What'd you wear to your prom? This?

[maleficent]

Revealing Prom Dresses Horrify Parents
Today" anchor Katie Couric asked Nick Yeh, the CEO of Xcite, how the line of extreme prom dresses came about. Yeh, who said he would never let his own 15-year-old daughter wear one of the dresses, said the new line came about accidentally when a model wore the wrong dress at a prom fashion show in Texas.

"After the show, we got a great response," Yeh said. "It became the No. 2. best-selling dress from the show, so we put it in the line." Some of the dresses are so revealing that dress shops are insisting that girls show parental permission slips before allowing them to buy them.

"It is the value, decision and choice of the young lady and their parent," Yeh said. "As somebody in business in the fashion industry, I need to provide for the demand of the public."

The reaction of parents to the new line was unanimous.

"That reveals a little bit more than a high school girl should reveal," one mother said.

"That's a little too much for a young girl," a father said.

"It's not appropriate for someone to wear to her prom -- a 16- or 17-year-old daughter," another man said. Couric asked Amy Barnett, an editor at Teen People Magazine, if the Xcite dresses were indicative of a new, trashy trend in teen fashion.

"This honestly is not the trend," Barnett said. "Most teens look to celebrities for their fashion cues. If you think about the recent Golden Globes, all the celebrities looked elegant and classy. It was a much more classic look."
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Some of the dresses:



The rest of the dresses
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Would you wear such a dress back when you went to the prom? Is there a trend towards teens dressing trashier? Are stores appropriate in asking for a "permission slip" before selling one of these dresses to a teenager?

Discuss

[Manuel Hong]

WOW! Sassy! My Mom would've killed me! It would have been "Carrie" all over. Times change though and I'm an old fart now. I have no kids, so I can't imagine what I'd say to my hypethetical 17 year old daughter. Her hypethetical Dad wouldn't like it one bit though!
It's not the clothes anyway. It's how much she respects herself and how she conducts herself. I do wonder how all the 17 year old boys would be able to hide their raging hard-ons though...

[StanT]

My daughters are past prom age or needing my permission for anything, but there isn't a chance in hell I'd let them out of the house in one of those dresses when they were prom age.

Of course, if my wife wanted to wear one ...

[Stiltzkin]

Originally Posted by Manuel Hong

I do wonder how all the 17 year old boys would be able to hide their raging hard-ons though...

From a man's (who is not a father and has no intention to become one anu time soon) standpoint, this is the most pressing issue. Are males expected to shut off their biological processes because females decide to make fashion statements? ;;>_>

[Grasshopper Green]

My mom would have kicked my ass if I'd even ASKED to wear something like that. At the school I went to, which was in a very conservative area, if someone had shown up in a dress like that they wouldn't have been admitted. I don't think those are appropriate for a high school prom.

[Blaspheme]

Seeing things like this makes me thankful that I had boys! I'll be spared the old "You're not going out dressed like that" conversation.

Sadly, some of those are so bad I could see the potential need for a "You're not going out with someone dressed like that" conversation instead.

I'm quite certain though, that had my prom date worn such a thing, that I would have thought it was the greatest thing ever and would have eagerly anticipated the congratulations of my friends. Isn't it funny how a few years and the responsibility of your own kids turns you into a hypocrite?

[Charlatan]

I wish I had had the guts to wear a dress like that...

Some of the the dresses on the are a bit much but really only on the tacky side rather than too revealing...

[Suave]

Originally Posted by Stiltzkin

From a man's (who is not a father and has no intention to become one anu time soon) standpoint, this is the most pressing issue. Are males expected to shut off their biological processes because females decide to make fashion statements? ;;>_>

Isn't the whole point of prom in most peoples' minds to have sex anyway? I don't think the dresses will change anything.

[ziadel]

If they wanna wear it, let them wear it *shrug*

I dunno what girl would have the balls to wear that thing tho, one twist and your boobs will move while the dress stays in its position...

but yeah, I don't personally find it to be a very attractive outfit, but I am sure high school girls would kill for it..

but overall, I don't consider this progress, its a prom, not mardi gras

[Slavakion]

Originally Posted by Suave

Isn't the whole point of prom in most peoples' minds to have sex anyway? I don't think the dresses will change anything.

Heh, way to put it all in perspective, Suave. Most of them aren't too bad, except for the first two that Mal posted. A bit much for 16 years old, but more likely than not it's hitting a hotel floor later anyways.

[streak_56]

I remember in our school, if you ever wore something like that, you were made fun of. That was incentive enough for most people. But also, if you are comfortable wearing clothes like that, then you should wear it. It's your money, your body, do with it any way you want to.

