What Not To Wear

TCHS Homecoming and Prom Dress

Guidelines 2014-2015

Modesty=

propriety in dress, decent

free from immodesty or obscenity

Is this an

example of

modesty?

Obviously

it does not

fit into our

guidelines.

Our policy for dress at prom and

homecoming:

• Teurlings Catholic High School dances are events, which reflect the

philosophy of our school and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Among our most important considerations is adherence to Church

teachings regarding modesty.

• According to The Catechism of the Catholic Church,

“Purity requires modesty. Modesty protects the intimate center of

the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden.

It is ordered to chastity to whose sensitivity it bears witness . . .

Modesty is decency. It inspires one’s choice of clothing. It keeps

silence or reserve where there is evident risk of unhealthy curiosity.

It is discreet . . . Teaching modesty to children and adolescents’

means awakening in them respect for the human person.”

• In accordance with these directives of the National

Conference of Catholic Bishops, Teurlings Catholic High School sets

forth the following dress guidelines for our students and their

dates:

Dresses

• A. TOPS

• 1. The neckline of a dress, top, or gown must be cut in a modest

way. If ANY cleavage is showing, the student will be asked to leave

the dance. Spaghetti straps or strapless dresses are allowed, as

long as they are not low cut.

•

• Dresses may not be cut below the bust-line in the front; this

includes cut-outs below the bust-line. No excessive cleavage will be

permitted. Beginning next year, the front neckline may not be cut

more than 5” below the base of the neck.

•

• 2. The cut of a dress in the back must not be below the waistline.

•

• Backless dresses are acceptable as long as the back does not dip

below the natural waistline nor around the side of the body.

More on dresses…

• C. MISCELLANEOUS

• 1. No midriff is allowed to show, (when arms are raised only one

(1) inch of the midriff can show.)

• This pertains only to two-piece dresses (skirt and top). One-piece

dresses must conform to the no cut-out rule.

• 2. No navel is allowed to show.

• 3. The bodice of the dress must not have any fabric cutouts (this

includes openings covered with net-like fabric.

•

• No cutouts are allowed unless the cutout is filled with the same-

colored, non-sheer, fabric as the rest of the dress.

Males

• Appropriate shirt and dress slacks for

homecoming; tux or suit for prom.

• No tennis shoes will be allowed; appropriate

dress shoes or dress boots should be worn.

• All school grooming rules (hair length, clean-

shaven, no earrings, etc.) must be followed.

The final approval…

• Admittance to the dance, with consideration

of attire, will be left to the discretion of the

faculty/administration sponsors who are

present that evening. If a student is in doubt

as to the expected modesty of his or her

chosen attire, he or she should consult with

administration before the dance to avoid the

embarrassment of being turned away.

SHOW AND TELL

Please answer “YES” or “NO” to this

question for each pictured slide:

Would this dress be appropriate?

(according to what we have just

reviewed)

No, as

the dress

is too

low cut

in the

front and

cleavage

shows. It

is also

too

short.

Cleavage

excessive

and the

dress is

too low

cut. The

slit may

also be

too high.

If the dress

fits

properly at

the top,

this one

would be

fine, as

long as

there is no

cleavage.

Again, it

depends

on the girl

and the

amount of

cleavage

showing.

However,

a dress in

this style is

also easily

fixed by

tightening

the halter.

Good

dress, no

excessive

cleavage

on this

girl, not

too low

cut.

Again, on

this girl, it

is fine, no

cleavage.

The top and back

are fine (no

cleavage), but it

way too short.

This

one

would

depend

on the

girl. On

the

model

appears

to be

fine.

Looks fine, no cleavage, length is good.

The neckline and back are appropriate, not cut below the waist and no

cleavage showing.

Too much

cleavage

showing.

Depends on

the girl and

the amount of

cleavage

showing.

No problem, no

cleavage showing.

Will depend

on the girl

and the

amount of

cleavage

showing,

but also

very fixable

if cleavage

does show

by adding a

modesty

panel.

No problem, no cleavage, back above the natural waist.

Both front and

back are too low

cut. Shows

cleavage in front

and is below the

natural waist in

the back.

Obviously

No cleavage,

back above

natural

waistline, this

one is good on

this model.

Nope, too low cut,

has cleavage, cut

outs on the

bodice, and the

length of the slit is

too high. Only

thing this one has

going for it is the

back is above the

natural waistline.

Too low in

back, slit too

high, bodice

too low.

If the dress was a

little larger on

top, it would be

fine. However, it

is too small for

this model,

creating

cleavage. It is not

low cut, so a

proper fit would

make it

acceptable.

No problem on

this model, no

cleavage.

Again, no

problem on this

model, no

cleavage.

Again, this is

one of those

dresses where

it depends. On

this model, no

problem

because no

cleavage.

However, it is

cut more than

5 inches below

the base of the

neck. It would

just depend on

the girl.

Please shop with modesty, your

age, and body in mind.

Remember that tailoring can

help your dress to fit your

particular body shape much

better. When you comfortable,

you will be confident and

attractive. Have fun!!!!

Non-TCHS dates:

• Anyone from another school attending our

Homecoming Dance or Prom is subject to the

same rules as our students.

• Please inform your non-TCHS date of the rules

ahead of time so that your evening is not also

ruined.