How much did your 16yo spend on their prom dress?

[SpongebobNoPants]

I have no idea how much these dresses cost but we’ve been asked to pay £500 towards SD’s prom outfit which seems really excessive?
Her dress alone is £500

When DP expressed some surprise (and announce to be honest) at the cost he was told everyone spends that much?
Are we just old and out of the loop or is this excessive?

Mine was £400 9 years ago, that was very standard too

£25 reduced from £150 due to a gap in the seam below the zip, £30 for alterations plus the seam repair. She looked amazing and just as good at some of her friends who spent well over £500

There will always be people who spend loads of money, but there is really no need, you're better off asking on fb for local shop knowledge as most of my friends were totally unaware that there's an oxfam near us that has an upstairs full of wedding and prom dresses at a fraction of the normal price.

£80 (with discount) from Chi Chi London. It looks exquisite on DD and she feels great in it. She's young, slim and lovely so doesn't have to spend a ridiculous amount to look good.

I wouldn't give her any spending money now that she's out of school for the summer. Tell her she's passed on jobs at the local shops as being 'beneath' her, and passed on dog walking and jobs for you as 'beneath' her, so she's on her own for spending money. Don't backtrack. Give your other daughter the dogwalking job and don't make her give it up to her sister if she does manage to come to her senses.

FFS. She's in for a very rough reality check; softening the blow by giving her money now will just delay the inevitable. Best she find out now while she can still live at home as a teen.

She's young, slim and lovely so doesn't have to spend a ridiculous amount to look good
My SD is drop dead gorgeous (honestly I’m not being biased) she’d look amazing in a bloody bin bag!

£210 which felt like a lot!!!

I think it's sending the wrong message to girls. Spend a shed load on a frock for one night because you're worth it

Likewise, you've had a shit year, let's make it right by spending a ridiculous amount on a dress. What happens if they have a shit prom, or - more likely - a mediocre one? What lesson have they learnt?

@RedthroatedCaracara

£80 (with discount) from Chi Chi London. It looks exquisite on DD and she feels great in it. She's young, slim and lovely so doesn't have to spend a ridiculous amount to look good.

I hope you haven't passed the judgement of slim = looking good to your daughter

RedthroatedCaracara I agree

I hope you haven't passed the judgement of slim = looking good to your daughter

No, I've educated her that slim = healthy. I saw it as my duty as I learnt the hard way.

@legotruck if you are slim you do look good, and also it’s healthy. That doesn’t mean you look awful if you are not slim.

Not a chance we will be spending that for dd next year - it can be done really well for much less

Am in the Midlands though and there is a cohort of girls in dd's school and her cousins' that place massive importance on going to certain boutiques and having a unique dress for their prom - the store keeps a list by school and if someone going to that prom has already bought a dress, they veto it for other attendees

It's a big day - like choosing a wedding dress with family attending and non-alcoholic Prosecco etc...

Each to their own but her DM should have spoken to you about it well in advance and absolutely not bought anything before you had an agreement on budget

I spent £400 on DD2s prom dress early last year. (Never been worn). I was expecting to pay about £200, but she saw this one and it was perfect. She isn’t into having her hair or make-up done at all. And would not have wanted a limo. And she was planning to wear this dress with her DMs. So apart from the ticket it was the only expense really. Most of her friends spent a lot less. One got a great dress for £50.

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]@legotruck if you are slim you do look good, and also it’s healthy. That doesn’t mean you look awful if you are not slim.[/quote]

I wasn't really asking for your random opinion. I was specifically commenting to the poster I quoted.

Not everyone who is slim looks good though.

@RedthroatedCaracara

I hope you haven't passed the judgement of slim = looking good to your daughter

No, I've educated her that slim = healthy. I saw it as my duty as I learnt the hard way.

Well, that's a bit false but I can see what you mean.

And I hate all these comments about looking great in a bin bag if you are slim. And not needing to spend money if you are slim. Spend what you want/can afford. Or don’t. Don’t equate the spend with how much a woman is worth or how slim she is. DD2 lived an expensive dress. I could afford it. I bought it. It’s got nothing to do with how slim she is or what she “deserves”.

Loved. Not lived!

@LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood I never once mentioned my SDs weight or size. I said she’s gorgeous and would look amazing even a bin liner!
Nothing to do with her figure, she’s got a beautiful face and lovely hair

Well, that's a bit false but I can see what you mean

Oh FFS don't be so patronising. Like I said, I've educated my daughter so it obviously involved a lot more than a one liner.

And, to be honest, the dress she chose needed a slim, toned physique to be flattering.

Oh FFS don't be so patronising.

I didn't mean to be?

I simply said slim doesn't always mean healthy and acknowledged I saw what you were getting at. Sorry if you thought anything of that other than what I said. It wasn't meant.

And I'm sorry that I got snippy, lego as you did have a point!

First one I wore literally a £15 bodycon dress

Second got one from Topshop for maybe £50

Dds cost me £150, I would not have gone above £200.
Sadly her prom was cancelled (pandemic) and never rebooked. It has never been worn.
Friend went to a specialist boutique and paid for her dd to have one custom made, was nearly £900. Also unworn!!

My daughter wanted a jumpsuit and blazer and heels. All together it cost me £100 for everything. Don’t throw money away unnecessarily

The sky’s the limit - we have shops near us that specialise in expensive prom dresses , but frankly some of them ( obviously not all!) are hideous! For up to £1800!!) However there are plenty of shops ( House of Fraser, John Lewis, Monsoon , Next etc) where you can pick up stunning dresses for £60-£100. My daughter has some incredibly wealthy friends but many bought online at v reasonable cost - some got 2 or 3 to try and returned after trying ; daughter bought in Debenhams for £80 and looked stunning! ( obviously I would say that!) Various similarly priced dresses we had seen whilst shopping were also much admired on the night whereas one family who have more money than sense had squeezed their daughter into a deckchair style ensemble which was much ( sadly unkindly) commented on. At 16 it’s not about being unique , it’s out having similar styles ( shades, materials, lengths) to their mates, plus a style that suits. They will almost certainly never wear it again as the trends change ( chiffon one year, satin the next, maxi, midi, sparkle, lace etc). Do not be browbeaten until spending a hideous amount of money on a one off - there will absolutely be stunning dresses out there for a fraction of that cost. ( remember prom costs will also include new shoes, possibly bag or little jacket, poss spray tans or manicures etc so dress not your only cost!!) Good luck !