Prom Night Formal, Where?

Senior prom is a weird time of meticulous preparation and high expectations that it rarely lives up to. For Houston Texas teen, Marche Taylor, this is an understatement.

Madison High's prom took place at the Sugar Land Marriot. But Marche only got as far as the lobby because when she tried to enter the ballroom an official stopped her.
She was told her custom made dress violated a school dress code.

"She shook her head, she was like you are not getting into this prom," said Taylor. "We were arguing back and forth because I wanted to know why I can't get into my prom."

“I actually like the dress. Everybody else likes my dress,” Taylor said.


Even after offering to provide more cover, Taylor was still denied access to her final and most important high school dance.

Madison High School Principal Aubrey Todd said the dress was inappropriate and violated the rules. There were specific midriff rules that actually allow one inch of skin to show.

“It was revealing in such nature it was not appropriate for the prom,” Todd said.

At that point, Taylor said she was furious and demanded her money back.

Things got so bad, the next thing she knew, someone had called the police. Officers showed up, handcuffed her and escorted her out.

“They didn’t give me any options but to go to jail or go home,” she said.
And she still loves her prom dress, even though in the end it will cost her dearly.
Taylor was not charged and was eventually released.

OK folks. This is what I want to know. How did this young woman get to this point? She had her dress custom made. Who would do that? She brought it home. Are there any thinking adults anywhere near her? She had a date and I noticed he was in formal attire. Aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, friends, neighbors, the limo driver...anybody, ANYBODY??? There was no one to guide this kid as to what "formal" wear was? Kids do their own thing at proms, that's great. But, I just think this speaks to something deeper.

My prom dress was the exact same gold color as Marche's. It was a beautiful floor length gown with a short bustled tail. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. The price was quite a bit more than our budget, but my auntie took one look at my face and bought it for me. Elegant and classy with shoes and purse dyed to match, my hair up and the whole nine was a far cry from my usual wranglers and polo shirt. Our prom was held at Chicago's Palmer House and the after set was at some place in the loop, can't remember where. My date and I and three other couples, stayed out til dawn so of course the limo time was up and all our dads were sleeping. There were plenty of cabs downtown but we decided to take the subway home. (No, we weren't drunk.) So there we all were on the subway in our formal finery and drooping coifs, carrying our matching shoes, laughing like loons. What a night!

Senior Prom is certainly a right of passage across that scary bridge to adulthood. For most kids it's a myriad of first experences; the first formal dress, first tux, first limo, first formal function. It's often a chance to be daring and have sex and drink and stay out all night. It's often a last safe platform of bravery and defiance before graduating to the outside world, to bring your same sex partner or come dressed as the gender you are inside with hope for support and acceptance. Prom night has often been the place of coming of age protests both big and small.

But, back to Marche and her dress. I don't know. Marche insists all her "friends" liked her dress. (Why do I get the feeling she's like the kid egged on by buddies who all promise to make a face on the school picture and then he is the only one that does?) Girl, that dress is bad! It'll be fine, forget the stupid appropriate dress rules. They can't tell you what to wear!
Uh huh. Well, the friends did attempt to cover her enough to get in and perhaps the officials should have let that be enough of a lesson.

Prom was simply a right of passage.
That was then, I must admit I'm not sure what it is now. But I think it's still formal and not include being handcuffed by the police.
I don't understand this teen girl's idea of formal or why she put such a heavy emphasis on sexy. There are all the usual suspects; hip hop, videos, role models, today's culture, ecetera.

I am just sorry her prom memories will be so unhappy.