it is wrinkle free. They are showing a Hell of a lot more than that in a Bikini, and they can wear those with a small skirt away from the beach or pool.
Give me a break, don't these people have better things to do.
I mean, they can't even drink until they are 21... Give 'em something to freaking enjoy at a lame dance.
Isn't the point of prom to have sex afterwards? Dresses like these set the mood.
@ Military Man:
I see what you mean, but we are talking about a place south of Masons and Dixon's line. Couple that with the fact Many School Administrators can give Francisco Franco's Falangistas a run for their money, and there you are....
T.R. is right!! North of the Mason Dixon they are abusing autistic 10 year olds!! Guess they haven't gotten all the way to High School yet!
What's the big deal... 3/4 of the dresses will be off within four hours... 99% will do so voluntarily in front of their dates.
Remember...Clinton gave us new definitions... Don't inhale... If she's not your wife it's not really sex (that's what I understood...my wife however didn't hear it the same)
A parent who allows their daughter to dress like a hooker surely isn't worried about their daughter having sex
Sure, let the the young adults have sex, then afterwards, a quarter of the girls can get pregnant and live a poor lifestyle. I don't have a daughter, but if I did, I would not want her to have sex at the age of 18! If men just want to go to the prom to have sex with a girl, then they truely don't love the girl.
Oh come on!! Let these women (because most are 18 and considered adults) wear what they want! It's hard to find a prom dress that isn't revealing! Let them flaunt what they have and have their day like every other generation has in the past.
My girls will not be going to a prom dressed for sex. They will be pretty and in pretty outfits, but they will not look like hookers. No, I'm not a prude. There are many, many beautiful dresses out there that don't show things that aren't public. They are fine with it so far...we will see...lol.
I am not naive, but I do know that it isn't my job as a parent to dress them for sex. If they have sex it will be with information to be safe and it won't be because mom and dad think it's fine to hang out all over.
Did anyone see the code for the boys? Canes not allowed? What if the boy's handicapped and needs it?
You have to go with the times. It 50 or 100 years from now people would look back on this article and say, oh how prudish they were back then. Just the same way we look back to how people dressed and what was considered appropriate back in the late 1800's, woman couldn't even show an ankle without being considered a "loose woman". Hell, even the legs of a PIANO had to be covered with a skirt because people were so uptight about just the WORD "leg". If it was a leg, it had to be covered. Seems pretty silly doesn't it? Well that's how all this will look it a century from now.
Ram, be honest, are the girls in the example "Trampy" or "Slutty"?
I see "pretty girls in pretty dresses."
Leee, just look at 25 years ago...I think we are more Puretanical now than we were then.
Actually, the hilarious thing is that these same school adminstrators in the South frequently require girls to wear a wrap for their senior picture.
For those who don't know what a wrap is, it's a piece of material that wraps around the breasts, leaving the shoulders fully exposed, rather like a bath towel. One has to take off one's bra straps (or wear a strapless bra) and then sit with this pinned-on wrap around one's shoulders with one's midriff exposed in front of the photographer. In the south, wraps are usually feathery. Yes, they make the girls look like prostitutes in a furry bath towel.
I refused to wear one, back in the day, and was told I would not be put in the yearbook (I was, but they tried to threaten me into complying). My daughter didn't want to wear one, but grew her hair out and draped it around her shoulders like Lady Godiva. If a girl tries to wear something less revealing, like a girl's tux (the boys wear tuxes), they are cut from the yearbook these days.
Why it is that administrators who force girls to wear a wrap for a senior photo then turn around and get upset with a flirty dress that has a high hemline is bizarre. Apparently, it's okay for the administrators to drool over the pictures, but we mustn't have the children interacting with one another that same way. Bizarre.
By the way, let's say a girl showed up to prom in a girl's tuxedo--would she be turned away?
These teenie bopper girls are reflecting the messages that advertisers, pop stars, actresses, and societal trends are feeding them. Just because the majority wants to look like some porn slut doesn't make it right and schools should enforce dress codes since the parents can't seem to do it themselves.
HAhahahahaha!!!!
This is the funniest comment I have seen all day.
You think men go to prom because they "love" the girl? LOL. Ya... there is nothing that a guy likes better than to spend money on an uncomfortable tux, an expensive dinner, and tickets to an event where he has to listen and dance to crappy music. Yup, he does all that out of "love" and not the desperate hope that the end result will be a warm place to put it.
Some of you people crack me up.
I believe students should take the Prom out of the hands of school adminstrators and hold the Prom at a venue outside the school. As young adults its already time for them to made their own decisions about life. So if they like to have control outside the school administration........ then rent a venue and take it out of the hands of school officials still trying to dictate what is acceptable or not... Besides, at age 18 its a little late to instill values and direction at this point? they are adults, so let them live as such! and I respect their right to dress conservative as well........ but let them make their own decisions.
Random, that is what contraception is for.
To all those who are all 'let them wear what they want' didnt the school pay for this dance? So no, they can't just 'wear what they want' if the school is holding it.
If they wanna 'wear what they want to wear' they can do it when they start going to clubs and @!$%#. Until then they have to abide by the rules that the person who has funded the dance.
The only dress I see unacceptable are the extreamly deep V cuts, i mean like near your belly button and the ones that if lifted 1/3'rd of an inch you see everything. Whats the big deal about the back showing? I think those dresses are beautiful, but whatever.
