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

[Dramatic]

My daughter is in year 11 and a lot of her friends have already started shopping or already bought their prom dresses. Some have spent hundreds (£350-£500) and their parents have actually taken out payment plans or loans to get them....this seems insane to me? Are shops just ripping people off? Just seems like a ridiculous amount of money for a dress to be worn for a couple of hours.

When I got my 18yo her prom dress we went to an ex display shop and paid around £50 for a gorgeous dress.

God no, it's something that's only going to be worn once. Hire it or buy second hand, there are tonnes on eBay or Vinted for not very much.

DD wore one of my vintage Laura Ashley dresses.

But I teach secondary and many spend hundreds of pounds.

Absolutely not. Most 16 yo will look amazing in any small scrap of velvety lycra. They absolutely do not need to bankrupt their parents with this American import crap.

Absolutely insane.

And that's just the dress. I've read threads on here about hiring cars, stretch limos and even helicopters for transport on the night.

The world has gone mad.

I think my Dds were £100 ish no more than £150 we bought then online, you will get some girls wearing expensive dresses and going a bit ott but it is really up to them what they do, I doesn't affect your dc.

American here, and no, none of my daughters or daughter in law spent this much. Nor did they hire limos or get makeovers or have their hair done professionally.

But it is really easy here to buy prom dresses that don’t cost a fortune and perhaps the UK is different.

Dd's was 350. I paid 200. Her db paid 150.
Was just past Covid and dd needed the boost.

I'm afraid this is just how much they are now if you choose to buy from a prom dress retailer. We paid £450 for my dd's last year and that didn't include alterations. Don't forget on top of the dress you will need to factor in shoes, jewelery, bag, hair, make up and nails etc too. Its avery expensive event.

No, definitely not! Luckily dd does not do dresses and wore black evenjng trousers and a fancy (but cheap) waiscoat!

My DD wore the dress I wore to my school leavers’ dance back in the early 90s! The dress was originally made by a dressmaker and then I had it slightly altered for DD.

You don't "need" to, you're pressured into having those things.

My eldest we paid £50 for her gcse prom one and then for her 6th form one, £25 from China.
My youngest we paid £100 second hand for hers.

Nope

My year 11 prom dress cost me £5 😁

It cost more for the limo we all chipped in for!

DD didn't go to hers (covid times and they a very scaled down event in the afternoon for 2 hours which she couldn't be arsed to attend) and DS didn't bother either as he is autistic and it would be his idea of hell, so I've not had to buy anything! I'd probably spend a couple of hundred. Mine (back in the late 90s) cost me £25 from Carnaby Street and I paid for it from my pocket money savings. Nobody was wearing dresses worth hundreds back then.

My DD spent about £50. Hair, nails etc, not essential really. Her and her friends did each others - there were a mix of more expensive dresses and lots of cheaper ones.

Please look at vinted/ eBay etc so many beautiful and once expensive dresses that have been worn once and passed along to the next prom girl. Absolutely no need to spend £££ on a dress

Maybe some girls just actually want them because it's a once in a lifetime event and want to feel special. Nobody pressured me into buying personalised champagne flute, hanger for the dress, and silk pyjamas to wear to get ready in, or the balloons and sailboard for pre prom drinks and photos ar our house. I wanted to get them and was in no way pressured.

😂 😂 😂 😂 they saw you coming.

You can buy a suitable dress for £50 or less from places like Zara or H&M or wherever.

The girls can do each others hair and make up etc.

You're a mug

No - its incredibly wasteful.
I would encourage my child to make the right choice rather dictate.

I have strong ideas about money and about think for yourself (which i got from my parents)
I'd have done something similar to what my parents would have done so something like

a. "if you want a £300 dress, Fine" For every £1 you earn and/or save towards it... i will match it. (This would be done with good notice not a month before...)

Or

B. I will give you £200 ,cash for your savings if you can find a prom dress and shoes for under £100

I wouldn't ever spend that much on a dress. My wedding dress was only £50! I'd help her find something on Vinted most likely, I'd happily buy two or three dresses even from there for her to try on, and probably then donate the ones she didn't wear.

You are a retailers dream.

And you are rude! Why should they do each other's hair and make up! Being pampered is all part of the experience. If myself and other parents want to pay for that then it's nothing to do with you. If you want to do things on the cheap that's on you.

I was shocked at how much money spent on dresses/shoes/hair/make up/transport for a 2-3 hour party. I know parents who casually dropped well over £500 for the dresses alone! Madness.

My DD's was last year. She sourced her own vintage second hand dress that looked amazing on her for just under £100, sourced some absolutely amazing second hand platform shoes off Vinted for £40, and did her own hair and make up. We gave one of our older son's mates £40 to drop her off in his much cooler than our car - a flashy sports car - and her brother went with them for the drop off. She looked stunning and was quite happy with her prom and after-party experience.

£126 for dds dress online. Bought matching ribbon for dhs car and the dogs collar. Her date bought a matching tie.

never.