Is $3,000 too much for a prom outfit?

[OmahaBlueDog]

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/video/extreme-proms-spend-13426389

Average prom spending is $800
It's a $4B a year industry.

[Donnachaidh]

1. don't know who to slap first -- the girl wanting this, or the parents paying for it

But someone definitely needs a slap upside the head for wasting that amount of money on a one time dress...

[OmahaBlueDog]

6. I can tell you that even if Daddy wanted to spend $3K on his little girl, Mrs. OBD would veto it

There is no way, in my lifetime, she's let our daughter spend anywhere near that on prom.

[Donnachaidh]

35. my god -- that's half a semester's tuition at the local college!

I thought women got nuts over wedding gowns -- to spend this on a prom dress? No freaking way!

[Art_from_Ark]

96. When I was going to the State U.,

that would have paid for the entire 4 years of tuition!

[karynnj]

99. I'm so old, it would have paid for 4 years at Indiana University as an instate student!

At the end of my Freshman year, there were protests as the state raised the cost for an unlimited number of credits for a year from $395 to $650. (I think the numbers are correct - but it has been about 40 years.)

[Donnachaidh]

101. it would have paid for 3/4's of a four year education at my school

Which irritates me even more about this price.

[bluestateguy]

18. If my daughter wanted to spend that much I'd tell her to get a job

And many girls do: babysitting, giving piano lessons to children or flipping burgers.

Or there is always the Bank of Mom and Dad approach too, I guess.

I don't have a daughter, BTW.

[Donnachaidh]

36. if she wanted to work to pay for it -- fine.

But any parent who consents to spend that amount on a prom dress needs to be slapped.

[emilyg]

45. You slap one - I'll slap the other.

[uppityperson]

73. Not to be judgmental or anything, right? If they want to, they are free to.

[Donnachaidh]

79. and we are also free to tell them what a stupid thing it is they are doing. n/t

[uppityperson]

85. Not to be judgmental on what people spend their money on, right? nt

[WatsonT]

104. Parents

they raised the girl who would want such a waste.

[Scuba]

2. I'd put the over/under at about $75 in today's money....

...but Proms are like weddings were in my day, and weddings are like coronations were then.

Which makes the extravaganza in London just about the most decadent event ever!

[blondeatlast]

42. Have you ever seen "Bridezillas"? The Royal Wedding is a model

of quiet reserve compared to what these couples get.

I'm not joking.

[Ilsa]

3. Our prom queen sewed her own gown.

My mom made mine. They were all "originals", they fit divinely and were well sewn, all for less than $150 in today's dollars. Yeah, I think $800 is extravagant. I didn't spend that much for a wedding gown 18 years ago.

[socialist_n_TN]

63. Yep, my wife made BOTH of my daughter's prom dresses

for about $40 each in materials. Maybe even less. She also made her wedding dress and the bridesmaid dresses for our wedding back when dinosaurs ruled. My youngest daughter is supposed to get married this Fall and she's already ASKED her Mom to make her wedding dress. THAT'S how nice the dresses were.

$3k for a prom dress is ridiculous. That's 2 months of my bills plus extras.

[JI7]

4. yes, even for those who are wealthy

[Brigid]

5. Other than the top 400 . . .

Who has three grand to spend on a prom dress in today's economy? I redid my entire bathroom for that.

[OmahaBlueDog]

7. Most of us didn't spend that for our first car

$3K is a house downpayment for some people

[cali]

8. clearly a lot of people are willing to indulge their little darlings.

[hifiguy]

9. Only the most spectacularly disgusting vulgarian

would tolerate or approve of something like this. Which leave a lot of room for spoiled rich repiggies, I guess.

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. LOL! That's FUNNY! Here's what I just bought for my son for Prom:

New Mens Fashionable Black Two Button Tuxedo - Five Pieces (5pc) - Includes Jacket, Pants, Shirt, Satin Bow Tie, and Cummerbund!

