Columnist Muriel Stevens: Heavy price to pay for proms

Forget the chicken-or-the-egg question. More important to teenage style-conscious females is which comes first -- a date for the prom, or a dress to wear to the prom.

With prom time close at hand I'd be willing to wager that having the right gown and the right tuxedo is the key to a cool evening for any young couple.

Male promgoers need beaucoup cash for prom extras, such as a limo and dinner at a groovy eatery -- part of every prom these days, along with the expected flowers.

Prom fashions this season, according to a spokeswoman at the Boulevard mall on South Maryland Parkway, are full of color, with florals, fuchsias, bright red and white leading the way. Lace, glitter, sequins and beading add sizzle.

Don't overdo: If a dress is glitzy, keep accessories and hairdos simple. Select a gown or dress that feels comfortable, one that's easy in which to walk and dance.

The Boulevard has many suggestions for prom garb: Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, Claire's Boutique, Rampage, Robert Wayne Footwear, Afterthoughts and always-dependable Macy's, Dillards and J.C. Penney. Prices start at $49 at Charlotte Russe.

More prom: Jessica McClintock at Fashion Show mall offers smashing gowns for prices that belie their elegant looks. Savvy teenagers who can spend more than $100 may find here the gown of their dreams. Timeless, yet trendy, McClintock features show stoppers fit for a prom queen.

Dangling karats: Gold prices are on the rise, so if you're a collector of gold jewelry count those karats. Pure gold in America -- 24 karats -- is considered too soft to be made into jewelry, so it is mixed (alloyed) with other metals -- copper, zinc, silver, nickel -- usually at least two, to make it stronger.

Karat numbers -- 18, 14, 10 -- indicate the amount of alloy to gold. Eighteen-karat gold is 18 parts gold to six parts other metals; 14K, 10 parts. Legally, the lowest number of karats that can be sold in the United States is 10 -- 10 parts gold to 14 parts other metals.

Be aware that outside the United States requirements are different. If jewelry is marked eight or nine karats, it is probably an import. Colored gold comes from fine gold being alloyed with varying amounts of silver, nickel, zinc or copper. Gold can be made to look white, red, pink or green. Changing the color does not change the ratio of fine gold to alloy.

If there are no markings on jewelry it is not karat gold. Look for any of these terms on the sales ticket: gold-filled (14 karat GF, a layer of karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal); rolled gold plate (a thinner layer than GF, most often used on watch cases); or Vermeil, heavy gold overlay on sterling silver. Heavy gold electroplate, gold electroplate and gold wash are all done by the same process, except in varying degrees of gold thickness.

Electroplating is done by depositing a layer of gold (at least 10K) on a base metal. The price of electrically plated jewelry is usually less than mechanically bonded pieces.

All that glitters is not always real gold, but it helps to get the best price and product when you know the difference and ask the right questions.

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