Personally, I think it’s an unfortunate trend to spend on hair, nails, make-up, tan, transport etc etc as well as the dress. There are always going to be shoes too.
The trouble is, these threads show that the big long list of stuff has become the norm. And when people read this thread, they feel they are letting down their daughter if they don’t provide it all. There’s a bloody cost of living crisis going on, but people are still looking at dresses over £100 and then lots and lots of costly add-ons. I can only agree with a PP that it’s all quite obscene.
I will say too, and it might not be popular, that often it can be families least able to really afford it, that find it so important to splash out on all this stuff. Somehow, having second hand or a cheaper dress would feel like a defeat, and so a big splash of visible cash, for the one night, feels important to the girls and perhaps the families. To hear about people spending some of their inheritance on this, or the government child trust fund money, makes me feel quite shocked. These are 16 year olds having their end of term disco essentially. It really isn’t the huge big deal some seem to want it to be and lots find it’s a real anti-climax and other stuff they do is much more fun.
But the trouble is, it’s out there and the norm now and for lots of girls and families, it feels impossible to resist or get any sense of balance on.
So, all I can say is that I hope no-one on this thread sounds more than they can afford or sacrifices more important stuff for this one-night end of term party. And I hope they all have a lovely time.