Event Fashion » Couples

Priceless Prom Winners

cmerry — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:47:06 +0000

Congratz to the winners! You can help decide what they’ll wear to Prom by logging on and voting. Hope they have a wonderful time!

How the win helps: The time together is great, they say, but a paid-for prom has a real shot at perfection. Both teens work to pay for cell phones, cars, insurance and gas. Last year, Paul, 18, had to borrow money from his parents to cover prom costs, and he used his job at Pizza Hut in Winchester to pay them back. This year, Amber, 17, planned to wear an old pageant dress instead of buying a new one with her pay from her new job as a hostess at b.d.’s Mongolian Grill.

Read the article:

Winning couple value their time together and the free ride
By Jamie Gumbrecht
HERALD-LEADER CULTURE WRITER

Tates Creek High School students Paul Walraven and Amber McKinley are the winners of the Lexington Herald-Leader’s Priceless Prom contest.

To make their prom night as fabulous as possible, she’ll receive a dress from Dillard’s, hairstyling by Ziyan Salon and accessories from Nitro in Frankfort; he’ll get a tuxedo rental from Geno’s Formal Affair; and they’ll go to dinner at Giuseppe’s, and get flowers from Bel Air Florist and Gift Shop in Versailles, prom tickets and a Seventeen Magazine prom planning guide. (And mama McKinley will pitch in a limo, too.)

This monarchy is subject to a democratic process, though: Kentucky.com readers will vote for the dress, tux, hairstyle, flowers and accessories for the couple. Voting starts next Tuesday with three choices of dresses, which you can see online and in the Health & Family section.

Why they’re royalty: As a stroke of chivalry, or maybe monetary desperation, Paul entered the contest, listing the reasons they deserved to be prom royalty: They’re short on time and cash, but big on love, a situation many teens recognize.

“Because of our busy schedules, our time together is extremely limited,” Paul wrote, “but the time we do spend together is priceless, even if it is just watching a movie with her parents or listening to music … there would be nothing better than going to prom in style and having a night we would never forget.”

How the win helps: The time together is great, they say, but a paid-for prom has a real shot at perfection. Both teens work to pay for cell phones, cars, insurance and gas. Last year, Paul, 18, had to borrow money from his parents to cover prom costs, and he used his job at Pizza Hut in Winchester to pay them back. This year, Amber, 17, planned to wear an old pageant dress instead of buying a new one with her pay from her new job as a hostess at b.d.’s Mongolian Grill.

How they met: The couple met in May 2005, when her best friend was dating his best friend. They went to a fair together, and the first impressions were good. (In fact, Amber knew a girl who’d dated Paul — “Everything I’d heard about him was good,” she says.)

They hung out more, and by the next month, they were a couple. For the record, she was the first one to say, “I love you.”

What they fight about: “Time,” they say, in unison. Before sports took over their lives, before work became a necessity, they used to be together constantly. Now with Paul nearing graduation and Amber occupied with work, school and sports, there’s rarely a spare moment.

His hometown: “Everywhere,” he says. His family moved often, finally settling in Lexington when he was a sophomore.

Her hometown: Right here in Lexington. “I’ve lived in the same house since I was born,” she says.

His ideal prom: “Just a good time — I’m not picky.”

Her ideal prom: “Romantic, starry sky-type, really pretty.”

His sport: He played soccer for Tates Creek.

Her sport: She spent most of her life dancing, but now she plays volleyball for Tates Creek and a club team.

His plans: Paul is waiting to hear whether he was accepted to the University of Kentucky, but he’s also looking at Georgetown College, Eastern Kentucky University and Kentucky Wesleyan College. He wants to study business management.

Her plans: Amber has another year of high school, but she’s already trying to score a volleyball scholarship. “I’ll follow wherever that scholarship goes,” she says.

Reach Jamie Gumbrecht at (859) 231-3238 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 3238, or jgumbrecht@herald-leader.com.

Dig Up Prom Photos to Share with Readers, IA

cmerry — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 18:07:36 +0000

Oh dear this will be fun to see! If you are in the Des Moines area send in those vintage photos and you could “win a dinner for two at Centro to relive old prom memories with your date.”

For those of us not in the area we can enjoy looking at those old Prom pictures!

Details:
The oldies but goodies.
Got a photo of yourself in a dated dress?

Submit it to the Register at DesMoinesRegister.com/promphotos. Further instructions are on the site.
You can also mail them to Prom Dress, Des Moines Register, P.O. Box 957, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Questions? Call 284-8438

Dig up prom photos to share with readers
By ERIN CRAWFORD
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

They all seemed so chic at the time:

That homemade prom dress from 1958, the day-glo print from 1974, even that 1986 satin monstrosity with weather-balloon sleeves.

Being the elegant gal you are now, you’ve hidden all photographic evidence of your prom dress missteps.

