Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Yep, all the prom dresses I've noticed lately are either black or
    white. My 14 yr. old babysitter is looking for a black dress for the jr
    prom she's attending....
    

    Debby -->  What's so wrong with black?  I love black dresses.  
    	       Is there a certain age that mother's hold magical for
     	       black?  I remember my mother throwing a fit when I wanted
    	       my first black dress...it was nothing compared to the
    	       fit she had when I told her I wanted a black wedding dress.	
    
    Roberta
    

    It's not the age, it's the season.  Black is a winter color.  The prom
    is in mid-May.  This dress would have been perfect for the Winter
    Carnival.

    Black is presently the high-fashion color for any season.  
    
    My 17-year-old is going to be looking for a black dress for her
    senior prom next year. 
    
    --bonnie

    My 17 year old made her self her prom dress. It is black with a rose
    flounce on the bottom. It is quite elegant.
    
    Bonnie

    
    I don't agree that black is a winter color. 
    Black is an elegant color for any season.
    
    
    Eva

    The little black dress is the "in" thing right now - and is
    worn through all seasons. Just take a look at some of the
    magazines out there - little back dresses are featured in
    almost all the pictures of fancy dresses.  If it's modest
    enough, and to your liking, I say go for it!!!!
    
    Val
    

    I must confess I had the same reaction a couple years ago of oh how
    awful wearing a black dress to the prom.  I was, at the time, observing
    the preprom picture taking of the young lady next door.  I too though
    isn't there a better color.  But as I saw this I also saw an elegant
    style, a full black strapless gown with several tiers of pink ruffles
    down the back, and the above elbow gloves to complete the picture.
    This girl in anything but "petit" and it looked lovely on her.  The
    following year she work a similarly styled bright red gown to the senior 
    dance, personally I liked the black better in comparison.
    
    Because of an organization I am quite active in, I've recently been out 
    looking for gowns, not black but other specific colors. It's kind of
    funny that when I asked for mauve pink and colonial blue they called
    those "winter colors", but I got bargains since it was the past season.
    And just because  it is prom season I've had the opportunity to see the 
    *in* colors for this year's prom season.  Yes there IS a lot of black, 
    but usually accented with pastel ruffles.  Also I've seen almost as much
    WHITE, peach and light blue too recently.
    
    To the basenoter, I believe by you node you may be local to Central MA,
    try Sylvia's in Worcester for stylish and affordable prom dresses. 
    (Yes, they had quite a selection in black and ruffles)
    I've gotten several of my gowns there and they will alter them for you.  
    Try JC Penny's in Manchester CT as another option, extremely low prices
    down there.  But you're on your own for alterations.

    Well, I guess it's time for me to come into the 90's.  Or at least to
    not try to stop my daughter from living there!  Me, I still do not wear
    white shoes until after May 30, and pack them away Labor Day weekend.

    So, today, at lunch, I will go and but her here black prom dress.  And
    prepare for the barrage of "oh you didn't let her do that!" from MY
    mother...

    Thanks to all for your opinions and support.

    Debby

    I was talking to a neighbor who also has a teenage daughter about
    this yesterday and the neighbor said she had always thought that
    black was a correct, sophisticated color for any occasion, any
    season -- when she left college to work in the big bad city, one
    of the wardrobe essentials her mother insisted she buy was a
    "basic black cocktail dress."  (and a pillbox hat. . . )
    
    To her, the issue was whether a 16-year-old (hers) was old enough
    to wear something as sophisticated as black, since 16-year-olds
    are supposed to be tender and innocent.
    
    We decided that the only real issue was whether the girl in
    question looks good in a particular black dress . . .
    
    --bonnie
    
    p.s. my neighbor still wears the dress.  But not the hat. 

    Sigh...I couldn't believe what young ladies were wearing last year
    when son attended his prom!  I guess it's a sign of my age and he
    couldn't wait to tell me so.  I was more surprised by the length of
    gowns rather than color.
    
    

    Well, as I said, with your help I convinced myself that black was OK. 
    So I bought the dress and brought it home.  She (of coarse) immediately
    tried it on.  She came down the stairs with a long face and said, "I
    think you're right.  Maybe we should go back and get the white one."
    