$99.75

and patent leather shoes for $39.00!

ALL OF WHICH HE WILL WEAR ONE TIME.

No FREAKIN' way would I pay $800 or $3000! That's INSANE. My son told me his friends were RENTING tuxedos for $350! No way. I went to Amazon and found this set for $99.75. It's good enough for ONE NIGHT.

[RadiationTherapy]

12. Get him a condom and make it an even hundred.

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. He has a box full.

:) Better safe than sorry.

[RadiationTherapy]

21. Ha! Giving away my age implying he only needs one!

I'm in the, er, quality over quantity stage of life, but the kid moves out in 10 years!

[in_cog_ni_to]

23. :)

:rofl: I try to ALWAYS remember what I was like at 18 years old. ;) *shudder* :scared:

[jmowreader]

46. Bad condom joke

The Trojan Condom Company once asked me to design all new packaging that would increase incremental sales of condoms. So I worked and slaved and finally went to the presentation.

The CEO was there dressed in his gladiator helmet. His minions were dressed in togas. I was wearing a sheepish grin.

I began.

"Mr. CEO, I have developed three new packages for your fine product.

"The first is the Two Pack. This is for high school boys: one for Friday night, one for Saturday night.

"The second is the Four Pack. This is for college men: two for Friday night, two for Saturday night.

"The twelve pack is for married men: one for January, one for February..."

[cali]

32. My son bought his outfit at a funky used clothing store

not a traditional look, but definitely cool.

[JuniperLea]

41. What a great find!

Well done!

[in_cog_ni_to]

47. I know!

I couldn't believe my eyes. It has great reviews on Amazon too. Now I'm just hoping it fits. :scared:

[RadiationTherapy]

11. That depends on if you are attending prom in San Francisco or Cedar Rapids!

It's all relative!


hahahahahahahahaha.

[XemaSab]

22. Even in San Francisco that's gross

I think 200-300 for a dress was about the going rate in the 90's in Marin County. Add in tickets, shoes, and a shared limo and you're probably looking at 500-600 bucks, but that's a far cry from 3000.

About the funniest damn thing I have ever heard anyone say ever in the history of ever was a girl at my school crying because her dad made her wear the same dress to prom that she'd worn to her debutante ball. :P

[Luminous Animal]

67. My San Francisco daughter's entire prom night, 4 years ago, cost $200

$12.95 for the dress at Thrift Town (I added about $15 worth of altering) and the rest for dinner, cabs, and club.

[Luminous Animal]

65. Are you serious?

[bluestateguy]

14. Prom is good for local businesses

Tailors, limo services, flower shops and boutiques.

On edit: I forgot to add hairdressers, manicurists and tanning salons.

[JI7]

17. yeah, but this is about the 3 ,6,20 thousand dollar dresses

not about cutting everything out.

[Art_from_Ark]

106. No one wore a tux to my prom

No one came in a limo, either. Although quite a few came in pick-up trucks and beat-up Mustangs.

[JI7]

15. some of those dresses are pretty ugly, i liked the reporter showing her prom pic, she lost a lot of

weight since then.

[NYC Liberal]

16. My prom date wore a dress she already had and

sneakers because she absolutely couldn't stand heels or 'dress' shoes.

Everyone thought it was great! Me, most of all.

[kestrel91316]

19. Not if you are foolish enough to pay it, lol. I happen to think stupid people with

too much money should be parted from it as swiftly and efficiently as possible.

Fleecing the rich needs to return to being the time-honored profession it used to be.

[MindPilot]

57. As a former auto mechanic..I have to agree with that!!

It's even more fun gouging those who _pretend_ they have too much money. I know you can't afford that car, and now you can't afford to fix it.

[abelenkpe]

20. Crazy.

I designed and sewed my own prom dresses and my little sisters dress and dresses for two of my friends.

It's nice being able to sew. Saves money, and you end up with something original that actually fits right.

