Duct Tape Prom

Every year, Duck brand duct tape sponsors a contest called Stuck at Prom, in which high school students design and create their own prom attire using duct tape. Who wants to wear duct tape to their prom? Anyone who wants to win scholarship money! The couple who wins first prize gets a $3,000 scholarship each, plus their school gets another $3,000. Second and third places pay well also.

The first competition was in 2001. Sarah Silva and Mitch Houseman of Arroyo Grande, California wore this lovely coordinated ensemble made of yellow and black duct tape. They said it took 40 $hours to make these outfits; I would have guessed it took much longer. The couple split $5,000 in scholarship money.

Duct tape fashion, or even formal wear, is not limited to the prom. Even when no prize is on the line, people love to make things out of it. Walter Chang has made quite a few coats and accessories out of duct tape. He made this ensemble for himself and his date for the Class of 2002/2003 Winter Semi-Formal. He models other duct tape creations at his website.

The Duct Tape Guys have a blog devoted to America's favorite sticky tape. They posted the top ten reasons why you should wear duct tape to the prom, but the list grew to 18 reasons. I like this one:

Duct tape two cars together to make a limo.

Last year's Stuck on Prom winners were Sharon Dranko  and Joshua Humm who attended the prom at Center Area High School in Monaca, Pennsylvania. They initially came in second in internet voting, but were declared winners after it was determined that the first-place couple received a huge number of votes from invalid email addresses. Dranko's dress weighed 50 pounds and took over 140 hours to construct!
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The entry period for the 2009 Stuck on Prom competition begins on March 2nd. See the complete rules here. For inspiration, see the gallery of past entrants. Of course, if you decide to do this, please send us pictures!