Enstorm: that's what my highschool did. We had a "June Jam" which was held AFTER graduation, and the school had nothing to do with it. There was no school sponsorship whatsoever. The school couldn't do anything about what went on, most of the people who went were graduated seniors and most were over 18.
As to the dresses, the sluts could wear plastic garbage bags, they won't be in them very long anyway. Those who want nice pictures for their final HS Senior prom prefer to wear something nice. The "Saintorum" Teavangelical Puritans need to get a life. The prom isn't for the parents or the school administrators, its for the students. Its time the parents and adminstrators to grow up and realize that their prescious little darlings are adults and, by extension, sexual beings.
It's a damn shame the high school has to stop them from wearing inappropriate dresses - something that any reasonable parent would have done already.
Let these girls wear what they want. You only get to go to one or two proms in your lifetime. The whole function of the prom is to warm you up for a night of excessive drinking and two minutes of sex!!!
My daughter has a date for the prom. She told the boy she would buy her half of the ticket and flowers because prom is expensive and this way he won't expect any thing afterwards. I thought she was being silly, but judging from the comments made by the "grown- ups" on here tonight, I guess she is wise.
The problem as I see it is that in todays world the heros are actually villians. The youth of today have a bunch of Hollywood stars who come on as tramps and lead their lives the same way, as their role model. If a star comes out half dressed she gets more attention than if she saved the life of someone. Brad & Jollie have 6 kids, ok 2 are adopted, and the media is alive with excitement over their "engagement?". I think they have it all in reverse! If one of my neighbors lived that way, she definately would be classed as trash. Also try to adopt a child and not be married, unless of course you are a "star" with a lot of money. Now, why in the world would a "nice" girl want to "let it all hang out" just because its prom?
Congrats to catydid...sounds like you raised a smart, responsible young lady!
Whats the big deal? I bet the cheerleaders, dance, volleyball, tennis, swimming, and track uniforms are all 3 inches above the knees. Schools go on trips to waterparks, beaches ect. and the girls bodys are exposed. The real problem is that women get jealous when another woman looks better than they do so they try to raise a stink about it. The girls should be able to express themselves how they want and wear what they want to prom as long as it isn't like a thong or g-string or something complete risque.
Stop picking on Prom Dresses for a Dress Code to the Event; one is only a teenager once---
The Education System/Schools should get on the "backs" of the teachers, and their Education Programs first, making students have a good learning experience, preparing for work, or going to a higher education school. (College, Community College, Vocational Schools, etc.).
It is EDUCATION FIRST. That is why children, young adults are in school---to learn. There is no learning at a Prom---it's about having fun, and freedom, before entering the real Adult World of big responsibilities.
Give them a "Break". I do not like the idea though, of many Seniors who spend the nights in hotels with their "dates" though. This happens frequently in our area. Now that is the parent's responsibility to teach our children good moral values, making sound decisions.
hi ,my daughter ,is now 19 years of age ,,i believe we were put on this earth ,,i feed ,clothe and lead in the right direction ,,can 't be with our children ,24-7 ,they need to learn ,to defend for themselves ,,if they get in trouble ,they need to get out by self ,,they can ask mom for questions ,,i'm a very open mom ,i talk about everything ,,when she was 3 yrs,.old i made her watch her brother be born ,,that is why today she is still a virgin ,,and most of her friends have babies,i make her babysit her brothers from time to time ,,they are special ,,most parents are afraid of what they brought into this world and can't even talk about sex with there children ,even though they have sex ,,,which is very sad,in today's world ,,there are way to many kids having kids ,,now this talk about a dress ,,every dress makes a statement ,,my daughter and i spent a lot of time looking for her prom dress,a lot she tried on made her look like a whore and i said'' what corner can i drop you off at '' and other moms looked at me ,,but i was honest and she took it off ,,and tried another ,when we were done we found the right one ,,and she looked awesome
This is hilarious/pathetic, the dress that Michelle Obama wore to her prom wouldn't make the dress code used by any of the schools in this article, and were I one of her parents she wouldn't have worn it as I completely agree with the standards cited above by MOM, OF TEENAGER. MOM is right on with her comments.
http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/04/michelle-obama-prom-dress-revealed-on-ellen;
Only in the land of freedom................Can they wear bathing suits in the school pool ? Can they wear shorts and tank tops and flip-flops to school? The only regulation should be they can't reveal their privates....Other than that this is becoming like friggin footloose..
I don't think teenagers are going to get any more or less in trouble on prom night with revealing dresses.
I think this is more parents having a problem than the teenagers. They remember what prom was like when they were that age, and are suddenly horrified that their little babies are thinking the exact same things they were thinking.
At some point, you just have to trust that you raised them right, and to stay out of trouble.
I was reading the PDF from Cedartown High School and noticed that it said no Canes are allowed. However this is a direct violation of the Americans with Disabilities Acts. If a Child needs to use a cane to walk with a school is forbidden from banning the cane. If they try to ban canes used for walking, then there are massive fines and jail time for violating the Americans With Disabilities Acts.
I hope the ACLU noticed this and I hope the High School corrects this error.