[Livia Regina]

I wouldn't have worn anything like that to my prom; I wouldn't wear anything like that now. At my high school they would not let anyone dressed like that into prom and I think most of the girls are too self concious to wear those out in public.
From the stores' standpoint I think the permission slip is a good idea. They won't have angry parents coming by to return the dress and berate them for selling it to their daughters.

[settie]

WHOA! I had my prom last year, are you telling me that in less than a year dresses have gotten this skanky!?!? My gosh, that's sad. No one was dressed like that at my prom. Everyone had tasteful dresses on, not this fabric-the-size-of-a-belt-covering-my-boob crap!

[K-Wise]

I went to highschool with a girl who wore a dress similiar to this one to prom. They tried to pull the "Hoochie" card on her for wearing it. Lots of girls were wearing skimpy dresses...a lot of them looked rather elegant though.

Asta!!

[OFKU0]

I think the dresses are fine. For a high schoolkid? If she has the maturity, individuality and grace to pull it off, why not. The only people making a fuss would probably be jealous girls and their parents anyways soooo,..go for it I'd say. How many people actually give a shit about what people (think)thought of you in high school or any other point in your life for that matter?

[MSD]

I don't see a problem with it. Depending on her age, the first two might be a bit much for a young HS Junior, but I don't see it as such a big deal.

Now the next fifteen people to post can tell me that I wouldn't be saying that if I had kids. Ask me again in 20 years when I do, and I'll probably give the same answer. Maybe our culture will have gotten over its collective fear of the human body by then.

[MageB420666]

All I can say is that if my girlfriend had tried to wear on of those to our prom, I wouldn't have gone with her, there is a limit to class, and that breaks it. A prom that let girls wear those dresses would become little more than a tittie show, guys would be pulling on the dress when she wasn't looking causing her to fall out and give everyone a good look. Those dresses belong in a tittie bar or on a mature woman who fully understands what she is doing, not a 16-17 year old girl.

And the parental permission slips aren't going to do any good, how hard would it be to forge your parents signature for some one who's never met them?

[Grancey]

People are judged by their appearance. That's why the spotlight is always on what someone is wearing......Laura Bush's innaugural gown, the gowns worn by Princess Diana, what your husband is wearing to his job interview, what you are wearing to your job interview, who is on the best and worst dressed lists, what Paris Hilton is wearing (or not), and what to dress your relative in for their funeral. When a high school girl dresses for the prom she looks to her idols for inspiration. Unfortunately, the idols of high school girls are Britney Spears (or someone comparable). So, the girls think that if they dress like Britney, then they will become Britney for an evening. So sad. At one time girls wanted to be Cinderella. Now, they (and I'm not saying all are like this) just want to be sexy. Why are we teaching girls that to be sexy you have to look trashy?

[Sweetpea]

hmmmmm . . . interesting Topic Mal . . .

Parental slips to help kids get their prom dresses?? I shopped for mine with my mom and sis . . . it was an exciting thing . . . Do most people not shop for their prom dress with a family member? Or i guess they would just do it with their friends now . . .

I personally think those dresses are Way out of line for such young individuals . . . inappropriate . . . Those kinds of dresses are GREAT for Adults . . . but a 16-17 year old girl has no business wearing such a skimpy outfit . . . So . . . those dresses are fine and lovely . . But NOT for a prom situation . . . IMHO.

I am only 23 . . . but WOW . . . Times are chaning if that's what they're wearing now . . .

Why are we forcing such young girls to grow up into Adult Woman so soon . . . Doesn't anyone have a childhood anymore?? It's sorta sad . . . kids grow up so fast now . . . there is no magaical line to cross anymore into adulthood . . . they turn 13 and bam . . . their having sex and dressing like tiny adults . .. but their MENTAL and EMOTIONAL maturity is still that of a young individual . . . . i think the way girls dress should reflect where they are at in their psychological development . . . just my opinion . . .

good discussion . . .

Sweetpea

[he_haha]

looks like a pron dress instead of a prom dress . Guess most of the guys attending wouldn't mind them, but i dunno many parents who would let it pass. Besides those dresses probably cost a billion dollars for only a fraction of the material.

[pinkie]

Revealing or not, they're hideous! My daughter would never want to wear something that gaudy...

Oh yeah and, Cher called, she wants her wardrobe back.

[Arroe]

I like the first one....

I think most high schools have dress codes that would not allow a girl to wear something like that though. They would probably get turned away at the door.

[Lockjaw]

Originally Posted by ziadel

If they wanna wear it, let them wear it *shrug*

I dunno what girl would have the balls to wear that thing tho,

Now THAT is a whole different topic.

