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Original poster

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

439 replies

Dramatic · 29/10/2025 20:07

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.

OP posts:
NewsdeskJC · 30/10/2025 22:36

We bought youngest ones dress from JJs House online. It was somewhere around £120 and was made to measure.
We were lucky in that she is somehow tall and slim (it doesn't come from me), so really anything would work.

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 30/10/2025 23:23

This whole thing sounds really quite sad to me and a real.money making racket. Shepherd leading the sheep.

Cinderella Fantasy. US style.

Even more so, when most children wear uniforms for school to equalise pupils.

Yes l.know, a lot of sixth form colleges don't follow this rule.

One poster said her daughter also had a prom at the end of her GCSE's. What!!

What do the Schools think of this crap?

What is in it for them?

What do the Wokes thing about this Prom thing.

How about having an Anti Prom event for people for pupils and students who can think.for themselves?

NewBrightonEel · 30/10/2025 23:36

My daughter made her own - not a skill she got from me, MIL taught her to sew - £32 on material, shoes and bag from Vinted.

changeme4this · 31/10/2025 00:05

I wouldn’t take out a loan or such like, but the first prom dress was worth a lot more (yet still affordable) than the second, which was mail ordered and had to be adjusted.

DD has kept the first one, but second she won’t wear again. There was definitely a quality difference between the two.

However it’s all a bit of fun for those who want to participate. I can think of worse ways money is spent and I felt terribly sorry for the Lass whose parent and step parent outright refused for her to have a special dress. As others have said, there are great finds in all price ranges…

Hollybollyhughes · 31/10/2025 07:08

I've never understood why we as a society embrace this anyway. Plus all the American language, high school, semester, lock down, homicide, Jesus. I won't continue! It's a huge amount of money for a child's dress. No, don't feel any pressure to lose your marbles either.

randomgeneratedusername1 · 31/10/2025 07:34

Yes , I have paid a deposit of £100 for my daughter’s prom dress it’s £350 . I am putting the money away I have until March next year to pay for it. I said I wouldn’t spend a fortune on a dress but she has had a terrible time at High school the past 2 years with bullying which lead to extreme anxiety where she ended up in hospital with ulcers in her stomach. She has thrived the past year and is working doubly hard to get the grades she needs and she is smashing it . She doesn’t ask for anything, ever , she is not into make up ,partying or trendy clothes so when she asked to go to prom and have “the whole experience “ it was a no brainer. I just want her to have good memories of her final year at school. I am not sure I would’ve if she was constantly getting things . I guess it’s a balance . Her brother may not get the same experience when the time comes because he is constantly draining my bank account 😂.

Nameychangington · 31/10/2025 07:37

opencecilgee · 30/10/2025 20:15

Once in a lifetime event? Get grip people. It’s a party. There will be loads of parties

I wonder whether the parents who think of school prom as a once in a lifetime experience are the parents who never went to sixth form or university, don't socialise or work in circles where formal dressing is expected. So to them, their school prom was the only time they did this.

The only one of DDs peers I know of who spent a lot of money they couldn't afford on a prom dress, is a low income family whose mum has learning difficulties. She went to special school, so I assume didn't have a prom. Maybe that's why she spent money she didn't have on her DDs prom dress.

RhaenysRocks · 31/10/2025 08:05

AsAliveAsYouNeedMeToBe · 30/10/2025 18:52

If you have the money, then why not. Mine was 2200 in 2006. Plus additional shoes, bag, professional makeup, hair, limo, all the shebang. Wealthy parent. It was fun and I wouldn't change anything and neither would my dad. It was certainly not a lot of money for him.

I hate this 'oh, but you can find it cheaper, even cheaper, the cheapest, just scrounge it from the bin'. One thing is when you can't afford it. But if you can - then why not? Surely that can be adapted to adults to, not just teens. What's your 'thing'? Bags, jewellery, clothing, cars, holidays, city breaks, books, gigs, theatre, fancy food, skincare, horses, other hobbies/experiences/stuff? Just do them on the cheap, or don't do it at all? So instead Maldives stay in a hostel in Scunthorpe?

Going into debt or spending way above your means is silly, of course. But if you can afford it - go for it, don't skimp, don't be a miser, it's your kid. It's a once in the life occasion.

Because those that CANT afford it may feel under terrible pressure to "keep up". Many, (not all) teens would hate to feel that they might be singled out or made fun of, many parents may want to help their child fit in and so spend money they don't have on this. You absolutely could still have a leavers event but done in a way that does not require this sort of exhibitionist expense. If an individual group of mates wants to organise a separate night out in a fancy restaurant that's fine, but a school run event should not encourage this.

x2boys · 31/10/2025 08:16

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 30/10/2025 23:23

This whole thing sounds really quite sad to me and a real.money making racket. Shepherd leading the sheep.

Cinderella Fantasy. US style.

Even more so, when most children wear uniforms for school to equalise pupils.

Yes l.know, a lot of sixth form colleges don't follow this rule.

One poster said her daughter also had a prom at the end of her GCSE's. What!!

What do the Schools think of this crap?

What is in it for them?

What do the Wokes thing about this Prom thing.

How about having an Anti Prom event for people for pupils and students who can think.for themselves?

Most schools have proms at the end of GCSE,s
It signify, s the end of school
Yes I know kids are supposed to v
be in education up to 18 but that very often isn't in a school loads of schools dont have 6th forms.

