Prom walk showcases bright colors, dazzling dresses

As much as things change in high school over the decades, one thing remains the same - girls want to look and feel like princesses on prom night. For many of the girls, the hunt for a prom dress starts in January or February, when they have the largest selection of dresses to choose from. “The best selection is going to be in January or February,” said Cindy Freis, at New Beginnings Bridal in downtown Morris. “We only sell one of each gown per school, so if you don't get it early, you may not get to wear the one you want.” Most bridal shops that offer prom dresses keep a record of which dress is being bought for which school to help ensure two girls won't end up wearing the same dress. Freis said the problem of wearing the same dress arises when girls get their dresses from different stores which have no way of tracking dresses with other stores. According to Freis, the dress depends on the girl, with most this year wanting strapless, long and bright colored. “Each girl wants something different and a lot depends on the school's tradition of dresses,” she said. “But the most important thing seems to be a lot of dazzle and as glitzy as possible.” The hot colors and dazzling dresses were obvious in the Morris Community High School gymnasium on Saturday as eight bus loads of couples were introduced one by one to parade around the gym before going out to the bus to be driven to prom. With the cool weather pushing the prom walk inside this year, it was standing room only as the students showed off their finest, brightest gowns and dapper tuxedos. Melanie Stevans, in watermelon, Laura Wills, in bright blue, Taylor Severson, in bright green, and Hilary Bunting in electric orange all said the brighter the better. “Bright colors are fun and different than what we normally wear,” said Wills. They all said that the bright, dazzling dresses make them stand out, and on prom night they said that is exactly what they want to do. “It's every little girl's dream to wear a big fancy prom dress,” said Bunting. “This is the first big event were you get to dress up like this.” The guys aren't to be outdone on prom night either, with their dates all wearing white tuxedos with ties and or vests that match the girl's dresses. Freis said the average prom dress ranges from $250 to $350, with the Sparkle collection from Divinci Bridal being one of the more popular brands. There are ways to save money on prom dresses, though. With prom season coming to an end, many of the stores that sell prom dresses will be offering their dresses at as much as 50 percent off, making it a great time to scoop them up for next year. “If you have someone going to prom next year, it's a great time to look for a dress at a great bargain,” said Freis. “Or for adults who attend galas or other events that require a full length gown, it's a great time to shop.” Rachel Higgins found another way to save money on a prom dress fit for a princess. She made her own red and white gown, and she made the matching vest for her date, Tommy Horton. “I've learned to sew from my mom and with 4H, so I made my own dress,” said Higgins. “I made my dress last year, also.” She said she didn't mind not having one of the $300 to $400 dresses some of her peers were wearing and was proud that she knows how to make her own. Higgins mother, Zan, is a teacher in the family and consumer science department at Morris High School who also happens to teach sewing.