On a serious note...I think it's trashy and pathetic and while I'd LOOK at a girl wearing something like that if I was in high school I'd never want to date one that wore something like that.

Personally I put this all on the whole trend of the fashion industry wanting to dress girls up like tramps starting at age 10 nowdays it all started about 5-6 years ago and now you are seeing these kids growing to maturity and the continuing fashion will reflect that. I think this goes beyond the society being or not being afraid of the human body and just goes down to taste. I mean nobody would go into a job interview wearing a pair of cutoffs and a halter top(well maybe for a cocktail waitress position). The prom has always been a semi or fully formal affair and such attaire simply isn't apppropriate for the occasion. But screw me maybe I'm just an old fart at 26 years old.

[ziadel]

where the heck did my post go?


did it get canned, or am I just stupid?

[nickynicole]

The red one looks like ugly leiderhosen.

I think half of all highschool girls show about that much skin (maybe not the first one, but definately the other two) regularly anyway.

[maleficent]

The very handsome and talented Clavus reports to me, apparently he googles late into the night looking for prom dresses That the story originally reported by the NY Post and Katie Couric on the today show, had the models wearing the first two dresses backwards.

http://wizbangblog.com/archives/004895.php

This was how the dress was supposed to have been worn

not this


The dress worn correctly, to this old broad, still seems too old, and too risque for high school, but having the models wear the dresses backwards, was it a case of the media trying to stir up trouble where there might have been non?

[Averett]

Hmm... the dress worn the correct way is damn ugly. The wrong way looks okay. For some Hollywood star who weighs about 12 ounces walking a red carpet.

[ironman]

Can you imagine how many rape accusations and how many excuses???!!!!

[rainheart]

Originally Posted by sweetpea

Why are we forcing such young girls to grow up into Adult Woman so soon . . . Doesn't anyone have a childhood anymore?? It's sorta sad . . . kids grow up so fast now . . . there is no magaical line to cross anymore into adulthood . . . they turn 13 and bam . . . their having sex and dressing like tiny adults . .. but their MENTAL and EMOTIONAL maturity is still that of a young individual . . . . i think the way girls dress should reflect where they are at in their psychological development . . . just my opinion . . .

ahaha oh my god that is so preposterous, no offense to any of you guys but you are almost all way out of touch with what high school students are like today. I go to high school at the moment and I can tell you that they are NOT growing up into adults any faster-- if anything they are maturing SLOWER because they have less responsibilities than in times past

and uhm... nobody turns 13 and bam theyre having sex... 13 year olds are 8th graders and some 9th, high school freshmans... and they are not having sex that much, at all

by the way isnt prom only for senior, graduating students? at least it is here... they're all 17/18, some even older

[Cicero]

Makes me think those are outfits I'd see at the AVN awards than prom. I envy this generation, I only wish my date wore something like that.

[greeneyes]

Originally Posted by maleficent

The very handsome and talented Clavus reports to me, apparently he googles late into the night looking for prom dresses That the story originally reported by the NY Post and Katie Couric on the today show, had the models wearing the first two dresses backwards.

*snip*

The dress worn correctly, to this old broad, still seems too old, and too risque for high school, but having the models wear the dresses backwards, was it a case of the media trying to stir up trouble where there might have been non?

If it wasn't the media trying to stir up trouble, which it may very well be, I think if you can't tell which is the front and which is the back, maybe you shouldn't be buying that dress. If you still need guidance when you dress yourself, you shouldn't be able to let it all hang out like that.

[MageB420666]

Originally Posted by rainheart

by the way isnt prom only for senior, graduating students? at least it is here... they're all 17/18, some even older

Nah, my high school lets juniors go as well. And the Junior/Senior can bring a sophmore/freshman if they want, but a sophomore/freshman can't go without a junior/senior date.

[settie]

ick. I dont care if it was modeled backwards or not...its hideous!
I have to agree with Pinkie....give Cher a call, let her know we found her costumes :P lol

[Manuel Hong]

I think they could've been stolen from the waredrobe dept of Star Trek.

[Hardknock]

Nice dresses. No 16 year old would have to balls to wear it though. They probably can't even fill it out ayway.

[rainheart]

Originally Posted by MageB420666

Nah, my high school lets juniors go as well. And the Junior/Senior can bring a sophmore/freshman if they want, but a sophomore/freshman can't go without a junior/senior date.

Well I gues you've got a point there.

Haha by the way did you guys catch what he said about being in the fashion industry business:
"As somebody in business in the fashion industry, I need to provide for the demand of the public."

How can someone be any more clear than that? That's what's wrong with our society. We don't give a fuck about values, decency, morals, or virtues!! We just wana make a buck! Heyyyy it's business! I have to provide for demand.

