by Kimberly Sanders-Vanderbrook

Ah, the prom. It’s been celebrated for decades as THE party of the high school years. Long glamorized as a night filled with magic and romance, the prom represents the last vestige of teenage innocence and friendship before graduation into the “real world.” Whether your date was a dreamboat that you ended up marrying, or a dud that you’d like to forget, everyone remembers his or her prom.

I remember mine at Mandeville High School, back in 1989. A far cry from the elegant proms of today, it was held in our school cafeteria, with hand-painted backdrops and a home-built bridge over the blue balloon-filled pit. Although it was not the romanticized version of prom I expected (based on my inch-thick special prom edition of Mademoiselle magazine, two-hour prom-season finale of “Beverly Hills 90210,” and movies like “Pretty in Pink”), it was still pretty special. And while I will not go into details here about how we celebrated that night, I fondly remember my prom as an experience that I am glad to have shared with friends—who are still my friends today.

But in today’s world, the prom seems like such a quaint concept. In this fast-paced technological age where a girl is more likely to be invited to prom via IM than by phone, and where teenage sophistication shocks even self-proclaimed “with-it” thirty-somethings like myself, I have to ask—Do teens today really care about the prom? From the young adults I spoke with, the answer came back a resounding “Yes!”

Maybe the prom still matters because it’s more than ill-fitting rented tuxedos, cheap corsages, blundered make-outs, or even the hype of Hollywood or the media. Maybe it’s because prom is the one party that everyone is invited to at a time in life when social stratification is merciless. Or maybe it’s because this stage in life is such a fleeting paradox—teetering between innocence and adulthood, where magic truly is possible and memories and friendships that last forever are forged.

So, Class of 2006, we wish you a prom filled with magic moments and memories and friendships to last a lifetime. Enjoy!

Prom Couture

Every girl knows that, short of choosing her wedding dress, her prom dress will be the most important fashion decision of her life. For generations, teens have carefully chosen their attire for this big night. Girls embark on shopping expeditions with their mothers and friends, while boys flock to be fitted for a rental tuxedo. As prom season kicks into high gear—most high schools hold their proms in April—thousands of northshore teens are now shopping for that perfect dress or tuxedo. And while the careful planning for the perfect prom style hasn’t changed, almost everything else about prom fashion has.

For 2006, feminine prom fashions rule the day. “These pretty dresses are not as slinky and sexy as we have seen in years past, and there are even some dresses coming in with the pouffy skirts that we saw in the 1980s,” says Bonnie Berry of Southern Bridal. “We are seeing lots of pink, with gold replacing silver as an accent color and mixed with pinks and blues. Halter tops and strapless dresses are still in, but we are seeing lots more coverage in the gowns this year.”

Michele Williamson of Ballin’s in Covington agrees. “Beautiful is back, like the empire-waist gown and romantic classic Audrey Hepburn-style dresses. Some dresses feature flowing ballerina skirts and others are done in georgettes, silk, taffeta and even beautiful jersey knits. I am finding that the dresses this year are very practical and can be worn again to events other than prom.”

That’s reassuring, because today’s prom dresses can be expensive! Northshore teens can expect to pay an average of $200 for their prom dress this year, and this doesn’t include accessories like gloves, shoes or an evening bag.

Even the young men are tapping into their fashion consciousness. Very different from the boring black tuxedo of years past, guys are opting for vests and ties to match their date’s dresses. The accessories come in every color of the rainbow, including hot pink, turquoise and Kelly green.

Men’s formal shoes also offer a wider variety of choices than ever before. Options range from classic patent leather and square-toe styles to hip Doc Martin-style shoes.
“In 2006, you will see a lot of the lay-down collar tuxedos with a regular tie instead of a bow tie,” predicts Kenny of Squires Tuxedos. “The guys are choosing different lengths of jackets from suit length to duster length. Suits with striping similar to the zoot suits popular in the 1920s are back. And no more cummerbunds.”

If a more classic look is preferred, Perlis in Mandeville specializes in timeless elegant black tuxedos. In fact, both young men and women can find classic, tailored looks for the big night at this New Orleans institution.

For prom attire, the men get off a little cheaper than the ladies, as the cost of tuxedo rental with shoes runs between $110 and $125. But unlike the ladies, the guys will have to return their fancy duds after the big night and will also be springing for tickets, transportation and dinner.

The Prom, Then and Now

Prom fashion is not the only thing that has changed over the years. Many specifics about your prom can give clues as to which year you attended. Did you arrive in your spiffy Mustang, a chauffeured limousine or a Hummer SUV? Was the event’s entertainment a live band or a disc jockey? Did you dance the night away in the school gym or in a fancy ballroom? Today’s parents of 2006 prom-goers certainly can attest to the differences between their own big night and that which their teens are now embarking upon. Here’s a look at how a few northshore parents are enjoying the experience of preparing their teens for the prom—all the while remembering their own glory days.

Eddie, Sally and Samantha Price

Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price grew up to literally marry the girl next door. He was also lucky enough to have taken that girl to his senior prom. He and his wife, Sally, have fond memories of that night and can’t believe that so many years have gone by. Their 18-year-old daughter, Samantha, will attend Mandeville High’s prom this year as a senior.

Year of Prom: 1971
School: Jesuit High School, New Orleans
Cost/Place: About $20. Fairmont Hotel, New Orleans.

Music: “We danced until the wee hours to Vince Vance and the Valliants.”
Dinner: Bali Hai at the old Pontchartrain Beach.

After-Prom: Hanging out at the lakefront until curfew.

Memories: “It was a really fun night spent with a tight group of friends who are still our friends today.”

Mary Beth and Emily Schnauder

Mary Beth Schnauder also went to her prom with her future husband. The daughter of a former nun, Mary Beth had very strict parents who insisted on hosting the after-prom breakfast at their home to make sure they kept an eye on their daughter. Mary Beth’s daughter, Emily, a senior at St. Scholastica Academy in Covington, will be attending the prom this year. And just like her mom, Mary Beth will be hosting the after-prom party at her house.

Year of Prom: 1977
School: Dominican High School, New Orleans
Cost/Place: About $20. La Pavilion Hotel, New Orleans.

Dinner: “All the girls chipped in and we made dinner for our dates before prom at the home of a friend. We didn’t spend the kind of money that kids today spend on their prom.”

After-Prom: The whole class was invited to Mary Beth’s home for a breakfast.

Memories: “Of course I remember my dress: a white eyelet with an empire waist and baby blue ribbon straps. My date wore a baby blue tuxedo to match. I was eighteen at the time of prom and could legally drink. My date and I tried to sneak into the hotel bar and the principal nun, who had positioned herself at the bottom of the stairs, caught me!”

Mimi and Molly Marino

Mimi Marino remembers her prom well, and is looking forward to seeing her daughter, Molly, enjoy her big prom night this year at Mandeville High School. Although Molly is busy serving as vice president of her senior class and running cross-country, she is making time to pick just the right dress for the prom and has enlisted her mother’s help.

Year of Prom: 1981
School: Mercy Academy, New Orleans
Cost/Place: $20 a couple. Monteleone Hotel, New Orleans.

Dinner: A group feasted on steaks at Mimi’s home.

After-Prom: “My girlfriends and I got a hotel room in the Monteleone Hotel and went around the French Quarter. Things were safer and more innocent back then.”

Memories: “I remember shopping for the dress at Gus Mayer with my mom. It was really expensive, and she kept telling me not to stain it so my sister could wear it later. I loved my dress! I also remember our prom favors being champagne glasses, which, looking back, seems so inappropriate as a favor for a high school dance!”