I believe they're referring to the "pimp cane" which is more of an accessory and a tasteless one at that. Anything special needs is usually an automatic exception to the rule. They would only be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act if they enforced this no cane policy against a disabled person that required assistance. Enforce meaning turning them away and citing the policy in doing so.
ACLU will only correct this if they begin receiving complaints from students stating that they are being targeted regardless of the school being aware of their needs.
Rj is correct about the cane sitation in their prom rules & regulations. This is only referring to students who are bringing canes who do not have a medical necessity for them and they are only being used for a specific look.
They need to say which one. Their notice only says Cane.
Doesn't hurt to be cleaning a gun when the young man comes over to pick up your daughter, either.
Make sure you get it assembled by the time you finish telling him what time you want her home by.....
That's what Granny Clampett did to Elly Mae's date for the prom.
Mr. Serpentine -
Most people posting here have adequate reading comprehension, at least enough to understand the High School's meaning. It is clear enough already.
The problem Magnum, is that you will find a wide range of canes from those used for costume to those used for medical needs that are listed under the "cane" category. There is no set name for specific canes except for "walking" canes and, even then, you still get a mixed search. It really comes down to the school making sure that only students authorized for cane use are allowed.
Im pretty sure they mean a pimp cane. My cousin has no disabilities or trouble walking and he went to his prom with a pimp cane to go with his suit. He had the pin-striped suit, hat, and his girlfriend went as his 'ho' and I thought they both looked ridiculous but they loved it. Im quite sure thats what the admin at the school are trying to prohibit, not actually singling out kids with mobility issues....
Remember that scene from 'Bad Boys' where Will Smith is over Martin Lawrence's house and a kid comes over to take Lawrence's daughter out? Lawrence does a patdown while Will Smith stands there waving his gun, dressed in his wife beater, loudly declaring that he'd just touched down (outta jail) and has no problem going back?
I am SOOOO glad I didn't have girls!!!! (I had two boys 11 months apart then promptly got myself spayed.)
I was a tomboy, didn't like dressing up, couldn't keep a dress clean for two seconds to save my life. I was thinking of wearing Dad's (Army, Master Sergeant) fatigues but my girlfriend argued me out of it and took me shopping (I remember wishing Mom was still alive to take me shopping, Mom had excellent taste for my Homecoming dress the previous fall.) Every time I looked at a dress I kept asking myself if Mom and/or Dad would have liked it and if the answer was no, I didn't even try it on (I think Dad would have liked m to go in his fatigues, to be honest.) My dress ended up being a navy blue tank dress with an Empire waist and floor-length chiffon skirt. Shoes were harder because I wear a size three but I wore my black ballet slippers under it and I actually had fun. My girlfriend bought heels and spent half the night complaining about her feet hurting.
Hmmm, how are we so different from muslim countries again?
Control women's reproduction: check!
Control women's wages: check!
Control women's dressing habits: check!
Wow...and I thought we were different...nope, I live in a sexist, patronizing country too...how about that.
You hit the nail right on the head, Douglas.
Amen Douglas. I was thinking the same thing. To think we have solders being killed in muslim countries. Just to give them the rights we have here in the USA. To be free to wear what ever they wish to. Guess we aren't that far apart after all. Please stop and think about all the rights we have, before you start trying to take the rights away from others. Just because you don't like something. People this is how things like this get started. Just saying.
I would dare say that the girl I took to the prom 45 years ago would have been denied entrance based on what I read here. She was a 'healthy' young lady wearing a beautiful dress but I bet the cleavage rule would have caught her too. I agree with MS above, it's the parents problem not the students. I even remember asking her mother to put her corsage on ebcuase if I had done it there would have been a feel up even if I hadn't intended to!!
I'm with you but I'll even take it a step further.
If you're an administrator with a thing for sixteen year old girls, you're going to see "sex" in a bare shoulder or leg. The only people sexualizing the girls are the administrators issuing bans on clothing that was completely acceptable for my prom in 1998.
Good for these schools for doing a job parents should be doing, and obviously some are not!! There's no reason for a teenage girl to be going to the prom dressed like a hooker!! For years, I've been looking at the photos of prom attendees from the various high schools in my area and there are always a few that I look at, and wonder what the parents were thinking letting a teen out dressed like that!! I'm no prude, believe me!! But teenage girls don't need to be wearing dresses that barely cover them!! It's a continuation of the sexualization of our young girls starting with "tweens"!
I agree. There are a lot of parents out there who are turning a blind eye when it comes to what their children wear, especially to a formal event where there are strict guidelines as to what is allowed. But another part of the problem may be that some parents are not aware due to the "bait & switch" method. Girls walk out wearing something that the parents knew was within the dress code policy, but change prior to reaching the event. I knew a few girls who pulled that to some of the formal events I attended in high school 10-12 years ago. They were denied entry until they corrected the problem, but girls still tried it.
Glad to finally see someone I agree with, Packersfan! I can't believe the attitude of some of these posters, assuming all 18 year olds are sex crazed sluts and whores. My friends and i weren't many years ago; and we're raising our children to have morals and ethics. I would assume that most kids are good kids, who certainly have thoughts/desires/curiousity, but if they are raised right and told what the expectations are, they will abide by them. I've got one son in college, another in high school and a daughter about to enter highschool, and we've had many discussions about what is and isn't appropriate, I'll probably show them this article tonight to discuss. I'll ask my son what he saw at the two proms he attended, and what he thought. I've always been a parent to my kids first, not a friend; our influence must and should be the strongest in their lives; people who have low expectations are lazy and not willing to fight for their kids' futures. Anyhow, glad the schools are dialing it back, and there are other parents who think it is a good thing.
