See The Dress That Got A High-School Senior Arrested (PICTURES)(VIDEO)

You may have thought your prom night went badly, but Marche Taylor, a high-school student from Houston, Texas left hers in handcuffs, and not for the reasons you might think. According to the Dallas Morning News,

Madison High's prom took place at the Sugar Land Marriot. But Taylor only got as far as the lobby because when she tried to enter the ballroom an official stopped her.

She was told her dress violated a school dress code.

"She shook her head, she was like you are not getting into this prom," said Taylor. "We were arguing back and forth because I wanted to know why I can't get into my prom."

Even after offering to provide more cover, Taylor was still denied access to the final soiree of the school year.

At that point, Taylor said she was furious. After all this was her senior prom. She argued if she couldn't get in, she wanted her money back.

Things got so bad, the next thing she knew, someone had called the police. Officers showed up, handcuffed her and escorted her out.

Taylor was not charged and eventually released.

Here is KHOU's video coverage of her story.

KHOU has more on her prom dress, including photos and video. You can also read more on the prom dress and handcuffs debacle here. Marche Taylor modeling her dress Marche Taylor, left, with her date, right, as she was escorted out in handcuffs A photo of Marche Taylor, left, in her now infamous dress Marche Taylor, left, and friend

Comments

[MariaHopeful]

Where are our problem solving skills in this country? It should not be that something like this ends up with this young girl being hand-cuffed and carted off on one the most important days of her young life. Was there no teacher or young adult who could have taken her into the rest room and improvise so that she could still be allowed in? My daughter would not even have dreamed of wearing something like that out my house. Where was her parent(s)? On the other hand isn't this the message we have been sending our young people, that you have to be as near naked as possible to be considered beautiful or get attention. It is old or middle-aged people/pundits who will praise these (non)ensemble the morning after each red carpet event but now we are ready to tear this child to pieces for daring to be influenced by what she is being bombarded with every single day. This was handled badly all the way around. I am also a bit alarmed and ashamed at subtle and not too subtle strain of bigotry being shown on this post. Would you have had the same response were this a European American?

[Knowitall]

There shouldn't even be a controversy about this one. I'm sure this girl thinks she looked good. She didn't. It's also true that she was probably copying the styles she sees on the red carpet and in music videos. All of that being said, I still believe that most people, even young people, have SOME idea of what's appropriate and what's not. I'd be willing to bet that this girl read the dress code and still decided to show up looking like the poster child for a hot ghetto mess.

For me this situation called to mind an old Dave Chappelle skit, where he in essense said that when someone shows up in a policeman's uniform with a gun and handcuffs, you assume they are a policeman. And when a woman shows up dressed like a hooker, it's certainly possible they're not a hooker, but they sure are wearing the uniform.

[Trittydi]

These styles are promoted and validated on televised and print media. What do they expect the kids want to wear? I do feel it was inappropriate and that she had to know she was pushing the envelope though.

However, calling the police was completely unwarranted and whoever let them handcuff her and take her away is an absolute asshat.

Also - the school DOES owe her reimbursement her for her ticket to the event. If only to make a token gesture to acknowledge how badly they handled the situation.
*

[marciekr]

First, as many have said, this dress is completely inappropriate for a prom dress. When her friends tried to cover her up, they were only covering her waist with the train which didn't address the fact that she was for all practical purposes topless. The school handled it correctly which probably won't help if she decides to sue them.

As far as the handcufss, none of you know how she acted when she got angry. If she was abusive, the handcuffs were appropriate.

Ideally, this should be a life lesson for her but based on her words, I doubt it. Too sad.

[victoria]

Gorgeous girl. Beautiful dress. It's not an innocent prom dress but what is the big deal? I don't see anything exposed, is there? I think she could be a model and maybe all this publicity over nothing will help her.

[Matt7]

The dress, unfortunately, reflects the images fed to today's teens by the music video industry. (The same as with the Marilyn Monroes and movie stars in days of old). Unfortunately, many of today's stars look sleazy rather than sexy or attractive.