Still have my mothers old sewing machine. It's gotta be close to forty years old now. She got it as a wedding gift and used to make clothes for us when we were small. The first thing I ever sewed was a six foot tall stuffed toothbrush. I was inspired by Claes Oldenberg.

Yeah, I'm a geek.

[damntexdem]

24. That's too much for ANY outfit.

Whatever happened to cutoff jeans and flannel shirts? And for the guys, too. ;-)

[eridani]

90. I should think that prom night would require new jeans and flannel shirts

At least up here in the Pacific Northwest.

[katsy]

25. Other: Irrelevant

You can't tell people what they can do with their disposable income, or judge them for it either.

I go without to do certain things for my kids. My business.

The media seems to be dictating the conversation here; manufacturing outrage for what?

I vote Other: fail

[JI7]

39. Why can't we judge it ? i agree we can't make laws to prevent it nor do any of us want to do that

but we should judge and criticize it.

[katsy]

102. You can judge them.

I was wrong to use the word "can't".

Judge away. Do you know the people involved? How much did they give back to their community last year? Charity? Did the mom give up something to splurge on her daughter? Does the dad work 2 jobs? Do you really know anything about them? Do they give back 100-fold to society for every stupid bloody extravagance? See I don't know so I tend not to want to judge these people without the facts. That's just how bigots operate: "OOOps, he's Black/Hispanic/Asian/Gay/Rich/Poor, so that's enough for me to know they are no good" attitude that is so offensive!

I saw a mom who said she didn't get all that when she went to her prom. I don't know if her daughter is an only child or not. I know nothing about these people except the mom didn't strike me as some type of arrogant bitch. She sounded like she had less than whatever growing up. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Who am I to judge my neighbor on one act which didn't kill anyone?

I just wish the news didn't include all this "Real Prom Girls of America" bullshit fodder. My other wish: that people go after the media for the bullshit fluff they keep showing and demand more investigative, informative events.

Sorry.

[blondeatlast]

44. If they allow themselves (and they very clearly did) to let their extravagance

be displayed on TV, I say they are absolutely fiar game. Mom and Dad and the younguns want the world to be jealous of them; in fact, most of the world is mocking them.

As it should be.

[Poll_Blind]

26. No, but only if the person wearing it takes up 30-35 cubic meters of space.

PB

[TheCowsCameHome]

27. No, if it includes the high school.

Otherwise, forget it.

[Raine]

28. Spending that amount is utterly RIDICULOUS & REPULSIVE! nt

[BillyJack]

29. My daughter wants a MAC (a regular PC won't do)....

....Dad & I told her that we would contribute $500 between us (we're divorced, but 'friendly' when it comes to the kids). If she comes up with the other $500-700....good for her!

[blueamy66]

37. I like your style.

Perfect.

[demodonkey]

81. Mac owner since 1987 here... have had numerous Apple Computers...

...every single one has worked, trouble-free, for years and I have sold most of my used ones for a good price. Meanwhile some of my friends have been through two or in one case three PCs to each Mac I have purchased. I have also purchased used Macs that work better than friends' brand new PCs.

In my experience your daughter may actually be fiscally smarter than you think.

;-)

[Withywindle]

93. She could get a good second-hand Mac for $500 if she does a little research.

Those turn over quickly. It wouldn't have all the latest features, but it would be more than serviceable.


(Full disclosure: I paid about $300 for the one I'm typing this on back in 2008. I can't watch movies or TV shows on it, but I can surf the web, write a lot, load photos, and build up a very good iTunes library. I do recommend an external hard drive to back up files, though. Those can be found for less than $100.)

The nice thing about Macs is that they last. I have one of the cube-shaped models from the early 90s that still runs - of course, it's basically just a typewriter that glows at this point, and that's even if you can still find discs for it. The bad thing about Macs is that they last, but Apple is so focused on the latest hot overpriced thing that if you go into an Apple Store looking for basic accessories or parts for a computer that's five years old, they'll just laugh at you and tell you to try eBay.

