Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Sunday, April 30, 2006

Prom styles are set by both grade and fashion trends

By AUTUMN GROOMS / La Crosse Tribune

They’ve shopped for months for that perfect ensemble. Planned the hair, makeup, dinner reservations — the entire big night, to a T.

Prom.

But teen girls have two unwritten rules when it comes to dress choice: Hope you don’t see what you’re wearing on anyone else, and dress in a style appropriate to your grade.

Freshmen and sophomores attending prom usually choose a subtle dress, while seniors reflect their individual styles.

And juniors, well, they turn up the

fashion volume.

“Ninety percent of juniors barely fit through the door (because their dresses are so poofy),” said Kathy Walker, owner of Charlotte’s Bridal, 206 Rose St. “And the seniors, mostly they want to show their spunk.”

This year, the fashions are anything but typical, Walker said. “‘Unique’ is what everyone wants.”

Some styles — such as a purple dress with midriff-baring mesh section — “take someone who is secure in their own skin,” Walker said, adding the dress is “gorgeous on.”

Marshall Fields, Herberger’s and Deb, all in Valley View Mall, offered a number of styles this year, from short, cocktail-style dresses to movie-star looks with necklines that separate the cleavage and tease the navel.

This season’s prom styles are all about length, according to a news release from Herberger’s. Skirts are “short and sassy” as well as “long and luxurious.”

The top of the dress can have spaghetti or halter straps, no straps at all, and V-neck, plunging and sweetheart necklines.

As a parent, Sara Kessler had a few rules that weren’t always spoken when hunting for a prom dress for daughter Clare, an Aquinas High School junior.

“Price was always a factor. I’m not picking up a second mortgage to get a prom dress,” Sara said.

She also wanted her daughter to select “something that was in good taste — nothing that looked too adult. More of a pageant or cocktail dress was something I wanted to stay away from,” Sara said.

A champagne blush dress was among the first Clare tried on during a mother-daughter shopping trip to Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

To be honest, Clare said, she didn’t like the dress at first. She was looking for a “bluish” dress, not pink.

But she gave it a try and it turned out to be her favorite.

“I loved the color. It works perfect with my skin tone,” she said.

The dress has a sweetheart neckline and long, with lots of layers to give it extra poof —just what Clare was looking for.

Heather Boelke, an Onalaska High junior, fell in love with a vibrant blue, halter-style dress with sparkles while looking in various stores with her mother, Dawn.

The more revealing styles were never an issue for the Boelkes, as Heather typically dresses more conservative, Dawn said.

Ashley Nagel set out for a unique dress before deciding she had to have a red strapless gown with a high slit in front.

“I didn’t know what I was looking for, but when I saw this one, I said ‘I have to have it,’” Nagel said during one of several fittings at Charlotte’s.

Most of her classmates planned to attend prom in what Nagel called “ballroom poof.” But she wanted to stand out.

“It’s different, and I’m different,” the Central High junior said.

Logan High School principal Scott Mihalovic said the dress code at the La Crosse high school’s prom will be the same as in past years: formal and appropriate dress.

In the past, he said, they’ve had more problems with people wearing jeans than those wearing too-revealing dresses.

Autumn Grooms can be reached at (608) 791-8424, or agrooms@lacrossetribune.com.

High school proms

Saturday, May 6