At Neiman Marcus (www.neimanmarcus.com) in Short Hills this past weekend, mothers and daughters gathered in a primordial ritual of female bonding, otherwise known as a “Prom Event.”

The pressure is on this year, because basic prom fashion—solid colors, long lengths and breast foot forward—are no longer a given.

Virtually any style, any length, any color is fine. It’s all left to the imagination of anxious mothers and daughters, each with a set of different ideas.

“Do you like this dress?” asked one mother anxiously. Her daughter barely glanced up.

“I’m not going to a communion!”

A hired DJ pumped out a rock beat and helpers dished out chocolate flowers as the various generations ogled the bewildering array of styles, ranging from the traditional goddess gowns to short, strapless and high-waisted dresses with trapeze skirts and all manner of patterns, belts, and bows.

Our fashionable friend and occasional business partner Maria Cucciniello (www.thehipevent.com), who was running the show for N-M, offered a roadmap, saying jewel tones are hot. Wearing a short dress for the prom is acceptable… because “it’s more fun.”

When finally “I don’t like it!” became “I like it,” the teens grabbed armfuls of brightly colored dresses in eye-popping patterns with a multitude of necklines and patterns, then marched to the dressing rooms, moms left to scout the aisles and console each other.

They will, we know, eventually find the dress. And since anything goes, they can hardly go wrong. The teens will find their own style… with a little help from mom.

“This is too low cut? Why don’t you just wear pajamas?”

And so it goes.