I would venture to say that most of the posters encouraging these young girls to wear what they want, do not have daughters themselves.
I think it's sad that the assumption here is that ALL young girls going to the prom have sex immediately after and that it's "natural". If that's the case, then all those young men better start saving wads of money to help support these girls and their babies when they end up pregnant. Prom only lasts one night, but child support lasts 18 years!
Yeah per some of the pics I've seen on FB, I used to wear more clothes when I went to the clubs in my 20s. My prom dress was knee length and kind of tight but it was all ruched so it wasn't form fitting like some of the others.
So while we're on the topic of dresses on teen girls, my peeve are those skimpy little two-piece bathing suits mothers put on toddlers. Have you seen those? Walk into any Walmart and take a look. It's practically a walking advertisement to a pedophile!
If you allow your three year old to walk around a public pool in one of those, then you know whose responsible for the teen girl dressed like Britney Spears.
Whoa! I think you are looking into this way to hard. I let my 2 year old wear a two piece, but it is not exactly a bikini. I'm not setting her up to look like a slut. I just thought the swim suit was really cute. Oh and just a little side note....NOTHING is going to stop a pedophile from looking at your kid. It doesn't matter if you make them wear a burlap sack, a pedophile will still ogle at them and they will probably do it right under your nose without you even noticing. Sadly, there is very little you can do to stop that.
I can assure you that even though my little 2 year old wears a two piece bathing suit, she won't look like Brittany Spears at prom. There are lots of very pretty dresses out there that are not too revealing and at a good price. You just have to know where to look. I wore a beautiful black satin dress. It had capped sleeves, had a boat neck line, and was partly open in the back. It was simple, but very pretty because it also had touches of black lace. I found it and purchased it with my own money. I also went stag and had an amazing time, and I didn't sleep with anyone afterwards. I didn't feel the need for that. I hope that my daughter will have a similar experience, but if she goes with a boy she will be home no later than 12. I won't have any of this staying out over night crap.
Agreed Amanda. A friend of mine and I were walking through a mall 4 years ago and saw a group of four 11 and 12 year olds walking alone. We couldn't believe what they were wearing. Midriffs and real short shorts and skirts. One girl was wearing a skirt so short that it was just barely covering her butt. No parents in sight and no older siblings walking with them. We both commented on what the hell the parents were thinking about not only letting these girls wander alone at their age, but to do so dressed like they were.
I also agree with you. This is a school-sponsored event these students are going to, and after looking at the dress code, I don't think it's that unreasonable. There are plenty of gorgeous dresses out there that don't show tons of cleavage and aren't cut to just barely cover things up.
Reminds me of the time I dropped my son and his friends off at their 8th grade dance. Quite a few of the the 13-14 yr old girls where dressed in glittery/sparkly, tight dresses cut very low in front and in back...waaaay low. I told my son and his friends "stay away from the girls that sparkle". And, I bet they listened to my motherly advice. ;)
They are just coming off right after the prom anyway.
$1,078 for the prom? That's almost as ridiculous as spending $25,000 on a wedding.
In the NY Metro area $25,000 for a wedding would be a bargain at some fraternal hall like the VFW and no live music.
Hell, I rented an island and still kept the wedding under $4000 - a few years back. These people are just throwing money away.
Okay, we're cheapskates, no doubt about it. My granddaughter's prom dress was $15. It was on markdown because the maker had made a few errors in the cut. I shortened the strap and took in one side of the bust. (It was a weird mistake, but an easy fix). It was way too long for everyone but her (she's 6' 3"). It was perfect fit when I got done with it, and it was easily one of the classiest gowns at the prom. Cleavage--yes, but tastefully presented. Flowers: we did them ourselves for about $10, for both the corsage and boutonniere! Tickets we had no control over, but they weren't that much. The ride: The Hummer worked perfectly (yeah, we are lucky on that one.). The young man's tux was about $100. So for less than $200, both kids went to prom and we didn't break the bank.
As far as appropriate attire for prom, parents really need to think about what their children are wearing. It's part of our/their job to make sure they aren't making a fool out of themselves, their dates, and their school. Admittedly, some girls have wonderful taste, are classic, and present no trouble at all. On the other hand, some just don't get it. (The trashy Kardashians and the outrageous Lady Gaga do them no favors as role models.) Guidance is necessary to get them where they need to be.
It's quite alright and attractive to be in vogue and on the cutting edge. It's another whole ball game to look like a tramp out of a cheap men's magazine.
You probably shouldn't put your granddaughter, prom, and hummer in the same paragraph.
I asked Santa Claus for a Hummer with lots of chrome - he sent me a cheerleader with braces.
hiyoooooooooooooooo.
Oh dang, romanm and StoneCold -- you made me laugh out loud!! Thanks!! However, I do agree it's the parents' job to determine what is acceptable for the prom WITHIN the general dress code for the school.
