It's all about looking good (4/23/05)

Prom is not about your moves on the dance floor or what car you drive.

It’s about what you wear.

Some Jay County High School juniors and seniors have been preparing for months to look their best at tonight’s event.

A first for the junior class, prom is also the last chance for JCHS seniors to get decked out before they graduate.

Look for most girls at the prom this year to be wearing long, fitted, strapless dresses. Accessories that will shine at this year’s event include chandelier earrings and silver jewelry. On girls’ feet, look for towering heels or flip flops, several JCHS senior girls said during their lunch period this week.

Some girls might also opt for a dress in a bright spring color. But red is the color of choice for JCHS seniors Wil Goodrich and Jenae Horn and junior Brandyn Monroe.

Goodrich has chosen to wear a black and red striped custom made zoot suit, similar to those worn in the 1930s.

“This is my senior year, and I want to go out with a bang,” Goodrich said earlier this week. “Everybody says ‘I can’t believe your going to wear that.’ It’s me. I have always been like that. I have always been sort of wild.”

Goodrich’s date, JCHS senior Whitney Schemenaur, will match his outfit by dressing in black. She also plans to have her hair fixed similar to styles worn in the 1930s.

“I told her what to wear. It is usually the girl that controls what (the couple) will wear,” Goodrich laughed, adding that he has always loved old gangster movies.

“I have always wanted to dress like that, and I finally found a place on the Internet where I could purchase what I want and have it custom made for me,” Goodrich said.

He received his custom-made creation in the mail about two weeks ago.

Instead of looking on the Internet for her prom attire, Horn hit the mall. She bought her simple, bright red gown at JC Penney over spring break at Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis.

“I like (red), and I’m a really big (Indiana University) fan,” Horn said.

Her date for prom, JCHS junior Travis Towell, will be wearing a silver vest with his black tuxedo to complement her gown.

Horn is having a friend fix her hair, which she plans to pull up.

Besides strapless dresses being a popular trend this year, the tanning salons have been full of girls wanting to maintain their spring break tans by soaking up the rays in tanning beds.

“Everyone is tanning. Trying to get into a tanning bed is impossible,” Horn said.

Before prom Horn, her date and 10 to 15 other couples are attending a cookout at a friend’s home instead of going out to eat.

Monroe started shopping for prom about four months ago. She bought her strapless, red gown about three months ago from The Radiant Bride in Anderson. The dress is trimmed with rhinestones and has a train and tie up back.

“I tried on 10 dresses (at the Anderson dress shop),” Monroe said. “I’m excited to get all dressed up. You feel prettier.”

She plans to put her hair up and wear black high-heeled shoes with silver and diamond jewelry.

Monroe also chose the vest her prom date, JCHS graduate Jesse Shawver, will wear with his tuxedo.

“We don’t normally have dances at school. I’m excited because we’re going to have a really good time. Even though it’s supposed to rain and snow,” Monroe said.[[In-content Ad]]