Would you/have you spent hundreds on a prom dress?

We had a leavers formal at the end of 6th form in 1987.

Must admit for this kind of thing I’m glad I’ve only got a DS, and he wasn’t sure until the last minute whether he wanted to go. We bought a suit from Next, job done. But it must be so difficult, particularly if someone’s DD has friends who are better off and having all the works. I guess with vinted, not only is there the option to buy second hand, but that they can be sold on again.

I have a boy who I will struggle to get out of his joggers for prom, but yes £££ on a dress, shoes, hair, make up, limos, etc is very normal at our school.
Fairly mixed WC/MC state school.

Why?
Why can't you just accept the fact people can spend their own money how they choose even if it's not something you would spend money on?

That’s quite an interesting thought process to go through when buying a dress for a 16y schoolgirl!

They wanted it and I can afford it so I bought it for them (and I still have loads of savings as well).

@JaninaDuszejko This is always my philosophy.

On the other hand I was happy to spend on dd’s prom dress and let her have the experience of being pampered and prepped for the day so that she doesn’t get too over excited about the wedding dress and day rather than the marriage.

@JaninaDuszejko Absolutely. I have no need to live my life through any of my DC in any way, shape or form. She just wanted something rather dramatic and unusual and it cost money we have so there was no reason not to.

I didn't buy an expensive dress but one DD2 liked. However on the day of the prom the girls all metup to get ready at a friend's house and she ended up borrowing a dress from said friend and wearing that instead. We sold the dress the following year

I didnt have a prom, went to a college with no event , didnt go to uni.

I bought my DDs prom dress at an expense much greater than I normally would because I had a decent amount of money for the first time in my life and wanted to treat her. She looked amazing and it was the only extravagant thing I used inheritance money for. Im donating the dress to a charity so hopefully it will get another wear

I didn’t originally plan to buy an expensive dress but then once she tried some on and had her heart set on one of them I did pay £425 + £90 alterations. I wanted her to feel amazing and she had had a tough time at high school but had worked really hard on her GCSEs. She is very slim so would struggle to fit in many of the second hand dresses. We didn’t pay for make up, hair or limos. The pictures are lovely for me to look back on! Prom is a big thing to the kids and I remembered I’d hardly spent any money on school trips etc due to covid. Her cohort had really not had the best time at school. I don’t think anyone should judge as it’s down to personal choice and how we choose to spend our money on our kids.

Surely this post proves that people with money and education do spend a lot of prom.

My kids comprehensive in a nice area had plenty of expensive prom dresses as well. I'll hold my hand up here as well, I spent approx £500 each on my two DDs for dress, hair etc. And we are the mythical MN household with a six figure income and multiple degrees from old universities. They wanted it and I can afford it so I bought it for them (and I still have loads of savings as well). Sixth form leavers event isn't as big a do and University depends on the Uni, I went to lots of balls but some of my friends who went to other Unis didn't. So even for my kids it was a big deal.

There are plenty gorgeous dresses for rent or on Vinted if parents don't want to buy an expensive new dress. My DC already know the joys of Vinted and I'm sure the next ball they go to they'll either rewear their prom dress or budget according to their own income.

Oh, and proms aren't heteronormative, the kids go in groups of friends, not as male/female couples.

This is a weird thread with lots of prejudices coming out.

I think DD’s dress was a few hundred, can’t remember, but it was a dedicated prom dress place that had a list of schools so as not to sell the same dress in the same colour to the same prom…it was a pleasant afternoon out with her and a friend, and frankly I’ve spent more on stuff neither of us have enjoyed as much so horses for courses really!
I’d planned she could wear the same frock for end of A levels ball, but oh no, couldn't possibly, so that was another shopping trip! 😂

I’d never spend that on a prom dress.

But most people don't go to a prom dress retailer, do they. They go to shops, they browse online.

My niece went to a prom shop and spent £400. 8 out of 120 girls in that GCSE years went to prom shops (DD and her mates were all discussing it)

DD got one online for £60. For A-level she hit the charity shops and got dress and a bag for £45 combined. She looked amazing.

I bought daughters straight from New York as I couldnt pay Glasgow prices around 18 years ago then it was £500+ I got it from New York i think for £250 ( think)

My daughter went on Vinted for a dress for grandaughter. It was lovely and then they resold it afterwards.

YABU to call it a "prom".

I agree.

I think proms as they have become appeal to a very specific demographic of the school population, and most defnitely NOT to everyone.

If the glamour aspect was cut out of it it would be more inclusive. And, while some may roll their eyes at that word, I think if there's one event which should prioritise inclusivness, it's the end-of-school celebration event.

The emphaisis on glamour is going to be hard for several types of student: the impecunious, the ones who feel decidedly unglamorous and the introverts. This will make up a big proportion of the whole - maybe 50%, so not an odd, misfit minority. Of course most students will feel they have to go along with it, but I strongly believe that there are alternative types of event which would make almost all of them (you can never please everyone) feel celebrated.

No problem with enjoying glamming up, but do it outside school with friends who also enjoy it.

I should have added an exclamation mark! Fair point 😂

I think there is an element of this.

We have money and are happy to spend it on things that we find important.

The prom was just not a huge deal for my kids and their friends. They liked it and got excited, but it was certainly not something that they spent a year planning for! I would see value more in spending money on a wedding dress which I do see as a once in a lifetime event. I don’t see a prom in that category.

I think there is a link between education/class of parents and money spent on proms and it’s an inverse relationship.

I spent about £300 on DDs prom dress, for GCSE year.
We had an inheritance from my dad and I wanted her to be able to choose what she wanted, rather than pick what was available on ebay/vinted....which would have been the situation in previous years. Shes had a lot of hand me downs or second hand things prior to that and it was really nice to go in a shop and say you can have what you want. I did her hair and she and her friends did make up together. For her A level leavers dinner she bought a dress for £25 and sold it a year later on vinted for £15.

I should have added an exclamation mark! Fair point 😂