As my wife has said for years: it's all about choices! We paid for our own wedding, had a great reception with 300 people ( 21 years ago ) and paid 8000, my cousins were getting married about the same time for 2 to 3 times more, with less people and less fun. There is no reason to rent fancy limos or trucks; just wash and wax mom or dad's car... The dresses people buy are rediculous, spend some time and look for mark downs or used ( only been worn once! ), no one will know but your pocketbook! Have a nice cookout, or have a mom who can cook do a nice meal. it will still be a memorable night, just not about the price but the fun and uniqueness of it all.
You're right, I should have said limousine. (Actually, it's a family member with the "fancy" car, but we didn't need to shell out for it either. LOL)
Come to think about it, it saved us hundreds of dollars, so go ahead and say it--HUMMER 3!!!
(At least this isn't CNN's vine. All of their commenters have their minds in the gutter, react violently, or criticize every thing from a pretty baby to a loving grandma. At least on Newsvine, you folks have a sense of humor!)
PittDeacon got it right. My daughter's wedding cost me about two grand. I made all the dresses (cathedral wedding dress and veil, too). I also made all the bridesmaids dresses, flowers girls, mine, and the ring bearer outfit. I even remade a tuxedo the night before the wedding for one of the groomsmen that couldn't afford the suit. It's amazing what one can find (at Goodwill) and alter at the last minute.
I grew my own flowers in my little garden and filled in with silk. I cooked the entire buffet and fed about a hundred people (and they took a lot home, too). We rented a room from the city (in a big public building) for next to nothing, and they supplied the tables and chairs! We made our own invitations that were quite unique and attractive. Party favors, table cloths, aisle runners, organist, you name it, we did it ourselves. We started six months ahead of time to make as much "stuff" as possible, and I don't think David Tutera would have been disappointed with our results.
A photography student from the school of art was hired to take the pics. He made more money in two hours than he had in the whole week previous--and we fed him, too. Same went for the DJ.
We even baked the cakes (cheese cakes--a variety!)
Was it something that would have been called spectacular? No. But it filled the bill. Nothing was lacking and nothing was missed. And I didn't have to hock the house to get it done. As a matter of fact, I didn't owe a dime when it was over.
For prom, I can understand wanting to be the best you can be, but spending ridiculous amounts of money on it doesn't really matter. If the spirit and heart of the attendees is in the right place, they could wear potato sacks and still be spectacular.
Hell yeah Zapper way to do it..
We made my daughter's homecoming dance dress.. LOL She wanted a Lady Gaga look.. Not hookerish but gaudy.. Took something that looked like flaming pink picnic blanket (kinda plastic feeling), made a very long dress with one strap, the other strap was of this feather boa material, the trim across the front was feather boa, she had a nice little slit up the side of the leg right above the knee with feather boa trim.. It was adorable, outrageous and not sluttish.. This year for her junior prom she has this lavender run of the mill type dress, nothing showing so all is good.. However next year for senior prom it might be a little different..
My wedding was the same way, tragic crap came in threes and wiped us out financially 2 weeks before. We had deposits paid but couldn't pay the bills after all the crap we had went threw in that short time, we cancelled it all and did a potluck. We got married in my grandmother's house where my grandfather laid after he died.. Got the only Celtic ministers in portland to perform the wedding..
Husband wore a tie, dress shirt and slacks. I wore a dress from a off-brand store.. Nothing fancy but 13 years later it still means more then something shallow..
Sorry about my grammar.. Kiddo had a 3 hour surgery yesterday and very rough recovery, just got home from the hospital today, and getting my blog on before I nap..
Ok.... I understand that prom is a tradition and a right of passage for most high school kids, but the prices they are paying for 4 hours of "semi-entertainment" is ridiculous. It cost me close to 500 bucks to take my girlfriend to the prom and that was 15 years ago. That was just for the tickets, half of her dress and my tux rental. It was the exact same as a regular day in the cafeteria, just add a bad DJ, and you've got the prom. After all the hype, I have to say, it was the biggest waste of money and effort.
The price is irrelevant here - you did not have to do it - you did whatever made you happy at that time, and you were able to afford it, since you paid it.
Why in the world would it be your responsibility to pay for half of her dress?
If you paid for half the dress you should have the right to remove it.
Deemo, I agree completely! I skipped my senior prom, figured it was a waste of time and money! Went all night bowling with my buddies, had a blast! The next year a young lady had the courage to ask me to go to her senior prom so I said yes, and while I made the best of it, it confirmed my suspicion that it was much ado about nothing. Same with formals at college. Save your money and time, just have a nice date some other time.
We won't be paying that for two girls, I can assure you. That is more than my wedding dress. I mean really...the whole thing has gotten way out of control.
WHAT??? has fashion changed again???? We NOW DON"T want our children, girl children DRESSED as HOOKERS or Porn STARS for their career when they 'grow' up???? Government in Bed with MAFIA and Nothing is GOOD and Nothing is Sacred - and look how far we slid.
Someone forgot their medication this morning...
Where do we dig up these puritanical fossils sitting in judgement of these girls' dresses? I saw this on the news last night; it would have been expected at some fundicongelical private school, but that ass-istant principal was just being a beetch. Why are we flashing back to 1968?
Believe me, some of the dresses on the "acceptable" list wouldn't have been allowed in 1968!! They wouldn't have been found in a store for girls this age in 1968!!