The young lady probably thought she looked "cute." Like a pop star. She doesn't realize that the dress (or lack thereof) made her look cheap.

OH, BY THE WAY . . .

Any particular reason why this story JUST HAPPENED to be positioned on the same page, right above the president's daughter, Jenna Bush, in her "lovely wedding gown?""

Compare and contrast maybe?

These kinds of subliminal and overt images and messages are how media controls our thoughts and perceptions without our really realizing what's happening. Sorta like the voters in WV and KY that everyone's so quick to blame and dismiss as "racist" and "backward" . They don't want to vote for Obama. They 're not sure why. They just WILL NOT DO IT . . . (And it"s because of the images that they"ve formed about him, without really knowing him). Sad . . .

[SwingingFromCenter]

I think the only people you'll find who are saying the dress was shameful or horrible or she deserved to be thrown out are your typical puritanical prudes on the extreme right. It was PROM, meaning she was probably 17, meaning she's basically an adult and can choose her own apparel. News flash people, some magical light bulb doesn't wait to go off until you hit 18. You don't learn much between 17 and 18 that turns you into a different person. Furthermore, you see more revealing than that every day in the real world.

[SignedSealedDelivered]

go to jail or go home is a great option...care your a@@ home! this is ridiculous. practice your stripping career on your own time. i am a black woman and i find this appalling and pure trash. are we supposed to feel sorry for her? didn't her parents see her leave the house first! wtf is going on?!

[robXdion]

Your more likely to see Ouannel X (Houston activist) defend this crap, than see anyone address why she was allowed to wear this to a prom in the 1st place. Bill Cosby can't be all wrong.

[k6007]

Exactly. The one thing we need in our communities is more Parental Responsibility.

[BarryChamplain]

I am assuming you Black Women don't allow your kids to buy the artistic product of Beyonce or any edgily-attired artists of the day? Tell me, how is THAT going over?

This young lady will be a designer on 7th AV (or someplace) by the time she's 21. She'll be a Name, before she's your age. You'll still be working the day shift, babysitting the grandkids, and clucking your moralistic tongues at everyone skinnier than you.

Tell me again how this creative young woman is disgracing "your" community.

[robXdion]

Class, decency and respectability should mean more than a (potential future) dollar. She is playing into the stereotype of the oversexed, tacky black woman. You can be an "artist", look respectable, and still be a potential designer. The prom is not the time to showcase "edgy" attire.

You obviously have no morals, and probably no daughters. But I bet you like to exploit someone else's daughter, dontcha? You're going to far with the insults dude. You need to clap it shut before these black women hurt your feelings.

[victoria]

Same impression I got. This is a very creative, beautiful girl. I think because she is so slim, she was able to wear this dress. I'm sure you see more skin at the beach.

[robXdion]

Only in Houston, sigh.......she looked terribly tacky, but the handcuffs were too much.

[BarryChamplain]

robX:

SUGAR LAND. Different from Houston. A goldmine of racial horror stories, for many decades.

Notice that KHOU... IN Houston... took a measured and sympathetic approach to the girl. In an age where TV "news" jumps on every tabloidish, tongue-clucking bandwagon there is, this tells you a little something about the jaundiced view of Sugar Land that the real "city" in that area has.

[thebanana]

Whooeee! Where did all the morality cops come from today?

[ObamaCanada]

She looks terrible in that dress I agree with the prinicipal this is not the American Music awards. At least dress decent.

[k6007]

I agree. You can be sexy without leaving the house naked.

[Trittydi]

Yes - unfortunately the dress was not even flattering to her.

I feel it's poorly designed and that train is ridiculous. Clearly she was going for a highly dramatic effect which would be noticed and remarked on. She got that part right..
*

[landmine]

As an art lover: Wow! Work of art!
As a nature lover: Wow! Beautiful species!
As a Christian: WoW! Example of Gods best!
As a dogmatic, victorian redneck: Sorry, my constipated brain is too f**ked up to say anything intelligent.

[jubo]

Simply splendid.

[alex13a]

The girl looks extremely pretty in it and it is neither see through nor showing any inappropriate body part.