[Snoutport]

30. I paid for my Special Ed school's ENTIRE prom for a fraction of that.

But, I'm a poor teacher and that's the best I could do.

(the good news is B of A heard I paid for the prom and gave me a prize that is paying for the next six years of proms)

[OmahaBlueDog]

62. I like to think there's a special place in heaven for you

Good work (both in what you did and what you got B of A to do)

[Snoutport]

83. Actually, B of A gave half a million dollars out that night to really awesome people...

I feel guilty for what they gave me! But I figure, out of all the money B of A spends, people would approve of the little sliver they gave me.

[Anakin Skywalker]

31. American Exceptionalism?

[LanternWaste]

33. I paid $750.00 for a three-piece suit last year...

I'd like to say, "sure it too much..." but I paid $750.00 for a three-piece suit last year. Was informed some days later that $750.00 could have paid for almost one thousand meals which would be very welcome in many third world nations.

Realizing that the difference between her prom dress and my suit are merely in degrees and not in content, thus I'd be indicting myself. (Pragmatism forces me to indict myself, but I'm sure I can rationalize it away after awhile...)

[JI7]

38. yeah, but is it for high school prom ? i think people are more ok with people spending

a lot when they are older and from the money they earned from work.

but parents spending that much for kids is different.

[in_cog_ni_to]

52. You should shop on Overstock dot com.

:) They have AWESOME deals on designer suits for a fraction of the original cost....if you know your size and it's average.

[Safetykitten]

34. Only if purchased at Olive Garden with coupons for booze.

[Zorra]

40. Is $700 too much to pay for a toilet seat? Of course. nt

[hayu_lol]

48. Back in the early 50s...most of the girls and their moms made...

the prom dresses. Usually ran about 15/20 bucks for the materials and pattern. Looked great on all of them. Boys then usually had dark blue suits and we just wore those. A really good boy's suit back then ran about $35. Corsage was about $5 and mom or dad drove the transportation--or, gasp, the couples took the streetcar(Hollywood). We survived and had great times with REAL LIVE BANDS. NO nutjob DJs pretending to be rock stars.

Proms were in the 'duded up' cafeteria and NO afterparties.

[Odin2005]

43. Funny how it's always the gals who have to pay an arm and a leg, not us guys.

Us guys can rent a tux but women have to BUY an expensive outfit they will only wear once. What The Hell?

[jmowreader]

50. I always thought it should be the other way around...

A man is going to attend junior prom, senior prom, formal dances in college, a few weddings as an usher, at least one as a groom...say, twelve events. A classically designed black tux can serve for all of them--just change the tie, cummerbund, etc.

A woman is going to attend the same twelve events but she'll need a different dress for each one.

So let me see...one tuxedo versus twelve dresses. Which one makes more sense to rent?

[Donnachaidh]

55. same with fugly bridesmaids dresses

It's not only expensive you have to wear something someone ELSE has deemed *pretty*....

[tammywammy]

56. I was lucky when my brother got married

My SIL is awesome. I was a senior and she wanted me to be able to wear that dress to prom, so I got to pick it. She specifically stated 'no butt bows, no flowers.' She just wanted it to be a hunter green, which as a redhead, works for me. I found a really pretty dress and it was even on sale. :)

[TNLib]

49. I really hope my child doesn't grow up to believe this kind of nonsense

Is so important that it warrants that kind of expense. It makes me sad to think these girls think having the most expensive gowns are so important to their self esteem.

[Luminous Animal]

69. How she expresses her values then will have a lot to do with how you raise her now.

In all things, be brave.

[JHB]

51. "They have to be taught that nobody's perfect", says the mom who...

is indulging in multiple-kilobuck dresses and baubles, for an event which -- if that lesson is successfully taught -- they won't care about within a few years (or months, or days, or possibly even hours).