Mcoco · 31/10/2025 08:38

randomgeneratedusername1 · 31/10/2025 07:34

Yes , I have paid a deposit of £100 for my daughter’s prom dress it’s £350 . I am putting the money away I have until March next year to pay for it. I said I wouldn’t spend a fortune on a dress but she has had a terrible time at High school the past 2 years with bullying which lead to extreme anxiety where she ended up in hospital with ulcers in her stomach. She has thrived the past year and is working doubly hard to get the grades she needs and she is smashing it . She doesn’t ask for anything, ever , she is not into make up ,partying or trendy clothes so when she asked to go to prom and have “the whole experience “ it was a no brainer. I just want her to have good memories of her final year at school. I am not sure I would’ve if she was constantly getting things . I guess it’s a balance . Her brother may not get the same experience when the time comes because he is constantly draining my bank account 😂.

She deserves it! Hope she has fun.

notacooldad · 31/10/2025 08:44

One poster said her daughter also had a prom at the end of her GCSE's. What!!
What do the Schools think of this crap?
Thats normal.
Ds left school 15 years ago and had a prom.

The teens I was work with years before that were having proms.
Its not a new thing.

On the edge of our town there are a couple of country houses that are popular every year for the school prom. Its lovely seeing everyone dressed up abd excited to go.
I do think its more expensive having girls and some really do ott with the expense of dress,having make up, hair and nails professionaly done.

It was easy for the lads just getting a suit which they then wore for interviews and in our case a funeral and a wedding!

cramptramp · 31/10/2025 09:10

My daughter didn’t care about having an expensive dress which was just as well, because I couldn’t and wouldn’t have bought one. I hope my granddaughter will have been brought up so well she’ll not be influenced to think she needs to have an outfit that costs a massive amount of money just for a one night party.

mindkey · 31/10/2025 09:19

We like to think we model financial responsibility with our kids. We ask them to consider when something is genuinely worth spending money on - what else could they spend that money on?
For some young people it will be a big wedding, a brand new car, designer handbags, the latest phone and expensive prom dresses.
We hope we've taught our kids an element of delayed gratification - how that money could be better spent, for example, on their education - paying off their student loan or on their house deposit so they carry less of a financial burden in the future, not spending excessive money chasing a princess dream.
People can spend their money whatever way they want - I'd not want to be teaching my daughter to blow it all on one night.

Hortesne · 31/10/2025 09:22

Hollybollyhughes · 31/10/2025 07:08

I've never understood why we as a society embrace this anyway. Plus all the American language, high school, semester, lock down, homicide, Jesus. I won't continue! It's a huge amount of money for a child's dress. No, don't feel any pressure to lose your marbles either.

Jesus is not American tho.

Hollybollyhughes · 31/10/2025 09:40

I should have added an exclamation mark! Fair point 😂

Exhausteddog · 31/10/2025 09:50

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.

Cerrang · 31/10/2025 09:55

Nameychangington · 31/10/2025 07:37

I wonder whether the parents who think of school prom as a once in a lifetime experience are the parents who never went to sixth form or university, don't socialise or work in circles where formal dressing is expected. So to them, their school prom was the only time they did this.

The only one of DDs peers I know of who spent a lot of money they couldn't afford on a prom dress, is a low income family whose mum has learning difficulties. She went to special school, so I assume didn't have a prom. Maybe that's why she spent money she didn't have on her DDs prom dress.

Show quote history

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.

Hollybollyhughes · 31/10/2025 10:01

I should have added an exclamation mark! Fair point 😂

CoffeeCantata · 31/10/2025 10:34

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 30/10/2025 23:23

This whole thing sounds really quite sad to me and a real.money making racket. Shepherd leading the sheep.

Cinderella Fantasy. US style.

Even more so, when most children wear uniforms for school to equalise pupils.

Yes l.know, a lot of sixth form colleges don't follow this rule.

One poster said her daughter also had a prom at the end of her GCSE's. What!!

What do the Schools think of this crap?

What is in it for them?

What do the Wokes thing about this Prom thing.

How about having an Anti Prom event for people for pupils and students who can think.for themselves?

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.

Original poster
Dramatic · 31/10/2025 10:55

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 30/10/2025 23:23

This whole thing sounds really quite sad to me and a real.money making racket. Shepherd leading the sheep.

Cinderella Fantasy. US style.

Even more so, when most children wear uniforms for school to equalise pupils.

Yes l.know, a lot of sixth form colleges don't follow this rule.

One poster said her daughter also had a prom at the end of her GCSE's. What!!

What do the Schools think of this crap?

What is in it for them?

What do the Wokes thing about this Prom thing.

How about having an Anti Prom event for people for pupils and students who can think.for themselves?

All the schools have proms at the end of GCSEs around here because none of them have attached 6th forms

OP posts:
halfandhalfchipsandrice · 31/10/2025 10:56

YABU to call it a "prom".

Boomer55 · 31/10/2025 10:57

Dramatic · 29/10/2025 20:07

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.

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

KookyRoseCrab · 31/10/2025 10:59

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)

Original poster
Dramatic · 31/10/2025 10:59

halfandhalfchipsandrice · 31/10/2025 10:56

YABU to call it a "prom".

Why? That's literally what it's called.

OP posts:
PastaAllaNorma · 31/10/2025 11:01

SanityLeftTheChat · 29/10/2025 20:14

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.

Show quote history

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.