Well, the best way to heal is to share, so get those old photos out, scan them in and send them our way.

We’re looking for old prom-dress photos, from the cute to the horrendous.

Upload photos at DesMoinesRegister.com/promphotos. Be sure to include a caption.

Bring your style sense, because we’re asking readers to look through the photos and rate the dresses.

If yours is voted as best example of fashion run amok, you’ll win a dinner for two at Centro to relive old prom memories with your date.

Submit by April 1, please.

Reporter Erin Crawford can be reached at (515) 284-8438 or ecrawford@dmreg.com

Duct tape Stuck at Prom contest

cmerry — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:09:26 +0000

This looks like fun! You could win scholarship money for you and your school!

The 2007 Duck brand duct tape Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest challenges high school students to create and accessorize their prom formalwear with duct tape.

Entries must be received by June 8. Go to www.stuckatprom.com for rules and registration.

Participants must submit an entry form and a photo of themselves wearing the duct tape prom formalwear.

Entries can be submitted at www.stuckatprom.com or mailed to: Stuck at Prom Contest; c/o Henkel Corp.; 32150 Just Imagine Drive; Avon, OH 44011-1355.

Ten couples will be chosen as finalists by judges who are looking at workmanship, originality, use of colors, accessories and quantity of tape used. Online public voting will decide the winning couple. Voting is June 15-24.

Winners will be announced on or around July 11. The winning couple will receive a $6,000 ($3,000 for each person) cash scholarship for college, and $3,000 will be awarded to the high school hosting the winning couple’s prom. Second-place winners will each receive a $2,000 scholarship, with the high school also receiving $2,000. The third-place couple each will win a $1,000 scholarship, and the high school will get $1,000.

Duct Tape Gown!

Duct Tape Craft Books

Creative Prom and Formal Fashion for Guys

cmerry — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 23:21:20 +0000

Guys, how will you express yourself at the Prom? It doesn’t have to be boring or uncomfortable, there are fun alternatives and choices you can make to feel like you are expressing yourself just as well as the girls in gowns. Even if you are required to wear certain things like only black tuxes you can express yourself in colorful accessories like a colorful vest or jewelry and cufflinks.

Check out this article where the guys are showing off their school colors.

“Prom will be a chance to display school colors for Carey Fleming, a Clinton High School junior who plans to wear red accessories with his white tuxedo.
He won’t be alone.
“A solid third is either white or ivory,” said Jamie Martin, manager at Tuxedo Junction at Metrocenter mall where Fleming works part time.

Even more Tux advice here in this article “Guys can use accessories to punch up tux”

Here is someone who really went DIY with his fashion and made his own tux.. out of Coke Cans!

How about a Hoodie with a tie printed on it? It looks very cool!

Oh and if you have to wear a tie somewhere it doesn’t need to be boring!

If you really want to go ALL OUT and get crafty like Mr Coke Can did check out Duct Tape Fashions.

Or get even weirder and wilder and do something with Pom Poms, yes Pom Poms! Maybe in a Pom Pom Tuxedo you can take out a girl in a Sock Monkey Gown!

How To Ask Out a Date

cmerry — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:29:55 +0000

Asking someone out on a date is simpler than expected, but there is no magic formula for a “yes” guaranteed. There are also some realities that you need to face to keep yourself from being hurt. You should be familiar with the person and have a sense that they feel friendly toward you. Don’t avoid them, then suddenly ask, this will more than likely get you a no.

Confidence is one of the most attractive qualities in a person so even if you are feeling scared don’t act like it. Don’t try any goofy games either to try to trick them into a date. These kinds of things might be funny to do once you are dating someone.

Here’s How To Ask:

Ask in a face-to-face setting

Ask over the phone

How Not To Ask:

Instant messenger

Written note
These show a lack of confidence, and what kind of date will they think you will be if you cannot even face them or have a conversation?

After you have asked the question you need to be prepared for the answers.

If They Say “Yes”

Have a plan, have an idea to suggest such as an event or place to go. On a first date keep it an open social event where they won’t feel like you expect too much of them like a secluded “romantic” setting. Movies and school events or cafes are good choices.

If They Say “No”

Don’t act shocked, offended or hurt even though you may feel it. Don’t get mad at them either, you may not know what their reasons were for saying no. Don’t take it personally. Carry on the conversation as if you never asked. Then leave. The fact that you were able to take rejection so confidently will make you look good.

If They Say “Some Other Time”

Have a plan B in case they say they are too busy; know what your schedule is so you don’t have to say you need to check your calendar. If they still act like they are too busy it’s probably because they are not interested and want to be nice about it. Accept it as a no, and move on.

Never let anyone think they hurt you with a rejection. If you have the attitude that you are fine either way, they might become more curious about you. It happens all the time. Somewhere in the future they may ask you out. A no is not the end of the world.