A stylishly sticky situation

The people at Henkel Consumer Adhesives, marketers of Duck brand tape, are always looking for ways to educate people about the myriad uses of duct tape. At present the company is running contests in which people may write songs about duct tape or duct tape the interior and/or exterior of a car. (See www.ducktapeclub.com.)

Last spring, Henkel challenged high school kids to make their prom outfits entirely out of duct tape. One couple designed a tuxedo and top hat (for him) and a yellow floor-length gown with black spaghetti straps and black fluting (for her).

The winners are shown here, their outfits described in the news release below. It must have hurt to take off these clothes at the end of the night.

-- MIKE WILSON, Floridian editor

Emily Ewald and Mike Mace had a prom experience fit for a king. The duo attended the Rochelle Township High School prom in Rochelle, Ill., "ducked" out as 16th-century English nobles in prom formal wear made entirely from duct tape. The costumes, reminiscent of those worn during the reign of Henry VIII, catapulted the couple to win top prize in the national Stuck at Prom contest, and each received a $2,500 college scholarship from Duck brand duct tape.

Alas, the duct tape garments hath proved to be stylish, surprisingly mobile and extremely profitable for the pair. Ewald and Mace's English Tudor style formal wear surpassed the designs of 572 high school couples from 50 different states and Canada who also participated in the contest. Lady Ewald fashioned a red and yellow duct tape gown with red cape, while Sir Mace was adorned in black knickers and vest with matching red and yellow puffed-sleeve jacket and cap to reign over their high school kingdom. All of their very regal garments were made from duct tape.

Mace, 17, who will be attending Western Illinois University as a freshman this fall, was searching online for college scholarships when he found out about the competition. He immediately proposed the idea to his girlfriend of one year (Ewald) to join him in the contest.

Ewald wasn't as shocked by her beau's suggestion to wear the sticky stuff as she was about the variety of color choices available. "We had no idea that duct tape came in any colors but gray," said Ewald, 15. "When we told our friends about the contest, they all thought we were going to show up at the prom looking like the tin man."

Ewald and Mace rolled in their moms and grandma to help make their prom formal wear. In all, it took 35 rolls of yellow, black, white and red duct tape and 50 hours of work to create the regal duct tape duds. In the end, there was little they did not know about duct tape. From reams and ruffles to gussets and folds, they now know how to do it with duct tape.

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