One thing prominently not asked (or perhaps didn't make the final edit) of the moms was a ballpark figure of their family income. For the mom who had the "nobody's perfect line", that was a well-appointed house - definitely an income of at please six figures. Certainly lacking in a certain perspective, but then if they had it they wouldn't have been there to interview in the first place.

[Dappleganger]

53. If that doesn't offend your sensibilities...

there's something clearly broken in your brain which warrants fixing.

[tammywammy]

54. I got out cheap both proms I went to

My junior year, I had a formal dress my mom had bought for me a year or two earlier, it was on sale and I went to a lot of banquettes. I wore that dress, but I did purchase new shoes and a backless bra and I got my hair done as well. I borrowed jewelry from my best friend's mom, it was beautiful Indian pearl.

My senior year my brother got married. My brother and SIL purchased my bridesmaid dress as my Christmas gift. I got to pick the bridesmaid dress, which was $100, because my SIL wanted to make sure I could wear it to prom. I already had shoes and stuff. For prom I had to pay to get my hair and makeup done and that's it. My bridesmaid gift was a nice pearl necklace.

So I was out less than $100 each time. I knew girls that spent hundreds on their dresses and it seemed silly to me.

Oh and I got one more wear out of my senior year dress, I went as the prom queen a couple years later to a Halloween party. :)

[MorningGlow]

58. What the phk!

I made my prom dress for about $50, wore shoes I had, wore jewelry I had. Dinner was also less than $50 for me and my date. Drove there in his old rusty Rabbit!

And no, this was not back in the day when a loaf of bread cost 10 cents; it was 1983. :banghead:

[Stevenmarc]

59. Sorry, I don't have a problem with it.

That is if you can afford it and not going into hock for it.

[dkf]

60. Where is "hell yes"?

[MindPilot]

61. As a guy, any money spent on a prom is too much.

Never went, never wanted to go, and I've never regretted the decision.

Proms are for the socialites, rich kids, jocks and the other assorted douche nozzles and more importantly a way for the teachers and administrators to show their favoritism for the aforementioned douche nozzles.

[Throd]

64. Well, for ME it would be.

[Cairycat]

66. My daughter wore fabulous vintage dresses to prom

One from the 70s, one from the 50s, one from the 60s. These were just finds at the local resale and Goodwill stores. Now, my daughter's figure is just made for fashions of that era, and she did spend some money accessorizing, but she looked so great, and she was so pleased with having something unique, not a "popsicle dress" (because they look like brightly colored popsicles) like so many of the other girls. I don't think she spent more than $50 in any year, and most of that was shoes.

[Butch350]

68. Simple

Those who can afford it will - those who can not will not!

If you got the funds and your daughter graduates with honors from High School - then why not spend
that measly 3k for your loving daughter.

Some people are just pissed because someone can afford to spend that on the child.

Besides, 3k is chump change to rich people - they'll spend more than a simple 3k on a dress.

.02

[Liberal_in_LA]

70. $800 is too much also. $200 or less is about right.

[OmahaBlueDog]

76. I'm not sure if the $800 figure was the average dress or what the average couple spends

I could see $800 for the whole thing as an average, once you total her dress, his tux rental (genders used for illustrative purposes only), flowers, tickets, limo (if used), fancy dinner out (although I've seen some upscale places that offer a Prix Fixe prom deal). I agree $200 should do it for her dress, but that's just me.

[quaker bill]

71. For me, yes

Though I did spend some solid money sending my daughter to hers. She has somewhat more practical tastes but was well dressed for the occasion. It is only once and I could do it, so I did. Me and her boyfriend's dad split the driving.

[uppityperson]

72. For me, yes. But if someone else wants to spend that, I have no judgement, up to them. eom

[wizstars]

74. ABSO -F-ING LUTELY!!!!!!!

Even if she wants to work for it herself, she needs to understand that there ARE higher priorities in the world. Uh- UH!! NO!! Even if she earned it, I wouldn't let her spend it on one dress that she'll wear one time, then put in a box.

