Robert Wright for The New York TimesDRESS-UP Danielle Gordon, 18, a senior in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, in her prom dress from Notte by Marchesa. Go to related article » 
Does your school have a prom? Will you be going? If you’re going, what are you wearing, and about how much do you expect to spend? How do you feel about formal school dances in general? Why?
In “The Prom Dress Moves Into the Designer Leagues,” Marisa Meltzer writes:
Last year, as a junior at the Latin School in Chicago, Colby Jordan wore a black silk gown designed by John Galliano with matching Dior heels to prom. “This year I’m switching gears,” she said on the phone from her home recently. “I’m doing a chartreuse Roland Mouret gown with purple snakeskin YSL Tribute sandals.”
As at the Oscars, the school has a tradition of students changing outfits for after-parties, so Ms. Jordan, 18, is also considering a white Herve Leger dress with silver heels by Azzedine Alaïa bought during Paris Fashion Week last March, plus jewelry from a “dear friend,” the New York designer Eddie Borgo, who lent her pieces when she attended the Met Ball earlier this month.
While Ms. Jordan is a rare, jet-set teenager attending such exclusive events, she’s not the only one buying a designer dress, often costing in the mid-three figures or higher, for prom night.
Students: Tell us your feelings about and experiences with formal school dances like proms. Is there a trend toward wearing designer dresses at your school? Do you think there is too much pressure and cost associated with proms, or do you tend to agree with the woman in the article who says that prom is a girl’s “first magical Cinderella-evening moment”?
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10 Comments
I think prom is fun and it should just be for seniors to make it more special. The whole designer dress thing makes no sense to me get a dress you like and were ever you happen to find it. They also should be appropriate not short little night gowns.
— Katie216I don’t really like proms, because there boring, pretty much all you do is just stand around and do nothing. The only thing that I like about is that I get to dance with the girls. I don’t mind having to dress up, but still I just find proms super boring. Sometimes they don’t play hardly any good music.
— Zechariah.T (216)I think its fine to where desiner dresses because if its what u want to weir u should weir it but if u cant afford it weir something else its not like any one will notace
— katelyn 216I think senior prom is something that every high school student should go to. I think even if your not that into dances, or never went to the other little dances, its still important to go to prom. Prom has happened at high schools for years, its nothing new. It’s for you and your friends to have that last dance and have a good time. I know some other smaller schools , they let everybody go to prom, but I think it should just be seniors and their date they choose to bring.I think if the whole school can go it’s not very special for when you are in your senior year. I know I plan on going to my prom, its exciting to me. I think that prom you should spend a little more money on your dress and everything.I’m not sure what dress im getting for my prom since its not for two more years, but I have a pretty good idea.Overall I think prom is a good thing to have, while your in high school.
— myoung216For me prom is an amazing and such a fun experience. Getting all dressed up and ready to have fun with a close friend or the person you care about most for is just such a blast. I have not had my own prom yet but I cannot wait until then because I know how much fun it will be. Prom is something you can look back on and realize all the amazing times you had and so many memories. For me prom is such an amazing thing, and I can’t wait until my own!
— jay 216I feel that prom is great event top go to. It is time to dance, eat, and have fun with friends for the night. You can get all dressed up and go out. It is a great exprience for everyone to enjoy.
— DariusI think that proms are overrated when it comes to spending 700$ on a dress. i think that no high school girl should spend that much on a dress that you will ware for one night. I also think that buying a dress for an after part is also a bit ridicules.
— Nate.S (216)I like the idea of the prom. Getting all dressed up for a large event, paying $20 a ticket, spending time with good friends, making memories, taking a million pictures, along with the after parties. First the country club for a few hours, then the backyard concert down the road until daybreak, awaiting the intense headache and the yelling parent, the next morning, wondering where you were all night. Your only excuse that’ll ever make sense will probably be the one where you fell asleep on a bench in the park. I suppose that’s better than the one where you fell asleep on the pool table, staining that rental tux in the chip dip.
— EmersonAll in all, a good time had by all. Friends leave for college, some for service, others dragging on their life wherever it takes them. Never know if you’ll see them again, but always having those memories of that last night before you all go off.
I think every high school should have a prom. For the girls its more of a big night. Getting all dressed up, picking out a dress that fits you perfectly, all the wonderful memories shared as the year comes to an end. Prom is really exciting to think about. I can not wait to go to my prom. It is one of the most big events of the senior year and every student should experience prom. Who knows after prom you may not see some of your friends for a while.
— DomeniqueI like the idea of prom but I did not go to mine. I think that this article shows what an unfortunate state the youth are in today. These girls are the ones that will eventually be in charge of a lot of things and all they can do is waste enormous amounts of money on expensive dresses. It’s sad.
— Vard