Proms are a uniquely American invention, though they're spreading around the world. When I left school, we had a graduation ball, which is the same sort of thing, but with an English twist.

As with proms, people were getting uptight about what to wear and who to go with. I didn't have a problem. No boyfriend meant no date - I certainly wasn't going to go with one of my cousins.

When looking for prom dresses 2007 graduates will no doubt head for the shops, but my mother was a dab hand with a sewing machine, so I had a home made dress in the height of 80s fashion (did the 80s have a height of fashion?).

As far as it went, I enjoyed the ball, though balls have never been my thing. I prefer to go places where dressing up means putting on a nice top with your jeans. What was your prom like?