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"I couldn't believe they were talking about duct tape," she said.
But even Mom is beginning to see the light now that Jordy Plagge and Jill Brockhohn have finished their outfits for Saturday's big event - a shiny red-and-black tuxedo for him and an equally shiny red-and-black gown for her.
"I'm surprised. It actually looks a lot better than I thought it was going to," Brockhohn said.
Brockhohn, a senior, first got the idea when she was surfing the Internet and found out about a national scholarship contest sponsored by The Duck brand duct tape for high school students who dare to dress up in the sticky stuff for prom. Plagge, a junior, agreed to enter the contest and they began planning their outfits in January.
Brockhohn bought a secondhand prom dress and Plagge bought a secondhand suit to start with. They covered both sides of the material with duct tape - 1,675 feet of it in all.
Brockhohn covered a pair of old shoes with duct tape. She also has a duct tape necklace, corsage and cape. Plagge will be sporting a hat and cane covered with duct tape. Brockhohn is considering making a duct tape boutonniere for him too.
They found red duct tape at Menards in Mason City and got black duct tape specially ordered through Pamida in Forest City. If they had wanted to, Brockhohn and Plagge could have made outfits from blue, yellow or even camouflage duct tape, all of which are available locally.
The couple admitted they got, well, stuck a few times while making their formal wear. Brockhohn's first attempt at a duct tape gown didn't work out. "Duct tape shrinks, so it didn't fit me when I put it on," she said. She had to buy another used dress and start over. The duct tape also kept sticking together.
The finished outfits are heavy and stiff. Plagge said they aren't bad to walk around in, but going up and down stairs is difficult. They haven't tried dancing in them yet.
Brockhohn's dress, Plagge's tux and all the accessories cost a total of $295 - almost $100 more than their conventional formal wear for last year's prom cost. But if they win the online contest they will more than make up the difference. First prize is a $2,500 scholarship for each of them, plus $2,500 for their high school.
The couple is looking forward to everyone's reaction to their unusual fashion statement. They have told their friends what they are doing, but none of them have seen the actual results yet.
"We wanted it to be a surprise for the prom," Plagge said.
The public will have a chance to see their outfits, as well as what everyone else is wearing on prom night, during the grand march at the high school gym at 8 p.m. Saturday.
After their professional photo is taken at the prom, Plagge and Brockhohn plan to submit it to the contest Web site so it can be included in an online gallery with the other competitors. Visit www.ducktape.com to see the photos and find out more about the contest.
