Request a mother of four if homecoming has changed over time and you’ll getting an earful. Consider it from Kelly Ferry, 56, of Merrick, whose youngest child, Leo, 17, a freshman at John F. She will be the last child to enter Bellmore’s Kenneth High School. Citing graduation costs, Kelly exclaims, “Thank God, he’s no a woman in 2024.”
Why? For women particularly, “Prom is so unique from what it was 10 years ago, ” says Shauna Beni-Haynes, business editor at Teen Vogue. “That’s entirely about the impact of social advertising. The dressing up component is the main element. ”
Ferry, whose oldest girl Victoria went to homecoming in 2012 agrees. “Now everybody’s going to see what you were wearing, what your date looked like, what your bus looks like, ” she says. “I don’t think there was a lot of pressure when Victoria moved, but social media has raised the bar. I don’t know if we spent $200 on the whole thing. ”
From an charge view, going to homecoming for boys is also no deal. A quick tally of Ferry’s son Leo’s costs (sans additional expenses for his date) goes like this: Bus transportation ($165); the prom ticket ($125); after prom ($80); tux rental ($250) and incidentals including a haircut ($50) and brow trim ($30) add up to a total of $660.
However, women are more burdened and expensive. At Estelle’s Dressy Dresses in Farmingdale, frocks for the all-important event average $300-$500. Of program, there’s lots of variety in the group. Beni-Haynes says, “Based on our listings for best prom dresses from a website, a lot of our users are buying from resources like Amazon, ” which cost significantly less. But at Runway Couture in Bellmore, the fanciest special event dresses can go for$ 5,000 or more, and while this is not the norm for promwear, owner Kimberly Towers is turning out customized prom dresses this season for $1,000-$2,000. The women I dress for want to be wearing something unique because many prom gowns are very similar to each other. ”
Some families like Coleen Hyland, 59, of Manhasset, are delighted to foot the bill for the great job. Hyland’s girl, Carys, 18, attended the Manhasset High School graduation in early April at the Bridgeview Yacht Club in Island Park. She has worked difficult both in and outside of class, and I believe it is important to honor her accomplishments with this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
Vehicle vehicles: $165
Prom seat: $125
After homecoming: $80
Tux lease: $250
Hair: $50
Dresses: $300-$2,000
*Prices based on typical clothing costs and the length of a child’s Long Island saving break.
To that end, mother and daughter ordered (and sent back) some 30 potential dresses for the night, finally settling on a glamorous, gold-ruched number for $635. There were also the $45 tickets for travel and the party for Carys and her boyfriend, as well as today’s graduation prerequisites like a blowout and nails. What got Carys the most enthusiastic about? The images. “You’re supposed to try and look your best always. ” The costume, evidently, did the trick. Pre-prom she says, “I feel like I’m going on the dark carpet. ”
Graduation SAVINGS — AND SPLURGE
Olivia Gallo, 17, senior class president, may wear a dress she purchased at a consignment store last year for $315 that also needs modifications for her June Oyster Bay High School senior graduation at the luxurious Oheka Castle.
Kim Kardashian says the Marilyn Monroe clothing has jewels and glitter all over it, which reminds her of the Marilyn Monroe dress at the Met Gala. Because of interpersonal internet, “I am aware that I will probably only use it again. ”
Her kids will help with the clothing and the graduation tickets, but Gallo, who works at a store may pay for other expenses. Sensitive to the mounting fees, she put on a full-fledged, hotly-attended style present at her class in late March in which administrators, teachers and students modeled to help pay the price of the$ 120 graduation cards.
“We made more money than we anticipated,” says Gallo, who was able to reduce the cost of the tickets to $100. She, for one, is excited about the whole celebration. “I think prom is a wonderful, emotional occasion to enjoy all the tough work we put in throughout high school. ”
Her classmate, Nancy Abode, 17, admits it ’s more about the costume for her. Abode, whose top magnificent is “Best Style, ” has something very particular in mind.
She says, “My parents are from Ghana, Africa, and I’m getting my dress made there in the way that we customarily wear to weddings. I adore and value my society so little, and I want to show it. ”
She has plans for it, and her Ghanaian garb will cost $500. “On graduation morning, my clothing is going to be all over my Instagram.” The top strategies to get big, adding locks, nails, beauty and shoes to the mix. She says, “ I feel I have to go all out. I want to appear and stand out. ”But she’s less engaged in the event itself. I cherish all of my friends, but I wouldn’t be so happy if we just had graduation and no prom. ”