With prom approaching quickly, finding the perfect dress for the occasion is difficult, especially on the budget of a high school student. Dresses typically span around $100-500.
Feeling confident and pursuing self-expression through fashion on a pivotal moment in a highschool experience is important to many students. “Wearing a dress that I feel looks good on me really affects my confidence and clothes that I’m uncomfortable in make me feel more awkward. So it is really important to me that I can like myself in the dress I choose for prom,” Kaitlyn Ryan (11) said.
If just finding a dress that looks good on were the task for the prom attendees, it would be alot easier. However, another aspect for shopping is comfortability and fit. For many, comfortability is a priority because of dancing and walking around.With all of the other variables like comfortability and aesthetics, the price of formal clothes can add on extra difficulty while shopping.
“It’s difficult to shop for prom as a student, especially for those with no job so the budget would be stricter and harder to work around without the extra income,” Ryan said.
Navigating an appropriate price for a gown can be challenging on the budget of a student.
“It is really difficult to shop as a student but shopping online can be helpful and add more variety and options,” Megan Reichert (12) said.
Fashion and clothing shopping for a school event can also aid in bonding with new friends such as sharing ideas, compliments, asking for advice and opinions. Some even go shopping for dresses together so that they can get a second opinion.
“I have talked to alot of my friends about their dresses and we are all really excited about that and I’ve gone shopping with many of my friends so it is definitely a way to relate to other people and we are all just having fun with it,” Ryan said.
Some like to keep prom dress talk within a small circle to have a kind of reveal to their other classmates or date the day of the dance.
“It differentiates from person to person but even though a lot of times people get a dress and keep it secret almost like a reveal, people can still bond with their close friends that they share their ideas and finds with,” Reichert said.
Even though shopping for prom can be stressful and difficult there are many upsides to the experience, like making new friends, learning about budgeting, and students getting to express themselves and have confidence.