[slackmaster]

75. I'm pro-choice on people spending their own money on whatever they wish

HTH

[uppityperson]

86. +1000

[Warren DeMontague]

88. X

actly.

[TK421]

77. That would eliminate a credit card and buy food for maybe two months

so yeah, it is pretty fucking outrageous

[NYC_SKP]

78. It is the exact wrong way to set the young ones off toward living a meaningful life.

Pure consumerism.

bullshit.

[AsahinaKimi]

80. For that price, I could probably buy

two Kimono...





and a pair of geta!

[Renew Deal]

82. $800 is too much too.

:wtf:

[RegieRocker]

84. Not if you have to sit on a $6,000 toilet to go pee.

:-)

[applegrove]

87. One year I sewed my own dress. The next year I rented a vintage dress for $40 dollars. I also

cut my own hair!!!

[Maru Kitteh]

89. I paid $279 for our daughters prom dress and pitched a FIT about that price.

[MedleyMisty]

91. Dude. Seriously.

I can't remember how much we paid for my prom dresses, but I know it was somewhere in the $200 or less range.

Hey, when you're wearing your $3,000 prom dress, be sure to imagine all the hungry people that could have eaten on that money, the homeless who could have maybe paid a first month's rent, the people who could have had medicine or heat. Make sure it's blood-red, to represent the fact that you're a vampire who sucks the blood of others to live.

I don't think there's ever been a time in my life when I would have been okay morally with that sort of excess, but right now - right now it pretty much says "Hi. I'm in the top 1%. You're going to suffer and die while I party on the money I took from you. Tee hee."

[Whisp]

92. most of those dresses were ugly schmattas

what suckers.

[Withywindle]

94. Maybe not, if good quality accessories are included

[Withywindle]

95. I think some of the people posting on the threads do not remember their own teen years.

I do.


I can't even conceive of the existence of a $3,000 dress even as a 41-year-old. It is just not part of my reality, nor do I want it to be.


I didn't actually go to my prom, because I skipped my senior year and went to college a year early. But if I had done, here's what I would have done:

1) "Set my heart" on a $500 dress.

2) Be told I couldn't have it. (Hello, my parents were lower-middle-class government employees.)

3) Cry. A lot. Thrash and wail.

4) Wait until my parents dove deep into their pocketbooks to give me $300

5) Gone to my favorite thrift shop and found a really gorgeous vintage dress for about $30, in 80s terms. (My body tends to fit much more easily and naturally and prettily into 40s and 50s dresses than anything made after 1965)

6) Spent the rest on books and records, which were what I really cared about at the time.

[last_texas_dem]

97. Yeah, it's ridiculous.

I wonder if there's any correlation between spending ridiculous amounts on prom and the amount of enjoyment derived from it?

I know that in my case, I actually had an awesome Junior prom: the one where the girl I'd asked had said yes, then backed out on me due to her psycho ex-boyfriend being psycho, then came by my house about an hour before the thing started and convinced me to go with her. I spent nothing, wore a t-shirt, and jeans... and it's a night I'll always remember. Senior year we played by the rules: dressed up, went out to eat, had pictures taken, and all that stuff-- and it was nowhere near as fun.

[OmahaBlueDog]

98. I am told by my teen-aged daughter that the dynamics of prome have changed

For example, you, like me, asked a girl to prom. I am reliably informed today that, while some people still do go as couples, it is now more of a big, formal group date.

Weird, and it would have screwed up my plans for the evening.

[raccoon]

100. Extravagant proms are one reason why a family can't live on one income these days.

Only one reason, there are lots of others.

But one thing many people tend to forget is that most people 40 or 50 didn't expect a lifestyle nearly as extravagant as they do now.

[WatsonT]

103. A lot more than I would spend on anything so frivolous

but I guess if it's their money.

[Javaman]

105. The fantasy industry is all we have left.

the ultra rich laugh at us and take our money.

[Iggo]

107. I knee-jerk voted Yes, but...

...I guess if you're a brazillionaire it's not too much.