THE TIMES THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
A17
Celebrating Grad 2012
rom P prêt-à-porter
Colour and ruffles are all the rage for the class of 2012
CHRISTINA TOTH CToth@abbotsfordtimes.com
I
f there’s one thing you can say about this year’s crop of prom gowns, it’s that they are blooming gorgeous colours. Think spring and summer blossoms – rose pink, iris purple, bright fuschia pink and nasturtium orange, daisy yellow, sky blue, even lily white. Styles range from long elegant sheaths to short dresses with a simple or bejewelled bodice atop frothy skirts made of layers of ruffles or poufs of chiffon, all drenched in delicious, youthful colours. “You’ll see a lot of high-lows (where the hemlines drop from short in the front to longer in the back) or split skirts, so you can have the best of both,” says Gerri Charles, the proprietor of Champagne & Lace in Abbotsford. Some young ladies may choose a full southern bellestyle gown with yards of material in the skirt, or maybe sport long evening gloves, but the trend among the 2012 grads is to wear something that’s flirty and easy to wear. Although they may come into the shop for fitting and alterations right after soccer practise in their team jerseys, her clients are ready to make a memorable leap into adulthood, says Charles. Their grad fashion choices reflect that.
“Many of the young women are standing out and declaring their fashion independence,” Charles says. Animal prints are popular, and these too are drenched in colour. Another look that Charles loves are skirts made of vertical ruffles, which offer a twist on the belle of the ball skirts. “Although it’s a nightmare for hemming” for the shop’s seamstresses, she adds with a laugh. Other styles this spring emphasize a bare back, but Charles cautions it works best “if you have the figure for it and it stays in place.” In this look, backs and shoulders are bare or almost bare, possibly framed by strappy waistband and details accented with rhinestones and crystals, elaborate embroidery or lacing. “Some styles are heavily beaded, or in some cases, with the [sheer] fabric covering the beading for a tone on tone effect,” adds Charles. An alternative to an open back is a shirred bodice, which can be found paired with above the knee or fulllength skirts with slit fronts to show off gorgeous gams. While most young women have purchased their grad dresses weeks or months ago, they will now be focused on finding the perfect accessories, shoes and after-party outfits. For finishing touches, girls choose silver, gold, off-white or neutral heels. If they are more rebellious, or simply more practical when it comes to shoes and dancing all night long, they choose flats, or bring a pair along for later. Jewellery tends to have big visual impact to balance the colour and style impact of the dress. The lady grads are wearing either long or chandelier earrings and leaving their necks bare. Rhinestones or cut glass catches the light, and can be paired with a similar glitzy bracelet. Or, they’ll choose a big impressive neck piece, paired with subtle stud earrings, says Charles. Feathers in the hair, worn as a cluster or like a fascina-
Pomp & circumstance
see STYLE, page A21
CONGRATULATIONS
to Abbotsford’s Class of 2012 The Board of Education is proud to salute the Abbotsford School District’s graduating class of over 1,600 strong this year from all our schools, as noted below. Many of our graduates have achieved scholarships, hundreds of our graduates will be entering college and university programs in the coming year, while numerous others are starting careers, working or travelling. There were many notable accomplishments by students at these schools over the past year in academics, athletics, the arts and especially in the areas of leadership, community service, and fundraising for causes both local and international.
• • • • • • • • •
Abbotsford Collegiate: 234 graduates Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts – Sumas Mountain: 25 graduates Abbotsford Traditional Secondary: 132 graduates Abbotsford Virtual School: 14 graduates Bakerview Centre for Learning: 75 graduates Rick Hansen Secondary: 200 graduates Robert Bateman Secondary: 243 graduates W.J. Mouat Secondary: 368 graduates Yale Secondary: 340 graduates
– JEAN KONDA-WITTE/TIMES
Yale Secondary School held its convocation May 25 at Seven Oaks Alliance Church in Abbotsford, with grads decked out in gowns, caps and cell phones to capture those magic moments. There were 340 grads in this year’s class at Yale. Grad ceremonies for other area high schools continue through the middle of June. For photos of local valedictorians, see page A20.
Good luck and best wishes from: (Left to right) Superintendent Kevin Godden, Trustees Rhonda Pauls, John Sutherland, Cindy Schafer, Preet Rai, Shirley Wilson, Stan Petersen, Secretary-Treasurer Ray Velestuk and Trustee Korky Neufeld, and the entire Administration team at the Abbotsford School District.