I agree she should have worn panties but banning her from entry is downright stupid, she would have made many heads spin once inside.

[Trittydi]

It's no one's business if she is or is not wearing panties. What a bunch of idiots.
*

[k6007]

Personally, I think it was tasteless.

[jgalvan]

Shouldn't you be playing in recess right now?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Would those of you defending the outfit similarly defend pasties?

How about some duct tape squares for us nerds?

[Trittydi]

And a duct tape thong.
*

[mrman]

Granted...her parents need to be slapped. BUT the school should have given her the option of changing of getting her money back. After all she's still in high school and with all the magazines showing this kind of thing as "fashion" and no parents to teach her better...she should have been given the benefit of doubt. and P.S....KBR all young black women DO NOT THINK THIS IS THE RAGE>>and you're an idiot for believing such foolishnis.

[Nardwilly]

I believe she knew the rules and thought she could get awaay with it. I also believe she should not get her money back because she knew the rules. Apparently she would not leave and so the police were called to escort her from the building. Her performance interrupted the fun for everybody else.

I believe her actions were selfish.

[Seattlelite]

I just can't believe her parents would allow her to wear that dress -- good grief didn't her mother teach her to dress for the occasion -- this was no high school prom dress, more like a outfit for a night out in the red light district.

[Trittydi]

Maybe that's why the police were called -- maybe they wanted her out of the lobby.

When you can't tell the guests from the hookers . . . .
*

[damnadamson]

welcome to the new morally superior police state of america ... sad, but it's just the beginning. fight the conservatives at any and every turn or they will come after you next fellow liberals.

[inthecolour]

That dress is hideous. What a joke. I'm glad that if her parents didn't have any sense, at least her school did.

[msmaggie]

Where was this child's mother? Young girls may not have the best sense, or taste, that's what your mom is for. Too bad, and handcuffs???? Was that really necessary? Oy.

[ZibbyZ]

The dress is beautiful, and she looked great in it. Beyonce would gladly wear that gown - and she would make the 'best dress list' of the night from any magazine review.

Can't blame the girl for imitating 'stars'. She has the body, nothing was hanging out, and it was not see thru. Don't know what the big deal is - the girls with the full blown puffy 'prom' dress don't automatically have better 'morals' or 'taste' -- they just shop at the mainstream mall. This young woman wanted to make a fashion statement at her senior prom! Good for her, she looked lovely. The school should refund her money at a minimum.

I am sorry some prude took this experience away from her. Congrats to her for expression her individuality and her style.

[nibblybits]

That was a cheap nasty dress. You are seriously deranged if you think that is acceptable in public.

[mcbox]

Where in the world were girlfriends parents? There is a reason God gives every girl a mama. There are consequences for the child in failure to parent properly.(see Britney,Molly)

[WasteNJ]

It's tacky dress, (should have some pasties underneath!) but handcuffs? If it's true that she offered to cover up a little more, then she should have been let in. It the Prom, it's a big deal for a senior (at least that's what I hear, I was banned form mine, long story). At the least they owe her her money back, but think of all the money spent on a limo, hair, nails, and all that. Who would have been hurt by it?

That said, she definitely has the body to pull almost anything off! And now she's famous, for the next 15 minutes.

[Trittydi]

If she were really smart - she would have had a spare dress in the car - seriously.

She HAD to know people were going to get upset. What made her think she could go up against the establishment and win? She's just a high school senior. This is one of the most powerless periods of a person's life.
*

[BarryChamplain]

One hundred years from now, there will still be the ongoing war between the creative, beautiful people, and the authoritarian, stick-up-their-behinds Guardians Of Society. Read some of the comments here. They showed up in force, today.

Yeah, yeah, "welcome to adulthood", my ass (see authoritarian comment, below). What you really mean is, "Welcome to the realization that once you enter the Rat Race, the stick-up-their-behinds people like me run things, and people like you... FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. Get used to it!!"

Then there's the racial dimension. Far be it from me to suggest that a beautiful, young Black woman,