    ARGHH!  She'll be 17 in May, and I've been waiting nearly a decade to
    hear "you're right", about ANYTHING!!  
    
    I think that teenagers should be outlawed.  (Just kidding :-)

    
    
    Hang in there ... you'll be 'right' soon.  My daughter will be 18 in
    June and this past year has been great.  I felt the same as you until
    she was about 17 1/2, and she suddenly became my best friend. She
    actually listened to me these past few months about colleges ... and
    now seems to value my opinion.  Now if I could only do the same with
    my 15-year-old  ;-)
    
    BTW, her prom dress is black and white, mostly black, and her two best
    friends are also wearing black.  It's the 'in' color ...
    
    Kathy

    Speaking of prom dresses and length -- what length is "in" this
    year?  Are short formals (what I'd call a "cocktail dress" for an
    older woman) more prevalent than long ones?  How dressy?  The ads
    seem to be trying to sell you something that looks like what Vanna
    White wears to turn letters, but Kat laughed at most of them. 
    
    --bonnie

    
    
    I think all lengths seem to be 'in' this year.  Nikki's is almost
    full length .. 5 inches from the floor with 2 1/2 inch heels, but
    her friends are wearing full length to tea length to short and twirly.
    The style with the front tea length and the back full length seems to
    be very popular ... and very pretty.
    
    Kathy

    Bonnie, Lolita isn't going to prom this year, but has the last couple
    of years and the formals have been short, and black, black and white or
    white.  (She trades with a few friends)  They refer to the long formals
    as "Cinderella Dresses, yuck!"  I guess the basic "little black dress"
    look has been the standard out here.  
    
    Meg  

    When I was at JC Penny's, right around Easter, it seemed that the
    "Tea-length" was in. That's the length that hits about mid-shin.
    
    Again I saw a lot of mauve and pinks, and many real vivid colors like
    bright greens and royal blues.  Not as much black at Pennys, but have
    seen a lot at Sylvia's in Worcester, and a lot of white, off whites and
    ivory's too and pale peach in other stores.
    
    What's sort of nice this year is to see them wearing gloves, nice lacey
    elbow length ones, and silk flowers and bows in the hair. Rather
    sophisticated IMO.
    
    Lyn

    Oh yes, I forgot to mention what seems to be important this year is not
    necessarily the HEM length as much as the DEPTH of the front!  They
    seem to be cut quite low and off the shoulders this year....!!
    
    (Is this the sign of a "generation gap" or what?)
    
    Lyn

    My daughter's dress (which she may or may not actually wear) has long
    (to the wrist) black lace sleeves.  She is thinking about gloves. 
    Do you even wear gloves with a long sleeve?  As the dress is all black,
    I guess the gloves would be too?  

    This is ages old, but I remember the rule of thumb is wrist length
    gloves are correct with any length sleeve.  To the elbow gloves are for
    short sleeves, above the elbow gloves are correct with sleevless or
    strapless gowns.  White fabric is the proper color, but the kids seem
    to go for the fashionable ones made of lace, or the fingers cut off, or
    beads on the lace, or bows at the wrist, and I have seen some pastel
    colors maybe even some black lace!?.  I recently got a pair at the
    Auburn Mall in that store that sells nothing but accessories, gloves,
    hair ornaments, scarves etc.  If you want I check the name of it for
    you, they had a great selection.
    
    Of course MEN can wear gloves too, just check any tuxedo shop like Mr.
    Tux. My husband even owns a pair of white gloves, but that's for his
    Fire Dept dress uniform, for formal things like parades and funerals.
    
    Have fun with this!
    Lyn

    in re .20

    the dress that Judi made is ankle length but it may need 'coffee'
    (old joke) to 'stay up all night' on top.. tho it does have sleeves
    for assistance.

    Bonnie

    Well, the prom was Sat. night.  She looked beautiful.  The pictures we
    took didn't come out very well; hopefully the ones taken at the prom
    will be better.  Part of the reason the pictures came out bad was that
    Alicia and her date couldn't relax.  Add to the nervousness of being so
    very dressed up the fact that he is now "going with" her best friend. 
    Such a soap opera.