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Prom Dress Code Asks Girls To Send Photos Of Dresses For School Approval

By Jessica Dupnack

PHILADELPHIA (CNN) -- A two-piece dress is stirring up controversy in the very early stages of prom season.

A Flint high school senior said yes to the dress, but it might be too provocative to make it into the big dance.

"It was amazing. I cried when I saw it on her because I knew that was the dress for her," said Kara Morris.

Rhinestones, an eye catching color and the right fit - all the makings of a perfect prom dress.

"Most girls dream about their prom," Morris said.

That's why Morris spent $500 to make her daughter's last dance at Southwestern Academy a memorable one.

"I wanted my daughter to be tasteful, so the dress is really not showing much skin at all," Morris said.

School policy requires students to send photos of their dresses for approval.

"Being the mother that I am, I thought I covered my daughter up as much as possible," Morris said.

Morris says the Southwestern principal, Cheryl Tate, disagreed, calling it too revealing. Tate then asked for another picture.

"She's crying, she is upset and she loves the dress," Morris said.

"In the last couple of years, the dresses have been getting more provocative," said Perfect Fit Formals employee Jenna Brown.

Employees at Perfect Fit Formals, where Morris spent that $500, say they don't even stock the more risky styles.

"We have two pieces, but we are more like a family-oriented business. We only order dresses that show about 1-2 inches of skin in the belly area," Brown said.

The verdict is still out on whether Morris' 4.0 senior will be able to wear the controversial two-piece.

"I hope the dress is not too risky and once they see it a final time they will give her the go ahead," Morris said.

Perfect Fit Formals sells dresses to about 500 schools each prom season. Only a handful requires students to take a photo of the dress for approval before the dance.

We have reached out to Flint Schools by phone and email, but they did not get back with us in time for this story.

The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

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