Gowns of various lengths in a rainbow assortment of colors worn by the young women, and tuxedos — some with bowtie, some with a top-button collar — worn by the young men created a fashion statement that something special was happening for the students at Fairfax High School.
"I enjoy seeing all my friends," said Fairfax High senior Christine Tolentino, 18, headed to Bradley Academy in Pennsylvania to study interior design in the fall. "It’s different than in school; they’re all dressed up," she said, wearing a green gown for the school’s junior-senior prom held last Friday evening, May 24 at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly.
"I’m not enjoying the music. I would prefer metal," said Tolentino’s prom date Nick Martin, 18, a Fairfax High senior, who will attend NOVA in the fall. "I am enjoying the food and the company, of course," said Martin.
Tables of food featured chicken strips, miniature stuffed pastry dough, fresh fruit platters, assorted desserts and soft drinks for the roughly 400 prom goers attending an event with the theme "Tonight Tonight."
"This represents the culmination of the school year and the special night for the seniors," said Fairfax High School junior class sponsor and chaperone Joan Johnson, teacher of honors English.
"It’s extravagant and a reason to overdress," said Fairfax High senior Briana Lewis, 17, headed to Virginia Commonwealth University this fall to study photography. "Plus, I’m a gothic fairy princess and I enjoy being with friends."
Her date, Damian Turner, 17, an Oakton resident attending Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Md., said, "I’m enjoying the decorations, the volume of the music and meeting new people." He's heading to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia this fall.
"I’m enjoying the dancing and watching Miles dance," said Fairfax High senior Johanne Crittenden, 18, of her date Miles Hampton, a graduate of the Lab School in Washington, D.C.
"I'm having fun doing some break dancing," said Hampton, 19, soon to be a police officer.
Also enjoying the music was Fairfax High junior Chris Williams, 17, wearing a bowtieless tuxedo with a button stud in its place.
"He picked out the tux by himself," said Williams’ date and girlfriend of five months, Jennifer Sparacino, 15, a Fairfax High freshman. "It’s stylish. I like it a lot; it looks good," she said.
Fairfax High senior Zach Roberts, 18, also earned wardrobe praise. "I love Zach’s jacket," said Emilie Paul, 18, a Fairfax High senior heading to the New York Film Academy in the fall. "And I enjoyed the limo," she said.
In addition to a jacket garnering praise, Roberts wore a handmade feather boa for the occasion. "I’m enjoying the women," said Roberts.