FASHION FITTING AT LOCAL SCHOOLS DRESS CODE ENFORCEMENT PAYING OFF, OFFICIALS SAY.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The message seems to be getting out about modesty, according to Saugus High Assistant Principal Frank Ferry, known for his vigilance on enforcing the dress code.

``We've had a handful of kids in here changing, but not too many,'' he said, noting that bare midriffs seem to be a problem that's waning.

For those who continue to skimp on the shirt, Ferry is quick to provide an oversize shirt that reads ``I Am Dress Code Challenged.''

The William S. Hart Union High School District requires parents of high school and junior high students to sign a form outlining acceptable dress standards for their children, a code that warns against halter tops, exposed boxer shorts, wallet chains and baggy pants. Still, some students come to class looking a little more edgy than when they kissed their parents goodbye.

``We beat it into them the last two years of school and now we're getting a handle on it,'' Ferry said. ``And we spend the first week of school talking to kids, warning them.''

Ferry said that enforcing the code can be especially difficult for male campus supervisors.

``You have parents call you and ask how dare you look at my daughter and they get aggressive,'' he said. ``I'm very blunt and direct, I tell them it's simply not appropriate and that they have to monitor what their children wear. But a lot of times, on the most outrageous violations, the mom comes in and she's in violation, too. We can't do much about the mom but we can do something about the kid.''

Jill Vasky of Up Your Alley, which caters to young women, said her customers are glad to see higher waistlines and suit jackets coming into fashion.

``We're seeing more covered up with the fall styles,'' Vasky said. ``Pants legs are tighter and straight. The girls that come in here have commented that they like the shirts being longer.''

Vasky said that the peasant look with full skirts topped with long tunics is making the rounds, providing comfort and good looks at the same time.

Ads for mass retailers Old Navy and the Gap, popular stores for high school-age shoppers, boast ``new longer length'' in both tops and shorts for women. Neither ad featured the bare midriff styles so popular a year ago.

Hart High Principal Gary Fuller said he couldn't be happier with the turnaround in student fashions.

``Out of 2,700 students this week, we've only had nine violations,'' he said. ``Our kids are so good, they've stepped up and our parents are supportive. We've noticed the tops are a little longer and we were talking in the office today about how nice the longer skirts look on the girls.''

Fuller added that the saggy pants so prevalent last year on the boys have all but disappeared.

``It took being consistent, but it seems to have worked. We really want our campus to be focused on studying and not looking at each other. We couldn't be happier with the way things have turned around.''

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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(color) Saugus High School Assistant Principal Frank Ferry says dress code violations are down considerably this year, but he's got a special T-shirt for students who still haven't gotten the message.

David Crane/Staff Photographer