And that kind of thinking just decays our society, and this kind of thinking diffuses into the youth and then we wonder what went wrong? I don't know, my opinion is that we are ruining today's youth by exposing them to all the wrong things for the wrong reasons and then it's as if we expect them to know better, and it's obvious that they need to be taught not to do these things.

I don't know, I'd like to hear what you guys think.

[sgn43]

My prom dress was pretty skimpy and I received a ton of flack from my parents and all the administrators and chapperones at the dance. My guess is that the complaints were largely in part because I'm a dude. Plus, I didn't bother to shave my legs and my dress was cut so high that my balls were in plain sight all evening long, and wow was it a cold night.


Really though, I'm a young, red-blooded guy that can't help but appreciate a scantily clad woman every so often. But, even I am disappointed at how things are progressing as far as "fashion statements" by today's youth. My prom was just a few years ago, and I remember seeing girls there who had dresses with slits so high you could see way more than anyone bargained for. Some girls were wearing what looked less like a gown and more like a napkin and strung together with a couple shoelaces. I can only imagine what the dresses look like now--but I don't, because that would be both wrong and illegal.


All I can hope for is that this is not a continuing trend and that being graceful or elegant becomes fashionable again. Also, I pray to heaven that if the trend does continue, that I never have daughters. Also, I hope that my sons aren't like me and decide to actually wear a tux to their formals...I caused enough embarrassment to my family to last several generations. Heh.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by rainheart

ahaha oh my god that is so preposterous, no offense to any of you guys but you are almost all way out of touch with what high school students are like today. I go to high school at the moment and I can tell you that they are NOT growing up into adults any faster-- if anything they are maturing SLOWER because they have less responsibilities than in times past

and uhm... nobody turns 13 and bam theyre having sex... 13 year olds are 8th graders and some 9th, high school freshmans... and they are not having sex that much, at all

by the way isnt prom only for senior, graduating students? at least it is here... they're all 17/18, some even older

EVERYONE:
Me: Old Woman 23 year old .......... stands corrected . . .

Thank you rainheart . . . I was merely basing my opinion off of media things i have read AND the fact that girls dress like Porn stars where i live at the young age of 12 and 13, which i think anyone would find inappropriate . . . But i am SO glad to hear that i am wrong . . . so THANKS!!

Sweetpea

[bad jane]

the dresses are a bit much for my personal tastes, but they are very similar to gowns several girls wore to prom when i was in hs--10 years ago. we had one girl who had a dress more revealing than the ones showed here. she had a flimsy netting that covered parts of it--but it was flesh colored so it just made her look more nude. barely enough sequins and beads to cover her breasts and i'm not joking when i tell you the back dipped low enough you could see the top of her ass crack. she couldn't wear hose of any kind because the slit was too high for thigh highs and the back was too low for regular pantyhose. she also wore no panties because she couldn't find any low enough. i thought it was a bit mature even at the time, and never really thought she had the body to pull off such a gown either...but *shrugs* she loved it and her mom helped her pick it out.

Originally Posted by rainheart

ahaha oh my god that is so preposterous, no offense to any of you guys but you are almost all way out of touch with what high school students are like today. I go to high school at the moment and I can tell you that they are NOT growing up into adults any faster-- if anything they are maturing SLOWER because they have less responsibilities than in times past

and uhm... nobody turns 13 and bam theyre having sex... 13 year olds are 8th graders and some 9th, high school freshmans... and they are not having sex that much, at all

hs must have changed a lot from when i was there. while i will agree that maturity may be on the decline (in general) that hasn't changed sexual activity.

any doubts i may have once had about teenage sex were put to rest after a single summer volunteering at planned parenthood. i had 12 and 13 year old girls with more sexual partners than i had years to my life.

even when i was in junior high (grades 7-9) there were lots of sexually active kids. it may not have been the majority, but it certainly wasn't uncommon.

[Blackthorn]

Poll results from the news site offering up this story:

Are the prom dresses shown on "Today" too racy?

Choice...Votes...Percentage of 4996 Votes
Yes.......4392....88%
No..........604....12%

Thanks for taking part in our opinion poll. Check back later for updated results.

The only dress that looked remotely reasonable out of that collection was #8 but I just don't have the legs for this one .....



With all due respect to Mr. Selfdestruct I would not let a daughter of mine who is high school aged out of the house in one of these. To me this is not about a fear of the human body. It's about instilling a little self respect and common decency in your daughter. I would also do my very best to raise her to adulthood with enough sense to be able to choose her wardobe appropriately for the occasion. If strolling the red carpet in holywood happens to be an occasion then go for it....but remember to shave those legs!