It’s Time for Teens to Take the Duck Tape Challenge

Courtesy of Lifetime

We remember it well. Going into the Corner Mall in downtown Boston. Walking into the hottest cheap but trendy clothes store and finding the perfect prom dress — a tea length black and dark blue iridescent taffeta number with enough netting to give it that perfectly poufy kick. Hey, it was 1985. Give us a break. 

Needless to say, we were thrilled. No other girl at Braintree High was going to show up on that special night in the same outfit. And the best part was that it only cost $35. 

Flash forward almost three decade later and we realize that their could have been an even better way to get the ultimate inexpensive gown with an even greater degree of creative flair — duct tape. Anyone who watched the most recent season of Project Runway saw the challenge in which the contestants had to create gowns out of the sticky substance. The formidable frocks were then scrutinized by a group of fashion forward teens.


Well it’s all part of a bigger campaign that Duck Brand has been organizing for years called Stuck on Prom. The mission is simple. Any high school students over the age of 14 who want to take the challenge just has to go to their local hardware store and pick from a wide variety of colors and patterns of duct tape to design the perfect dress and tuxedo.

Once the design is complete the couple has to submit a photo to Duck Brand where a panel of experts will select ten finalists. The looks will be judged on workmanship, originality, use of color, accessories and, obviously, use of duct tape. All entries must be in my June 10.

Then it’s up to America to help choose a winner. Between June 13 and July 8,  fans and fashionistas can vote on their favorite. The winner will be announced on or about July 11, so there’s still plenty of time to vote for the Top 10.

Of course the victorious kids have to stick to the plan and actually wear their outfits to prom. Sure, they might regret the look in 30 years but they can always bury the pictures. It’s not like they’re going to get plastered all over Facebook, right?

Find out more on the official Stuck on Prom website or Facebook page.