The girl I took to the prom wore a long gown and no panties. We had a great night!!!
Life was better in 68, maybe? Less teen pregnancies... less children born out of wedlock, almost doomed to a life in poverty...less drug and alcohol abuse to hide the negative emotions and self hatred? maybe that is why some decent people are trying to restore pride, self worth, discipline and morals?
It isn't being ridiculous. What's ridiculous is parents saying they'll have sex anyway so who cares if they dress for it. Puritanical now means that we expect kids to not look like they need to be on corners looking for work?
The dresses I saw on the acceptable list were pretty. No, I'm not conservative nor am I religious. But we do teach our kids about modesty, self-esteem, safety, sex, and that they can say no if they choose to do so. if they choose not to say no they will be educated about their options, but I assure you we won't be spending a fortune on their dresses nor will be we dressing them with the plan that prom equals sex. Really, not all teens have sex on that night and maybe if people weren't telling them it is expected they wouldn't be so pressured. How sad that covering their privates and looking beautiful without looking like a hooker is considered by some to be puritanical nowadays. Wonder where that teen pregnancy issue comes from?
So yes, kids do stupid things. If they know their parents support them as people and are there if they need help, and they are armed with knowledge and a sense of independence and confidence they at least have a chance of being okay. Oh, and not wearing a f**k me dress that gives everyone around them the message that they are available after the dance might help, too. Kids are sexual beings of course, but they are people with hearts and brains, too, and they have parents to help them learn boundaries along the way.
What is this I see; the right wingers wants more rules and regulations. Oh, I forgot, they only want more rules for the stuff they want to impose on everyone else not on things they want to do.
Sounds like a good setting for remake of "Footloose" - this is YOUR prom, so we want you to have fun! Just a few simple rules - no revealing dresses, no boys in sloppy clothes, no dancing, no breaking, no cutting up allowed - but enjoy yourselves!
I think I'll open a burka rental concession, let's make it really safe!
Would the school Administrator be related to Alessandra Mussolini, or Francisco Franco y Bahamonde, per chance???
Welcome to backwoods US of A where sex sells everything, from your baby supplies, groceries, meds, cars to real estate, however, it is inapropriate to dress certain ways. Even China gave that up :). Got to love it!
If the prom is actually on school grounds then I would expect some kind of code to be inforced. But if the event is off school grounds, then take your code and stuff it.
Even if it's off school grounds, it's still a school sponsored event, and subject to the student handbook/code of conduct. Think about field trips, you don't get a free pass just because you're off school grounds. If the students get a hotel room and have an after party, then they can do as they please.
If my parents were cool with what I was wearing, the school has nothing to say about it. It's just that simple. My parents are responsible for me, not the school. If this doesn't work, then let the parents sign a waiver for the school. Then the school has nothing to say.
No school code of conduct exists if the parents sign a waiver releasing the school's responsibility for dress attire. If there is a fire or something like that, then obviously that is a different subject. Who are these enforcers anyway? From Iran? Gotta cover up everything but the eyes? Sad days.
Maybe Mom or Dad goes with the kid. Then what is the school going to say?
Reba - if your parents sign a waiver, it can absolve them of enforcing a safety rule for you, not a behavioral guideline. School administrators would laugh at a note that said "My child can take off their shirt in class because we just moved from Alaska and the school is too hot for them." You're still going to have to abide by the student handbook with regards to your behavior, including your attire. My parents let me wear a swimsuit to the beach. I could wear that same swimsuit in swimming class, but not in any other part of the school and not when I went to the beach with a biology class on a field trip.
There was a situation in a school where I worked where a grandmother bought her grandchildren who were students at the school a Bob Marley shirt with a blatantly obvious drug reference on it. As a parent of another student, would you want that around your child? The administrators forced the students to either change, wear the shirts inside out, or to go home.
There are appropriate times and places for varying types of attire. Even as adults, we are subject to the same rules, just in different forms. I can't wear sweats to the symphony, and I'm going to get a lot of stares for wearing my tux to the grocery store. There are even some businesses that enforce a dress code. Just think of all the beachfront establishments that say "No shirt, no shoes, no service."
As for the enforcement being a little heavy handed, maybe. During class time it's absolutely appropriate to have the girls cover up a little more and the guys keep their pants on their hips. The intent is to keep kids focused on their studies and not each other while in the classroom. When you're at a school function that doesn't involve studying, that intent becomes moot. Maybe the answer is a more granular section of the handbook that defines behavior and attire at other functions.
My parents chaperoned a school formal once, but I was still required to have the suit and tie on, despite their presence. I was held to a higher standard than the rest of the students because my parent's rules were more strict than the school's. To say I was livid would be an understatement (not so much at the standards my parents or the school put forth, but because my parents were at a high school dance with me).
Why is the issue only being raised at prom? What kids are wearing to school on a daily basis is every bit as revealing as what this article is discussing--low-cut tight tops, bare midriffs, super-short shorts, or low-rise jeans that reveal all. My 17 y/o son (hardly a Puritan himself) is disgusted with what so many girls in his school wear--they leave nothing to the imagination. It seems pretty inconsistent to let it be permissible every day at school, then feign shock and dismay when it comes time for prom.
Maybe he should focus on educating his larger head.
