Homecoming Dress Code

It is Homecoming season and I know many of you are already starting to plan and shop for your Homecoming dress!

As you go shopping, please keep our dress code for special events in mind.  If your dress is not in dress code you risk demerits and having to leave the event, so please read this email carefully before shopping for your dress. To help you make sure that your dress falls in line with our dress code, please send me pictures of your dress for approval prior to the event. All dresses need to be pre-approved by Monday, October 18th. If you wear a dress to the event that is not pre-approved you again risk demerits and being asked to leave the event. I am so excited to see your dresses!!! I know you will all look beautiful!

If you have any questions or concerns about the dress approval process, or the dress guidelines, please ask.

I would love to help you.

- Mrs. M

DRESS APPROVAL PROCEDURE

1. Once you select a dress, send Mrs. Merlino an email to bchsdressapproval@gmail.com. You should email me BEFORE making alterations to your dress

2. In your email subject line, include your FULL NAME AND "HOMECOMING DRESS"

3. In the body of your email include an explanation of any alterations or fixes you are planning on making to the dress.

4. At the end of your email include 3 pictures (this is the most important part!). These 3 photos should be taken according to the following rules: 

Attach 1 picture of the front view of your dress, 1 picture of the back view of your dress, and 1 picture of the side view of your dress with your arms over your head

Pictures must be taken by someone standing 8-10 feet away from you, with the camera held at waist level, in the camera's portrait position

Pictures must be of your full body, including the top of your head to your toes, including your face so I know it's you :) 

Pictures must be clearly seen, taken in full, bright lighting, with the camera in focus. Photos that are dark, blurry, or that prevent me from clearly seeing your dress will not be accepted.

If possible, wear shoes and undergarments that are similar to those you plan on wearing with your dress. 

5. When I receive your email, I will reply with one of the following responses: 

Pre-approved: your dress has been approved! You're done! 

Not approved: you may not wear the dress in the pictures to the event 

Need additional pictures: if your dress requires fixes/alterations to meet our guidelines or if I need to see a different angle, additional pictures will be requested

In- person dress check required: if I have difficulty assessing your dress in photographs, I will ask you to bring your dress to school to be checked in person

DRESS GUIDELINES

1. Your dress must have at least one strap: 1 strap, 2 straps, and halters are all okay; strapless, clear straps, or off-the-shoulder straps are not okay. 

Strap Fix: Add satin or rhinestone ribbon straps sewn or pinned inside the dress.

2. No low necklines, cleavage may not show in any position:  “sweetheart” necklines are okay as long as cleavage does not show; deep or plunging necklines are not okay. 

Neckline Fix: Add a piece of fabric across the low part of the front to cover cleavage or shorten straps to raise the front neckline.

3. No low backs: the back of your dress may not show skin lower than 3” below the bottom of your shoulder blades, dresses that have see-through fabrics like lace or mesh that show your back below the 3" mark do not meet this guideline. 

Fix: Add fabric across the back to cover anything that is 3" below the bottom of your shoulder blades.  You can match the dress material or use a gathered tulle or sparkly satin fabric, as long as it is not see-through. You could also add a lining inside of the dress where there is mesh or lace that shows skin.  (JoAnn's Fabrics has lots of options.)

4. The hemline or slit on your dress can be no higher than 4" above the knee: typically homecoming dresses are semi-formal and shorter than what is worn for JSB (floor length, formal) 

Fix: Sew the slit together to the appropriate height.

5. No midriff or torso skin may be showing: this applies to the front, back, and sides of the dress; no skin may show around your waist or below your armpits on the sides when you move or raise your arms.

Fix: Two piece dresses can be sewn together to be one-piece; you can wear an opaque garment (generally a tube top) that completely covers the midriff, back, and sides; or you can add opaque fabric to the inside of the dress to fully cover your skin.

6. No skin-tight or curve-hugging dresses: fitted dresses with lots of gathers, lots of pleats, or that are fully beaded are often okay as long as they are not too tight; however, if the fabric stretches and clings to you (especially around your backside and down the back of your thighs), then it's too tight.

Fix: This issue is tough to fix. Most thin-material, form-fitting dresses are not acceptable for our dress code. One option is to buy a bigger size that gives more movement inside the dress instead of being super clingy. But honestly, it’s usually best to just choose a different dress. This is the most common reason that dresses are not approved, so be very careful when you are shopping to pay attention to the "fit" of the dress on your body.

THE BAD NEWS...

If the dress that you choose to wear to the event does not follow the above guidelines, did not receive pre- approval, or is in any way different than what was originally pre-approved, you will be asked to leave the event and will receive 10 demerits, per the Student Handbook. 

A FEW LAST TIPS...

1. Don't wait to start shopping! Give yourself time in case alternations need to be made to your dress. If you are shopping online, shop quickly in case shipping estimates are longer than expected.

2. Be careful who you order from! Obscure websites usually do not communicate well with their customers, do not have accurate size charts/photographs, and do not have reliable return policies if there are mistakes. 

3. Remember to get approval BEFORE you make fixes/alterations to your dress. If the dress is too tight, or cannot be fixed, then you will have wasted time and money altering a dress that cannot be worn to the event. :( 

Happy Shopping!!