School Proms

[ellebelle94]

What does everybody think of School Proms (the dresses, the suits, the vehicles, the cost, all the planning etc.) then? All views welcome :)

[plautus]

An egregious American import, like Halloween. Should be banned immediately!

[ellebelle94]

Interesting view Plautus. Although I disagree, I do respect your view :)

[sara3]

I agree.. another American "occasion" we never had a while back. now we have a prom for leaving primary school, one at 16, then a leaver's ball at 18.

I'm all for an end-of-term party, but it's completely out of hand.

[slinkycat]

Used to think it was a terrible American import when it started to become popular here.
Now after my three kids all went to their high school prom I'm not so sure.
Yes its not cheap, but they all had a fantastic time.
When it was my daughter's prom, she and her friends met at our house to have photos, and it was lovely to see the girls in their evening gowns and the lads in their tuxes, probably the first time a lot of them had ever worn a suit!

[fliptheswitch]

Absolutely awful.
It puts so much pressure on the parents, when the kids have to try and have the best dress, car, etc.
I've also always thought it was pretty harsh on the kids who maybe aren't so popular at school and can't get "dates".

[plautus]

"Tuxes"? Wash your mouth out!

[sara3]

new dress, bag, shoes, haircut, ferrying around, after-party.

the dress and bag were never used again.

[sara3]

oh, I missed the 500 shopping trips to find said dress, shoes and bag :o/

[ellebelle94]

Couldn't agree more Slinkycat! Yes, it may be cheap, but when you see the smiles on their faces and the beautiful dresses and suits I think it's lovely; it must be such a night to remember for them! My school prom was amazing and I can remember every moment of the day!
Flicktheswitch, lots just go in groups of friends, not a lot have 'dates' and they have the choice to go or not

[slinkycat]

Ok, dinner jackets, plautus! As for dates, that is not the thing here. My daughter went with a group of friends (even though she had a boyfriend) One son did the same, and the other went with a group of couples.

[fliptheswitch]

Ohhhh, I see. So it's not like a 'proper' prom then... just an expensive disco?

[ellebelle94]

Well worth the 'expense' in my view!

[fliptheswitch]

"All views welcome :) "

Yup. And that was "my view".

[slinkycat]

Thinking about it, it wasn't even that expensive for us, daughter had a £40 dress fom primark, plus a pashmina which she has worn to death.
Lads had hired suits, and they all paid for the limos with saturday job eanings!

[ellebelle94]

Yes I know, all views are welcome :) my view is just different to yours and I respect that :)

[slinkycat]

Earnings rather! Also dress tkmaxx, don't think primark stretch to ballgowns!

[ellebelle94]

Yes Slinkycat, proms do not have to be expensive at all :)

[fliptheswitch]

Well then ladies, I take it all back. I'm just going by the pictures I've seen in my local paper. Girls wearing (clearly expensive) dresses, salon-styled hair, flash cars. I don't think any of that would come "cheap".
I'm sure when I have some kind of experience of this, I may change my mind. I'm sure it is a proud moment when you see your child all dressed up and leaving school :)

[DaisyNonna]

For many young people the only time they will be able to dress up formally will be their own wedding or a prom. Many do not marry. A dress, a suit, vehicle not important, the cost is not perhaps too much. Hired suit, made dress, (or has every female forgotten on or not learned how to sew?) An opportunity to feel almost an adult (if 16) or to celebrate (if 18). Not applicable to primary children.

[slinkycat]

Yes it is flip. Had another proud moment the other week when I saw my daughter in her graduation gown, now THAT bought tears to my eyes:-)