We have a dress code. It's called parents. If the parents are willing to let their child wear something, who am I to interfere? Why do people think it is their right to force their opinions on others' children, and the key word here is "force." You may hate a particular dress that someone else loves. You may think a dress is too revealing while someone else does not. They key here is you have every right to decide what you will permit your own child to wear, but not what my child will wear or what someone else's child will wear. If you disagree with parents, too bad! It's simply not your call, any more than how they wear their hair or piercings or tattoos. If the dress is street legal, then you can cluck, cluck like old hens all you want -- that, after all, is your first amendment right -- but allow me the right to make decisions regarding my own children.
Sorry to hear your son has to deal with that. The public school district I send my kids to has a much stricter dress code, none of what you describe would be permitted. There are still things that make my head turn when I'm at school functions, but it isn't as bad as you describe. Hope it improves!
Our schools here have dress codes from K up and I am glad. They aren't super strict, but they keep things where they belong and I don't have a problem with that. Parents "should" be parenting, but some don't. Some kids try to sneak out with crap on and the school catches it. It's how things are supposed to work. You want your kids to wear revealing stuff or nasty slogans on tee shirts they can do it off school grounds.
Reba--You missed my point. What I attempted to explain was that for a 17 y/o boy to disapprove of how teenage girls dress says a lot. Educating his larger head, as you put it, is not the issue (he's a straight-A, honor student, carrying a full AP academic load, btw...). Neither he nor I believe in the clothes police, but there is a time and a place for everything, and school may not be the environment where you want your daughter's T&A hanging out for all to see, regardless of her need to express her individuality. But the main point I hoped to make, regardless of how one thinks kids should dress at school, is that it makes no sense to take an "anything goes" approach every other day of the school year, then all of a sudden insist that modesty should prevail at prom.
this is america
Yeah, land of hypocracy. Sex is all over our advertising, movies, and internet. But then when it comes to high school, we expect them to dress like puritans.
Maybe the answer is to get the sex out of the advertising, movies and internet? Instead of turning our kids into anti-puritans?
Well said, Pitt. That is the obvious answer, but you will find most people like it there or they wouldn't be buying the products advertised. Sucks, but true.
Oh my, here we have the do gooders again ruining every-body's life and fun. Don't you hate this small mindedness in America??? I do.
On one hand I just read an article that identified a young child that had been starved to death by his parents (apparently), and here we are concerning ourselves about some stupid dresses for a prom. What kind of a sick society are we anymore??? We totally forgot what is and is not of value. These church mice and their idiotic outlooks don't belong here and should be sent where they can live by their own stupid rules without bothering honest people.
Oh my, here we have the people who don't get that parenting and running a school system sometimes means setting boundaries to protect our children or help prepare them for a successful life. Maybe it isn't of value to you, but that doesn't mean it isn't of value. Maybe if that child had been parented by people who cared about him and took care of him he wouldn't have starved. Labeling those who care about how their kids dress is a bit of what you called others in my view. But I'll just take care of my kids and have them follow the school dress code, and you do what you want with yours for the prom.
What we need on here is the parents of the girls going to prom this year, especially the fathers. I'd rather read what they have to say. When it's not your kid it's easy to say let her go looking like a slut on the prowl. My daughter didn't go to prom looking like a whore neither will my grand daughters. Unlike those red carpet Hollywood sluts that try to out do each other with how much tit they can show. These girls are 18 years old let them dress pretty and even be a little bit sexy, after all they are young adults, but keep the street walker look out of the prom.
The prom is a school activity, often held on school grounds, and you have to purchase a ticket to attend. As long as they are reminding students and parents about the dress-code before tickets are purchased, there's really no reason for anyone to need to be turned away at the door, and I have no sympathy for anyone who either doesn't get the message in time or chooses to ignore it and is turned away. Once you buy the ticket for the event, you agree to follow the rules for the event. And since the dress-code they are citing for dances doesn't seem to be any more rigorous or modest than what is allowed in school on a day-to-day basis, I don't see the problem.
This kind of reminds me about the girl who was recently turned away at the door of her prom because she had chosen to show up in a short, trashy confederate flag dress and flip-flops despite being warned weeks in advance that it was not an appropriate choice and what the consequences could be of wearing it. She and her mother then chose to make a big stink about her being turned away, even though she was warned in advance, and was given the opportunity at the door to change dresses and then come back, which she chose not to do. Every single part of that was her own fault, and the fact that she and her mother made a stink about it as though it was a violation of their rights actually made them look even worse than they already did for the choice off dress.
The dress was an inch above her knee and didn't show any cleavage at all. If that's what you call short and trashy, then that's fine but an inch above her knee isn't that short at all.
Some girls want to go to prom and look like a Princess. Some want to go looking sexy (or like a high-priced call girl). She wanted to go looking like a redneck. Poor girl really needs help!
Even Elly Mae Clampett had enough class not to wear flip flops to her prom........
d.marks - Sorry, I should have said she looked like trash in the dress, not that it was short. But it was absolutely tacky. Even if it hadn't had the confederate flag-like detail on the side, it would have looked like a Salvation Army special, especially when you add in thick-soled thong sandals for footwear.
Prom dresses should be like a good book, short enough to be interesting but long enough to cover the subject.
Priceless, Jim. Priceless! LOL
Agree 100%!!
With a little innuendo but nothing explicit?
