There are two basic approaches to the situation.

My old boss, who works for me now since I am the boss, believes in the "better to ask forgiveness than to have to ask permission" approach, which in your case would be do all the work, keep it quiet ,and just have him show up kilted daring the prom officials present to refuse him entrance. Having some personal experience with this approach failing miserably (anybody remember my "Kilt Denied at Royal Troon..." thread will remember the outcomes of that endeavor) I would suggest the second approach as more likely to have a successful and satisfying outcome.

Second approach is as many have already said, a pre-emptive visit with the principal and or school board, well armed with the information about the previous similar cases that have been court approved, with the pictures of what kind of attire your son will be wearing. I would also suggest a hush-hush approach around school for both you and your son, even with his friends, for now as once teens find out someone will be wearing a kilt the local nefarious ones may start hatching plans against either your son for embarrassment sake or otherwise to disrupt the prom by showing up in cheap knockoffs or even frankly in womens' skirts just to press the issue with the officials. NO reason to give idiots ammunition that might make your son's experience diminished in its enjoyment. It might be worth quietly tryingto martial support from a select but respected group of school teachers who know your son and would be supportive of his efforts as well, as long as this can be kept on the down low. They may be able to speank on his behalf in support of his endeavor. As others have said, in talking to the officials I would start soft with the explanation of his anticipated attire with pictures and an explanation (hopefully well founded) as to why he desires to attend kilted first, the request based on that information, and when/if you get rebuffed step it up a notch with the legal precedents, phrases like cultural prejudice, drop the name of a prominent attorney that you may have (in preparation) already discussed the case with (often times the initial legal consultation is free), and any suggested actions or facts he/she may have suggested, and leave the actual threat of legal action be the last thing in your armamentarium. Negotiations always work better when the weapons are sheathed or holstered and no one feels threatened. If brought out too early the threat of legal action causes most public officials to retract from civil discussion into the shelter of their own legal support.

I cannot stress how important it is for you and your son to try your best to keep this as quiet as possible, so as not to allow a stir to incite possible other actions by other students which could torpedo his chances to attend the prom kilted. At least until the time comes near enough that, if you are not achieving success, public humiliation of the school officials is the only tool you have left, then by all means go to the media about it.

Lastly, as well as I know the rule that it is nobody's business what a man wears beneath his kilt, I think it would be more than appropriate in this situation to guarantee to the school officials that your son will be ploperly clad beneath his kilt, preferably in something that by itself would be acceptable in normal social situations, like a pair of spandex warm-up or cycling type shorts in a suitably dark color. Although they may not say it, officials always have these things in the back of their minds as potential scenarios that they would have to deal with, and removing that fear up front could only help support your cause as being well thought out with all concerns in mind.

Whatever you do don't let anybody describe the kilt as a dress----it is a male piece of clothing, and one to be worn with pride, as I am sure your son will, especially knowing that his mother has gone through so much effort to make it and insure that he could wear it to this momentous event.

Best of luck. Please let us know if there is anything we can individually do to support your son's cause---we are not beyond writing letters to the principal, school board, or the media, when appropriate and felt needed. You will be amazed at how fast this can spread across our little kilted world.

jeff