Spring Ball Dress Code


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Regarding the Dress Code For the Spring Ball

Flyers are handed out in the March Class with all this information and more.

Boys: Your dress code is easy. Arrangements have been made with Selix Formal Wear for you to wear a Tuxedo. Selix has agreed to a special price for Junior Manners Cotillion students if you make your fitting appointment at least 2 weeks before your ball. Be aware that this begins a very busy time for them and if you do not make your appointment early Selix may not have a tuxedo for you and they are not obligated to give you the discount.

You do not have to rent from Selix. You may rent from any formal wear company, but you will only get the discount from Selix.

If you do not wish to wear a tuxedo, you may wear a dark suit, white shirt, black tie, dark socks and polished black shoes. You will look very nice.


Girls: Nothing with girls is ever simple and neither is their dress code. I will do my best to make it as clear as possible. First of all the girls dress code is broken down into two categories; 6th grade, and 7th, 8th & 9th grade students. First let’s cover some general information.

Gloves:
  • Length: The style of the dress decides the length of the gloves. Example. Dresses with spaghetti straps, or strapless require gloves that are long and over the elbow. Gloves with buttons on the wrist allow the ladies to take their hands out of the glove to shake hands without having to take off the entire glove. This is very convenient for receiving lines.

  • 6th grade girls would not wear the type of dress required for long gloves. They will be wearing short gloves.

  • Color: The color of gloves is determined by the color of the dress. White is always appropriate. That is why there are more white gloves than any other color. Cotton gloves dye well if you want to match your dress, and/or you may decorate your gloves with beads or sequins. Long black gloves look good with black dresses, but you may also wear long white ones.

Decoding the dress length for the Ball:
  • Cocktail is anything above the knee and not permitted in Cotillion.

  • Tea Length goes to mid calf. That is half way between the knee and the ankle. This is a great length for cotillion and looks very nice on a 6th grade girl for class, ball or a wedding.

  • Floor length is misleading because it actually stops just below the ankle. It does not touch the floor for obvious reasons. Make sure your daughter has the correct shoes on if the dress has to be hemmed. To many times we have had to pin up the dress because it is dragging the floor and some dresses have been ripped.

Shoes:
  • Shoes for a 6th grader could be a Paten Leather Mary Jane; or a dressy pump or sandal with a very small heal. Stocking or dressy socks are good.

  • Everyone else: Because this is a Ball, you will be wearing evening shoes. Evening shoes can be open toe and or open back. For insurance purposes, Cotillion requires that the heel has a strap. I strongly suggest that the heel height be moderate and not extremely high. Girls at this age do not know how to walk in high heels and walk more like a giraffe than a young lady, and they certainly do not know how to dance in them. Besides, you and I know that they will have very sore feet after a 3 hour ball!!

  • To wear or not to wear stockings: I know it is fashionable to get a pedicure and not wear stockings. My experience year after year is that long before the ball is over a blister develops and we bring out the band-aid brigade. You can spot the ladies with a developing blister because they start limping or complaining that their feet hurt. I can assure you that a pair of appropriate color stockings with a nude toe will look and feel much better than 2-3 Band-aids on one foot!!!!

Shawls:
  • I do not recommend wearing the shawl after the picture has been taken. The girls cannot hold them on for 3 hours! The shawl gets in the way even when it is pinned.

Dresses & Slips:
  • 6th Grade: I do know that shopping will be very difficult because department stores want to make our young girls older than they are. Please keep in mind age appropriate when you are shopping. The girl’s dresses may have a cap sleeve, or a short sleeve or even a strap provided it is at least 1 inch wide. In other words 6th graders are not permitted to wear spaghetti straps. Sometimes mothers have had to get creative and use part of the shawl to make the straps wider.

  • 7th, 8th , & 9th Graders: Yes, they may wear a dress with spaghetti straps or a halter top. No, they may not wear a strapless gown. When I have allowed the strapless gowns in the past, the girls are constantly pulling up those gowns. One girl almost came out of hers. That ended it! You are not ready. A strapless ball gown is very sophisticated. Wait until you are a junior or senior in high school.

  • Pleeeeeese do not forget to check the “light factor” of your daughters dress whether she is wearing it to the Ball or a dress for class. By “light factor” I mean make sure no one can see her legs through the dress or tell if she is wearing a thong! We have seen way to much of this. She must wear a slip. It is an important part of her wardrobe.

This is a very special moment in time for our young students. When everyone is dressed appropriately there are no clothing mishaps and we can focus on having a good time instead of taking care of emergencies. When in doubt, always call the office for Mrs. Millet, 650/340-9860.