I always thought "innuendo" was an Italian suppository.
Haha stone that was funny I don't care who said it.
Has everybody forgotten that these are children. I don't like to see 16 yr olds dressing like they're 25. That's the real problem, we've pushed these kids out of childhood from the moment they could sit up and now the price is being paid. I've seen kids hardly more than toddlers being dressed like street walkers and now you're worried that the prom dress they chose was revealing. Wakeup people you dug the hole you've fallen into.
And like most children that age they are pining to reach adulthood. I know I was at the time, my childhood stunk. And when I reached 18, I first filled out my Selective service form, then made a beeline for the courthouse to register to vote. I would have made a beeline for the 3.2 (Colorado in 1984) but I do not drink - by choice.... Still don't
Kitty you are right. It is a school function, the school sets the standards and makes the rules. Like it or do not come. Like romanm said after the dance they are all comming off anyway...who knows where.
1. Wear nothing more revealing than a bikini. Though going naked might be more of a deterrent than you might think.
2. Parents of party goers sign a pledge to support all children conceived that night.
Conceived that night? That's up to the girl keeping certain anatomy shut.
Reba - I'm no biologist, but last time I checked, it requires both a female and a male to conceive a child. I'll check again. Maybe millions of years of science have changed since the last time I checked.
Reba-587597: Conceived that night? That's up to the girl keeping certain anatomy shut.
What should the boy do with his "certain anatomy"?
Keep his pants zipped, of course. Silly!
Biology works the same as it has for thousands of years, no need to check. Oh, wait...there have been reports in Greek mythology, Christianity and other sources...but I think that was all hearsay.
...Reba, Reba, Reba, welcome to the 21st century. Sex ed is standard and we ALL know it takes two to tango. Blaming it on just the girl is SO 1950s, geez.....
Wrap that rascal!
You gringos are so primitive. You have to make laws to allow women to breast feed their babies and now you're cracking down on prom dresses. The hem lengths in the unapproved dress photos are seen here all the time. On the street, in the market, on the buses. Women here show more cleavage and back than do those pictured dresses. They nurse their children up to 2 1/2 years of age wherever and whenever and no one stares or thinks twice about the most natural of human behaviors. A man having a conversation with a women who begins nursing her child doesn't have to excuse himself, turn his head, and won't blush or get aroused. I never would have believed that until I lived here a while. Absolutely primitive in your collective thinking and acceptance of foolish mores. Oh, where am I? In a more civilized country, El Salvador. Come visit us.
El Salvador Civilized??!?!? Now thats a Joke!
Where in Central el salvador, where people would cut your hand off to get your watch, rob you in broad daylight to steal your jewelery.
Where trash is everywhere!! Oh yes Ive been to elsalvador for a month with my ex wife. Nothing but Barbaric people down there!.
Civilized! What a JOKE!!
America makes a huge deal out of nudity, everyone here would gain a lot of perspective by spending some time on euro nude beaches. Kids wouldn't turn it into a vice if parents didn't make a big deal out of it.
...they also pee and defecate on the streets of El Salvador......should we encourage that too?.....
"they also pee and defecate on the streets of El Salvador......"
So what? They do it in New York too.
Mr. Whoops -
You are describing Philadelphia and NYC.
"You gringos are so primitive...Absolutely primitive in your collective thinking and acceptance of foolish mores. Oh, where am I? In a more civilized country, El Salvador."
I hear that you guys are beginning to give Thailand a run for their money with the sex tourism trade. I also understand that the amount of El Salvadorian children turning to prostitution, along with your pornographic industry, is growing at a phenomenal rate due to the excruciating lack of eduction and racking poverty. Way to go, keep up the good work!
You think it's bad now, just wait until the Secret Service gets there.
Secret Service (and Obama) went to El Salvador last year with similar results.
Where are the parents...? Then again... we have mama's dressing up their little 3,4,5, 6 year olds like hookers for beauty pagents... and the pagents allowing it.
Times sure have changed...
Sure some dresses are not appropriate for school events but the pictures the school has provided in the pdf make little sense, there's no visible difference in some the inappropriate/appropriate dresses. It's like they picked those dresses at random. One dress on the acceptable list has a low rise back same as one on the unacceptable list.
The one on the unacceptable list went lower in the back than the waist.
The dresses in the photos of the article, there is nothing wrong with any of them. You see these on the streets at night and on tv all the time. Heck teenagers wear less than this going to school daily.
I'm wondering the same thing. I guess it's all in necklines and, like Lifelong pointed out, how low it goes? I can see a few unacceptable ones that I understand, but a handful that just make no sense. Like the black one at the top of the article here. Eh, low-cut but it really doesn't even look like a sexy dress.
Layla - I agree about the black one. I don't see anything inappropriate about that one at all. There was a green short one in the acceptable list that I thought should have been in the "banned" list. There were several similar dresses in the two lists that I couldn't tell why one was acceptable & one wasn't.
Prom is just stupid anyways, wasteful spending of money, for no reason. Just have a dance you dont have to dress up for. You dont have to spend 3,000$ for dress and limo, sheeeesh.
Its Overrated and DUMB!!
I tend to agree. It is soooo memorable at that time. 10 years later you don't even remember what you wore or the theme. I'd rather have had my parents just give me the cash!