Qld Catholic school makes female students seek pre-approval for formal dresses

A Catholic girls’ school has asked Year 12 formal attendees to seek prior approval for their outfits, with risqué necklines, cutouts and thigh splits banned.

Some of the formal dresses that are now allowed.

A Catholic girls’ high school in Queensland has asked students to seek pre-approval for their outfits prior to their Year 12 formal.

The strict dress code was conveyed to parents in an email prior to the event which occurred last weekend.

“The HOHs (Head of Houses) haven’t seen or approved everyone’s outfit for the night though, so please submit a photo of your dress or suit on the Microsoft Form below so we have all your photos in one spot to check,” the email read, as reported by The Courier-Mail.

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Gowns with leg splits were axed. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Risqué cut outs and dresses with cleavage were also frowned upon. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Students were also given a booklet filled with dresses which were considered both acceptable, or in breach of the school’s dress code.

On the list of banned outfits were plunging necklines, thigh high splits, low backs, exposed midriffs or cutouts.

Examples of dresses banned by the Brisbane Catholic college. Picture: Supplied/ The Courier-Mail.

Gowns on the approved list. Picture: Supplied/ The Courier-Mail.

Speaking to The Courier Mail, one parents of a senior student said students attending semi-formals and formals in previous years had been given similar instructions.

“I do know one of the girls was made to wear a shawl over the cleavage area – she was told that she needed a shawl and if she didn’t bring her own she would be given one on the night to wear,” she said.

“They have been doing it for a few years because my older daughter went through the same thing – even the semi-formal last year was the same.

Mary MacKillop College at Nundah. Picture: Supplied.

While a statement shared by The Courier-Mail said that “there was no process in place to approve dresses,” a student told The Guardian that they girls with banned outfits were told “they needed to be changed”. This was true “even if money was spent on another dress”.

“I know many students were worried to show the heads of houses or teachers in case they were declined,” she said.

However, it appears no students were turned away from the school event, however she said it was unfair that girls attending the formals of all boys’ schools weren’t required to go through the same rigorous process.

“One of the biggest confusions for me is how ‘all girls’ schools are more controlling of what the students wear, compared to being invited by an ‘all boys’ school where there is no dress code for partners,” she said.

In January, another Brisbane Christian school came under fire after a former student was disciplined because they didn’t want to wear a dress to the formal. A former student at the Citipointe Christian College, Emmy Leo said they believe the incident spurred on the school’s decision to ask parents to sign an enrolment contract which would allow kids to be expelled for their gender identity.

“They told me that I would be ruining everyone else’s night by showing up in a dress,” they told The Project.

“I do believe that I may have been a catalyst in pushing that forward, just because I spoke out against the school. They wanted to prevent anyone like me from doing anything like that ever again.”

Originally published as Qld Catholic school makes female students seek pre-approval for formal dresses