Coming of Age and the High School Prom - By: Art Gib

High school is full of precious moments unique to the institution. For a few years you are surrounded by your best friends, and worst enemies, experiencing a microcosm of existence complete with its own milestones. For the first time you get to experience your first crush and heartbreak, first time getting stuffed in a locker, and that really horrible teacher who, you're certain, has ties to the Underworld. Along with all the challenges and growing experiences though, there fun activities like pep rallies, school sporting events, and proms.

Oh yes, the proms.

Virtually all high schools, and some traditional colleges, have at least one or two proms during the schools year. What started as a simple celebration for exiting students has now become a huge social event sometimes overshadowing the actual graduation. Balloons, crepe paper, plastic decorations, and flower arrangements have turned high school gyms and local meeting halls into posh black tie affairs for over a hundred years. And while the nature, scope, and fashions have changed over time one thing has remained a constant: the prom dress.

Oh yes, the prom dress.

With debutante balls, a girl's coming of age party, generally out of fashion or left for the aristocratic elite, the prom has taken over a seemingly necessary milestone in young ladies lives. And, as with all social events, the dress makes the woman. Guys have it easy because for them it's a simple black tie affair, so they slap on a tuxedo, a little aftershave, and they're ready to go. Ladies, on the other hand, must dress to impress. The hair must be perfect, the makeup flawless, and the shoes dyed to match the dress. Some girls plan for their prom almost as much as they plan for their wedding. They spend months picking out dresses, eying cut, style, and the latest celebrity trends. And, the advent of the Internet has added a whole new facet to the prom dress shopping. Traditionally girls went to local shops or traveled to nearby cities to pick a posh dress, but now girls can view literally thousands of dresses online and order them from the comfort of home.

Manufactures often have interactive web pages that display the dress in the variety of colors they offer. Such options almost guarantee that no two girls will show up dressed alike! To keep the guys in the loop, many places even offer cummerbunds, ties, and waistcoats matching the color of the dress.

While the days of the Grand Formal or Leaver's parties might be forgotten, their legacy of the posh, sometimes garish, one last party remains. Men's and women's fashion has changed greatly over the past century or more, but one thing remains: prom goers look as radiant and spectacular as the event that they attend and all that begins with a girl's dream of her prom dress.

About the Author

Jovani Fashion (http://jovani.com) sells prom dresses. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Art-Gib/28726

Additional Articles From - Home | Fashion | Clothing